Artist: Utagawa Yoshikata Production date: 1863 (Bunkyu 3) In this picture, a scene of a young commander, who plays the leading role in the procession, is trying to climb on the horse is illustrated. Since the rock wall of Kuwana Castle is situated on the left, the scene illustrated is people arriving at the gate of Kuwana Ferry after crossing “the 7-ri (7-ri is about 27.3 km) Crossing” the sea route of Ise Bay that stretches between Miya post station and Kuwana post station.

Utagawa Yoshitora 1863 The scenery of Atsuta Port is illustrated. At the right foreground, Hama no Torii, a big Torii Gate of Atsuta Jingu Shrine with the background of extended Ise Bay is illustrated. Miya was flourished with many visitors of Atsuta Jingu Shrine. The gate of “The 7-ri (7-ri is about 28 km) Ferry” was also located in this town and this place became a distribution base of various goods. The red big ship was called Goza-bune and it was designed for high-rank people. This series was published with the event of the Fourteenth Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi’s procession from Tokyo to Kyoto (Shogun’s official visit to Emperor) that took place in 1863 (Bunkyu 3) and it is known as “Gojouraku Toukaidou (Samurai’s procession along the Toukaidou Highway)”. Iemochi’s visit was an unusual event since last time Tokugawa Shogun visited Emperor was 229 years ago when the Third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu visited Emperor. Therefore this event got a huge attention from the people of Edo. This series was very popular that 162 works were produced within this series. Since 16 artists from Utagawa School were involved for the production, it is considered that the publisher wanted to produce many works within a short period of time.

Utagawa　KunitsunaⅡ 1863 The production of Arimatsu shibori (the high quality tie-dye textile) took place at Arimatsu Village located east side of Narumi post station and these products were sold at the shops along the Highway. The various kimonos are displayed at the shop-front.

Kawanabe　Kyousai 1863 The Yahagi-bashi Bridge, a noted place at the Okazaki Post Station, is not illustrated deliberately. The procession is crossing the Yahagi-gawa River by boat.

Utagawa Yoshitora 1863 All the workers inn front their houses at the Post Station are kneeling down on the ground facing the procession. This is one of the series of “Jouraku Toukaidou (Samurai’s procession along the Toukaidou Highway)”. From the title, the man standing by the shore is assumed as Tokugawa Iemochi. However, since illustrating Tokugawa Shogun was prohibited during the Edo period, in this series, Minamoto-no Yoritomo, the first military leader from Kamakura period is related to this figure.

Utagawa　HiroshigeⅡ 1863 This picture is of the procession of in front of an Inn and two ladies watching them from the inside. The ladies warming themselves at a charcoal brazier wearing gorgeous Kanzashi (ornamental hair pins made of precious materials) and Kimonos is creating a cheerful atmosphere. Hiroshige I illustrated the interior of an Inn with a bird’s eye view technique in his “Akasaka” scene from “the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido”. A cycad tree and a stone lantern half appearing in the middle garden on the middle right was also captured in Hiroshige I’s Akasaka scene which produces an atmosphere referring back to the illustration style of Hiroshige I.