Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) At Okitsu Station, Hotei, a deity from the Seven Lucky Gods symbolize good luck and a child are crossing the Okitsu River. The model of Hotei is a historical figure, Chinese Buddhist monk and it is said, he carried a big bag to put donated goods and food in it. In this picture, he is carrying a bag and putting it over his head to avoid it to be wet. At Fuchu Station, a gigantic warm is jumping out from ground. This picture might suggests “Mimizu izuru” (The warms appear from earth around the transitional season of spring to summer) from the Seventy-two Pentads in East Asian calendars. However, this description is too exaggerated. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) There are rocky areas along the coast in Kurasawa, which is located between Yui and Okitsu. Like Enoshima, Yui was famed for its abalone, turban shells, and octopuses, which were hunted by female divers. There is a strong association between female divers and octopuses. In this print, travelers on top of the cliff are anxiously watching the drama unfolding below them. The print for Ejiri Station depicts a scene in a cheap inn. One of two blind men, who were sleeping clad only in a loincloth, thinks he has caught one of the pesky mice in the room. However, what he is holding down with the flap of his loincloth is a purse (he evidently mistook the cord for a tail). Meanwhile, the mice are running away with a triumphant look that adds a comic note. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) At Okitsu Station, Hotei, a deity from the Seven Lucky Gods symbolize good luck and a child are crossing the Okitsu River. The model of Hotei is a historical figure, Chinese Buddhist monk and it is said, he carried a big bag to put donated goods and food in it. In this picture, he is carrying a bag and putting it over his head to avoid it to be wet. At Fuchu Station, a gigantic warm is jumping out from ground. This picture might suggests “Mimizu izuru” (The warms appear from earth around the transitional season of spring to summer) from the Seventy-two Pentads in East Asian calendars. However, this description is too exaggerated. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) Mariko was famed for its yam soup. The saying about a mountain yam turning into an eel was a metaphor for an unlikely occurrence. Eating a bowl of soup made from grated mountain yam just might foreshadow some unexpected happening. In the Edo period, the vicinity of present-day Kachikusa Bridge in Fujieda was where the Toukaidou crossed the Seto River. The river, however, was not bridged, and travelers had to wade across it. The two men in the print are blind, and the scene apparently was borrowed from the kyogen play titled Dobukatchiri. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) At Okabe, a scene of teahouse of Utsuyama Tateba (a rest spot between post stations) located between Okabe post station and Mariko post station is illustrated. The specialty of this teahouse is ju-dango, small dumplings, and a traveler is surprised to see the other customer is catching the flying dumplings by his mouth. At Shimada, the ferry of Oi River is illustrated. If a traveler wanted to cross the river, a man carried the traveler without using a boat. In this scene, a man who tries to carry a woman sumou wrestler falls down since she is too heavy to carry by himself. The woman’s hair style is called “Shimada”, and this is play on words since it is same with the name of the post station. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) Mariko was famed for its yam soup. The saying about a mountain yam turning into an eel was a metaphor for an unlikely occurrence. Eating a bowl of soup made from grated mountain yam just might foreshadow some unexpected happening. In the Edo period, the vicinity of present-day Kachikusa Bridge in Fujieda was where the Toukaidou crossed the Seto River. The river, however, was not bridged, and travelers had to wade across it. The two men in the print are blind, and the scene apparently was borrowed from the kyogen play titled Dobukatchiri Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) At Okabe, a scene of teahouse of Utsuyama Tateba (a rest spot between post stations) located between Okabe post station and Mariko post station is illustrated. The specialty of this teahouse is ju-dango, small dumplings, and a traveler is surprised to see the other customer is catching the flying dumplings by his mouth. At Shimada, the ferry of Oi River is illustrated. If a traveler wanted to cross the river, a man carried the traveler without using a boat. In this scene, a man who tries to carry a woman sumou wrestler falls down since she is too heavy to carry by himself. The woman’s hair style is called “Shimada”, and this is play on words since it is same with the name of the post station. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).

Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) Kanaya Station thrived as the point where travelers crossed the Oi River, the most difficult spot on the Toukaidou Highway. At inns, guests were sure to encounter women who would offer to serve them food and drinks and keep them company. In the print, two women are gaily applying their make-up in front of a mirror. In the Kakegawa Station print, two women who are probably blind are on an earthen bridge with cane in hand and shamisen lutes on their backs. They are feeling their way along, as the bridge has no railings. Many Utagawa school ukiyo-e artists published the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Highway”. In this distinctive series, Yoshikazu introduced the legends and episodes that related to the post stations of the Toukaidou Highway humorously. Generally, he produced humorous pictures with horizontal small ko-ban size format. Utagawa Yoshikazu Date of birth and death unknown Yoshikazu was a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi and active from the Kaei era till Meiji 3 (1848~1870). He also used the artist names such as Shunsai and Ichikawa. He produced many worrier pictures, kacho-ga (pictures of birds and flowers), and Yokohama-e (ukiyo-e depicting foreigner’s life styles or the scenes of Yokohama). He also produced illustrations of kusa-zoshi (books with illustrations ).