In 1859 , the port of Yokohama was opened to foreigners .
Ukiyo - e artists , primarily of the Utagawa school , produced more than 800 different woodblock prints in response to a general curiosity about these strangers .
In 1859 , the port of Yokohama was opened to foreigners , and ukiyo - e artists , primarily of the Utagawa school , produced more than 800 different woodblock prints in response to a general curiosity about these strangers .