What does the Japanese word 'ura' in the title of The Great Wave off Kanagawa mean?

The Japanese word “ura” in the title of The Great Wave off Kanagawa means “under or beneath.” The full title, 神奈川沖浪裏 (Kanagawa-oki nami-ura), is often rendered more literally as “Under the Wave off Kanagawa.”

The print is part of Katsushika Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, published during Japan’s Edo period. Its familiar English title is not a word-for-word translation: “Great Wave” is a conventional descriptive name, while the Japanese title identifies the wave’s location relative to Kanagawa.

“Ura” can also carry meanings such as the back, reverse, or behind, depending on context. In this artwork’s title, “under the wave” is the established English gloss. It should not be confused with “oki,” which means offshore or out at sea.

The print shows three boats beneath a curling wave, with Mount Fuji visible in the distance. That composition makes “beneath” especially apt, although the title itself is the key evidence.