20 Unique Google Nano Banana Prompts for Traditional Japanese Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Style

I’ve been diving deep into Ukiyo-e woodblock print aesthetics with Nano Banana and wanted to share my collection of 20 battle-tested prompts that capture the essence of this legendary art form.

Whether you’re going for dramatic kabuki energy, serene landscapes, or intimate portraits of beautiful women in traditional dress, these should get you solid results.

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1. Spring Cherry Blossom Gathering

Use Case: Create seasonal nature scenes perfect for spring projects, wallpapers, or cultural artistic exploration.

Generate an image of a group of [PEOPLE_TYPE] viewing cherry blossoms in full bloom during spring. Multiple trees with delicate pink petals frame the scene. Mount Fuji visible in the distance. Bold black outlines, flat color areas, vibrant pink and white petals contrasting with deep blues and greens, traditional ukiyo-e woodblock print style, asymmetrical composition, delicate line work.

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2. Winter Snow Landscape with Travelers

Use Case: Perfect for winter aesthetic content, travel narratives, or depicting seasonal transitions in traditional settings.

Create a winter scene showing [NUMBER_OF_TRAVELERS] figures walking through heavy snow with bare trees and a snow-covered landscape. Simple line work defines the composition. White dominant color with bold blue shadows, subtle red accents, flat perspective, ukiyo-e woodblock aesthetic, traditional Japanese winter scene.

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3. Kabuki Actor in Dramatic Pose

Use Case: Great for theatrical content, Japanese culture education, or dramatic character portraits with intense emotional energy.

Generate a portrait of a kabuki actor in full theatrical makeup and elaborate costume striking a dramatic pose. Bold facial features exaggerated for dramatic effect. Rich colors including crimsons, golds, and deep purples. Strong black outlines defining every detail. Dynamic energy captured in body posture, ukiyo-e actor print style, intense expression with stylized features.

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4. Geisha with Fan in Edo Pleasure District

Use Case: Ideal for refined cultural content, historical education about Edo period Japan, or elegant portrait studies.

Create an image of an elegant [GEISHA_RANK] geisha holding a decorative fan in an interior setting. Intricate kimono patterns with bold geometric designs. Delicate facial features with simplified eye construction. Warm interior lighting suggested through flat color blocks. Asymmetrical composition, traditional ukiyo-e bijin-ga style, refined elegance captured through line and color.

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5. Merchant Boats on Choppy Waters

Use Case: Dynamic seascape generation for maritime themes, adventure narratives, or landscape studies with dramatic weather.

Generate a seascape showing [NUMBER_OF_BOATS] traditional Japanese merchant vessels on turbulent waters with large wave formations. Dynamic diagonal lines for wave motion. Bold blues and whites create dramatic contrast. Small human figures visible on boats emphasizing scale. Mount Fuji small in background. Western perspective elements combined with flat color ukiyo-e woodblock aesthetic.

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6. Beautiful Woman with Parasol

Use Case: Perfect for portrait studies, fashion references, and capturing the graceful elegance of Edo period women.

Create a portrait of a woman in [SEASON] holding an ornate parasol. Detailed kimono with [PATTERN_TYPE] design elements. Simple elongated face with calm expression. Shaved eyebrows indicating status in Edo period. Warm color palette with bold outlines. Asymmetrical composition with parasol creating dynamic visual balance. Traditional ukiyo-e bijin-ga woodblock style, elegant and refined.

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7. Sumo Wrestlers in Competition

Use Case: Great for sports narratives, cultural documentation, or depicting raw physical power in traditional sport contexts.

Generate an image of two muscular sumo wrestlers locked in intense competition within a raised ring. Bold, heavy black outlines emphasizing massive physiques. Crowd of spectators watching from elevated viewing areas. Rich fabrics and ceremonial aprons with dramatic coloring. Dynamic diagonal composition capturing the moment of physical struggle. Traditional ukiyo-e yakusha-e actor print aesthetic.

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8. Nocturnal Tea House Scene

Use Case: Ideal for atmospheric interior storytelling, intimate social moments, and capturing the essence of nighttime urban life.

Create an interior scene of a tea house at night with [NUMBER_OF_PATRONS] figures inside. Warm interior lighting from lanterns. Sliding doors with silhouettes visible through translucent panels. Detailed architectural elements with simple bold lines. Rich wood tones and soft lighting effects. Intimate atmosphere with subtle interactions between figures. Ukiyo-e genre scene with night-time ukiyo aesthetic.

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9. Samurai in Battle Armor

Use Case: Perfect for warrior narratives, historical illustrations, and capturing feudal Japanese martial aesthetics with dramatic presence.

Generate a portrait of a samurai warrior in ornate battle armor and helmet (kabuto). Fierce facial expression with prominent features. Dramatic sword pose suggesting combat readiness. Bold black outlines defining armor details and layered clothing. Rich metallics, deep reds, and golds. Dynamic posture and threatening presence. Ukiyo-e warrior print style with exaggerated strength and martial spirit.

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10. Courtesan with Attendants

Use Case: Excellent for luxury portraiture, historical social structure documentation, and multi-figure compositional studies.

Create an image of a high-ranking courtesan (oiran) with [NUMBER_OF_ATTENDANTS] young attendants (kamuro). Elaborate multi-layered kimono with intricate patterns and bold colors. Elevated hairstyle decorated with ornate hairpins. Servants wearing simpler garments in complementary colors. Procession-like composition suggesting movement through pleasure district. Ukiyo-e bijin-ga style showcasing luxury and status through color and detail.

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11. Seasonal Flowers and Leaves Study

Use Case: Create focused botanical artwork, seasonal symbolism studies, or minimalist nature compositions with cultural significance.

Generate an image of [FLOWER_TYPE] flowers in their season surrounded by leaves and botanical details. Flat color areas with bold black outlines for each element. Asymmetrical natural composition suggesting spontaneity. Gold or neutral background. Simple yet elegant depicting natural beauty. Traditional ukiyo-e nature print aesthetic with focus on seasonal symbolism and refined simplicity.

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12. Bustling Edo Street Market

Use Case: Great for urban scene narratives, cultural documentation, and capturing the energy of historical commerce and social interaction.

Create a crowded marketplace scene with [NUMBER_OF_MERCHANTS] vendors and customers in traditional Edo period clothing. Multiple stalls with goods piled high. Dynamic composition with overlapping figures creating depth. Bold primary colors for products and clothing. Intricate black line work defining individual figures and architectural elements. Lively atmosphere capturing commerce and social interaction. Genre scene ukiyo-e style.

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13. Wisteria Pergola with Beauty

Use Case: Ideal for romantic scene composition, combining portraiture with nature elements, or creating dreamy spring atmospheres.

Generate an image of a woman standing beneath a wisteria pergola in full bloom. Hanging clusters of delicate purple flowers frame the scene above. Woman in elegant kimono looking upward. Soft greens and purples dominating the color palette. Delicate line work for vine structure and floral clusters. Romantic atmosphere suggesting transience of beauty. Ukiyo-e bijin-ga nature scene combining portraiture with landscape elements.

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14. Nighttime Fireworks Celebration

Use Case: Perfect for festive content, capturing moments of urban joy, and creating dynamic explosive visual energy.

Create a night scene showing [FIREWORKS_TYPE] fireworks exploding in the sky above silhouettes of celebrating people. Dark blue or black night sky with bursts of brilliant colors. Multiple figures in traditional dress watching from below. Dynamic radiating lines for explosive energy. Simple silhouettes contrasting with vibrant color explosions. Urban celebration scene in ukiyo-e aesthetic capturing moments of joy and spectacle.

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15. Bamboo Grove Pathway

Use Case: Create serene meditation-worthy landscapes, perspective studies, or spiritual journey narratives in natural settings.

Generate a perspective view of a walking path through a dense bamboo grove. Tall bamboo stalks frame both sides creating natural corridor. Few travelers walking in distance. Bold green tones with black outlines for bamboo segments. Simple atmospheric perspective suggesting depth. Serene contemplative mood. Landscape print style combining western perspective with traditional ukiyo-e flat color and bold line aesthetic.

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16. Woman Arranging Flowers

Use Case: Document daily refinement, capture intimate moments of artistic practice, or explore domestic elegance and quiet beauty.

Create an image of a woman in elegant kimono arranging [FLOWER_ARRANGEMENT_TYPE] flowers in a vase. Detailed hand movements suggesting careful artistic work. Interior setting with simple furnishings. Focus on delicate interaction between hands and flowers. Soft color palette with bold outlines. Intimate domestic scene capturing everyday refinement. Ukiyo-e genre scene depicting quiet moment of aesthetic appreciation.

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17. Pilgrimage Path with Torii Gate

Use Case: Excellent for spiritual journey narratives, architectural documentation, or capturing the sense of pilgrimage and reverence.

Generate an image of figures walking along a sacred pilgrimage path toward a red torii gate shrine entrance. Multiple wooden markers or lanterns lining the path. Visitors in various traditional garments proceeding upward. Blue and red dominant colors with strong linear perspective. Mountain or forest backdrop. Spiritual journey captured through compositional flow. Ukiyo-e travel and pilgrimage scene with religious significance.

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18. Nocturnal Geisha Performance

Use Case: Perfect for theatrical documentation, artistic performance capture, or creating atmospheric entertainment venue settings.

Create an image of a geisha performing classical music or dance on a raised stage in evening setting. Musicians accompanying the performance below or beside. Rich interior with lantern lighting creating warm glow. Elaborate costume with sweeping movements captured in dynamic line work. Rapt audience watching from darkness. Theatrical atmosphere combining interior genre scene with performance art. Ukiyo-e kabuki adjacent performance scene.

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19. Snow-Covered Temple Garden

Use Case: Create spiritual winter landscapes, meditative nature studies, or demonstrate the intersection of architecture and seasonal beauty.

Generate an image of a traditional Japanese temple with snow covering the ground, roofs, and surrounding garden landscape. Frost-laden trees and shrubs creating delicate patterns. Pine trees bending under snow weight. Monochromatic palette dominated by white and blue tones with subtle red accents. Serene spiritual atmosphere. Intricate line work defining snow-laden branches. Landscape genre capturing winter beauty and peaceful reflection. Ukiyo-e aesthetic.

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20. Urban Riverside Evening Stroll

Use Case: Capture romantic urban moments, riverside social gatherings, or transitional evening atmospheres in historical settings.

Create a scene of [NUMBER_OF_FIGURES] figures strolling along a riverside during evening in Edo period urban setting. Lantern lights reflected on water surface. Opposite bank with buildings and trees visible. Multiple layers of activity showing riverside social life. Warm lighting suggesting dusk time. Mix of intimate portrait elements and broader genre scene. Dynamic asymmetrical composition. Ukiyo-e urban scene capturing transient social moments by the water.

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Practical Tips for Maximum Results:

• Bracket tags like [PEOPLE_TYPE], [SEASON], [FLOWER_TYPE] are your friends—swap in specific details to customize each prompt
• Specify counts when prompting for multiple figures to get consistent results (e.g., “3 travelers” instead of “travelers”)
• Layer the technical details: combining “bold black outlines” + “flat color areas” + “asymmetrical composition” is what nails that authentic ukiyo-e vibe
• Use iterative refinement: if the first result is 80% there, ask Nano Banana to adjust specific elements rather than regenerating completely
• Contrast matters: the interplay between simple bold lines and vibrant colors is quintessential ukiyo-e

Feel free to remix, modify, and innovate your creations. What’s your favorite ukiyo-e theme? Share, if you like this collection