Hagiwara Hideo, 'In the Valley between the Buildings' (Biru no tanima ni), a colour woodblock print

Japan, AD 1986 (Artist's Proof 13/20)

From the series 'Thirty-six Fujis' (Sanjū-roku Fuji)

This view of Mount Fuji is from Shinjuku on the west side of the centre of Tokyo, the 'second city centre' (fuku-toshin) that underwent staggering development of high-rise buildings in the period of rapid economic growth from the 1960s through the 1980s.

The artist has juxtaposed distant Fuji with the unyielding side of a skyscraper in the foreground. At the fringes of West Shinjuku, the current high-water marks of redevelopment, the scale of the buildings suddenly drops away to normal again, providing a clear perspective westwards across Musashi Plain.

However, today Fuji is only visible from Tokyo for a few days each year when the meteorological conditions relieve the smog and exhaust fumes, typically on New Year's Day when the traffic stops.

T. Clark, 100 views of Mount Fuji (London, The British Museum Press, 2001)