April 2017

6.Under Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa   One of the “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” ukiyo-e art. Mannen Bridge was at the joint point of the two river traffics, Onagi River and Sumida River. Various people cross the bridge under the clear sky.  Turning our eyes for the river, some boats come and go on the water. And

5.Honjo-tatekawa We can see the lively aspects of the Edo craftmen in this woodblock print of the series of “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji“   Honjo, today’s Sumida-ku (Tokyo), was developed as a new town after the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657 and the many lumber dealer stood in a raw in the city. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) drew the

4.Asakusa Hongan-ji Temple in the Eastern Capital      The architecture of Hongan-ji temple closes in on this side and the Kawara workmen repair the roof on it. The big roof was so popular in Edo City.   The high point of view is really outstanding for this ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Even the clouds float lower than the roof.

3.Surugadai in the Eastern Capital   The summer view ukiyo-e from Suruga-dai at Kanda drawn by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Suruga was the area around Shizuoka Prefecture now. It is said that the origin of the name “Suruga-dai” was because it was a place where Suruga samurai houses were in Hongo, Kanda or Mt. Fuji in Suruga could

2.The Store of Mitsui in Suruga-cho, the Eastern Capital   Mt. Fuji in the center separates the screen. By all rights, there should be the street under the image, but the part above the signboard is drawn. It similar to ‘Asakusa Hongan-ji temple in the Eastern capital‘ of the Kawara workmen and the kite show the

1. Nihonbashi, Edo     Nihonbashi Bridge was a bridge that became the starting point of five highway, Tokaido, Nakasendo, Koshudo, Nikkodo, and Ooshudo. Katsushika Hokusai(1760-1849) used the perspective method for the artworks.    According to the documents at the time, Nihonbashi was about 50 meters in length. As the print shows, the various people always crossed over the bridge