Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) At Odawara Station, a traveler walking in the rain wearing a raincoat (kappa) is stunned to be confronted by a water imp (different characters that also transcribe as kappa). A kappa guardian dog is reportedly enshrined in Hakusan Shrine, in Higashi-cho, Odawara. The print for Mishima depicts the Otauchi rite, which is still being performed at the Mishima Grand Shrine. The faithful hold wooden rice ladles in their hands and make gestures symbolizing a rich harvest. 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) Oiso was the birthplace of Tora Gozen, a courtesan who fell in love with Juro, the elder of the Soga brothers, famed as the protagonists in a tale of revenge. Tora was said to be born after an elder who was unable to conceive a child prayed to the gods. In response, the goddess Benzaiten appeared in a dream and left behind a stone. The stone was called the Torago Stone, and saved Juro when he was attacked by an assassin. In this picture, the Torago Stone has the legs and tail of a tiger (tora), and the passers-by are bowled over by it. In the print for Hakone, a fox is riding on a horse. The saying “like a fox on a horse” is a simile for being agitated and unsettled. It is also one for irresponsibility and untrustworthiness. To be sure, the man leading the horse looks disquieted. The setting is within the mountains of Hakone, on the border between the provinces of Izu and Sagami. 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) 오다와라슈쿠는 빗속에서 우비를 입고 걷고 있던 사람이 갓파를 마주치고 놀랐다는 그림입니다. 오다와라 히가시초의 하쿠산 신사에는 갓파 고마이누(상)가 자리잡고 있다고 합니다. 미시마에서는 지금도 미시마타이샤에서 이어지고 있는 ‘오타우치 의식’이 묘사되어 있습니다. 손에 주걱을 들고 농사일을 흉내낸 춤을 추고 있습니다. 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 Numazu station, the scene from a story “The Sugoroku Game of Crossing Iga”, which was performed by kabuki and jyoururi (the puppet theatre of Edo period) plays and the illustrated figures seems like the characters of the story. At Yoshiwara, the Ukishima Pond is illustrated on the background. By the pond, the standing human-like eel and the frog chatting are illustrated. This pond is surrounded by Ukishima-ga-hara Lowland Swamp. This swamp is rich with fish and shellfish such as carps, eels and freshwaters clams. 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) The flight of troops in Hara recalls an episode from the war between the Taira and Minamoto clans. In the battle along the Fuji River, the Minamoto forces made a detour, startling waterfowl that had been asleep in a distant marsh. The birds flew off all at once, and the sudden noise spooked the Taira forces, who took flight as a result. In this picture, however, the warriors appear to be fleeing simply because they were surprised by a snake. Hara Station was also noted for its view of Mount Fuji, which towers majestically in the background. The Kambara print shows two samurai menacing a snail. It was apparently inspired by a saying that translates “a battle on the horns of a snail,” meaning strife over a petty matter. 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 Numazu station, the scene from a story “The Sugoroku Game of Crossing Iga”, which was performed by kabuki and jyoururi (the puppet theatre of Edo period) plays and the illustrated figures seems like the characters of the story. At Yoshiwara, the Ukishima Pond is illustrated on the background. By the pond, the standing human-like eel and the frog chatting are illustrated. This pond is surrounded by Ukishima-ga-hara Lowland Swamp. This swamp is rich with fish and shellfish such as carps, eels and freshwaters clams. 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 Pproduction date: 1853 (Kaei 6) The flight of troops in Hara recalls an episode from the war between the Taira and Minamoto clans. In the battle along the Fuji River, the Minamoto forces made a detour, startling waterfowl that had been asleep in a distant marsh. The birds flew off all at once, and the sudden noise spooked the Taira forces, who took flight as a result. In this picture, however, the warriors appear to be fleeing simply because they were surprised by a snake. Hara Station was also noted for its view of Mount Fuji, which towers majestically in the background. The Kambara print shows two samurai menacing a snail. It was apparently inspired by a saying that translates “a battle on the horns of a snail,” meaning strife over a petty matter. 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 ).