In 1839, a fire destroyed Hokusai's studio and much of his work. By this time, his career was beginning to fade as younger artists such as Andō Hiroshige became increasingly popular. At the age of 83, Hokusai traveled to Obuse in Shinano Province (now Nagano Prefecture) at the invitation of a wealthy farmer, Takai Kozan where he stayed for several years. During his time in Obuse, he created several masterpieces, included the "Masculine Wave" and the "Feminine Wave". Between 1842 and 1843, in what he described as "daily exorcisms" ("nisshin joma"), Hokusai painted Chinese lions ("shishi") every morning in ink on paper as a talisman against misfortune.