Utagawa Kunisada(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ) 1833 The setting of this picture is unknown, but the building in the distance on the left is Kameyama Castle. One of the men relaxing in the Japanese style tatami room is pointing towards the castle. The woman in the foreground seems to be an invited Geisha, a woman who can provide professional entertainment at banquets. She is just about to initiate playing a Kotsuzumi, a small hand drum.

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Production date: 1833 (Tempou 4) The setting of this picture is unidentified, but a small shrine in the middle of the picture is visible, and number of crows on the branches of a tree can be seen. The two men in front of the shrine are using hand signals; it seems that the man on the right, the palanquin bearer, is inviting a traveler on the left to ride, the traveler refuses.

Utagawa Kunisada(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ) 1833 Although the background of this picture is borrowed from the work “Yamato Takeru’s Tomb” from volume 2 of “Famous Places of the Toukaidou Highway. The small hill partly seen in the distance on the left is an ancient burial mound called Shiratori-zuka; according to folklore this is Yamato Takeru’s tomb. The woman in the foreground would appear to be a beautician wearing her long hair up with two combs used in hairdressing. In her arms is a box that would be full of hairdressing instruments.

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) Production date: 1833 (Tempou 4) From the Miya post station, all the background pictures did not borrowed from the work of Hiroshige’s Hoeidou edition of the Toukaidou series except Yokkaichi post station. As for the reason for the change, scholars suggest that Kunisada’s series were produced prior to Hiroshige’s series. Although the background of this picture is borrowed from the work “Hama-Torii of Miya Station” from volume 3 of “Famous Places of the Toukaidou Highway”, published in 1797, the design of spreading sale of a sailing ship is Kunisada’s original. Miya post station is temple town located around Atsuta Shrine, and the torii gate illustrated on the left is Hama-Torii. A woman illustrated at the foreground holds a kagura-suzu (Bell that is used for Shinto Shrine’s music and dance performing ritual.) and she is dressed as a shrine maiden of Atsuta Shrine.

Utagawa Kunisada(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ) 1833 The background landscape is the same composition of “Narumi, Arimatsu shibori, Famous Tie-dyed Fabrics” from Hiroshige’s Hoeidou edition of the Toukaidou series. The production of Arimatsu shibori (tie-and-indigo-dyed) took place at Arimatsu Village located east side of Narumi post station and these products were sold at the shops along the Highway. Travelers are attracted by the various kimonos displayed at the shop-front. The woman in the foreground is a merchant selling paper fans. The design of the towel that she is wearing on her head and her kimono were created in the village of Arimatsu shibori.

Utagawa Kunisada(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ) 1833 The background landscape is the same composition of “Chiryu, Horse Market in Early Summer” from Hiroshige’s Hoeidou edition of the Toukaidou series. In this picture, the horse market that took this place every year in early summer. The woman in the foreground is carrying a bamboo basket on her back and a rake in her hand dressed to gather hay; however, this does not mean that she was working in a long sleeve kimono. It is though that this was Kunisada’s idea for adding color to the beauty painting.

Utagawa Kunisada(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ) 1833 The background landscape is the same composition of “Okazaki, Yahagi Bridge” from Hiroshige’s Hoeidou edition of the Toukaidou series. In this picture, the longest bridge along the Toukaidou Highway, Yahagi Bridge that spans over Yahagi River is illustrated. The woman in the foreground is illustrated in the attire of a monkey trainer for monkey shows. The composition of the picture is related to the story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi whose nickname was ‘Saru’: monkey.

Chu-ban polychrome print Utagawa Kunisada(Utagawa Toyokuni Ⅲ) The background landscape is the same composition of “ Fujikawa, View of Entrance Station ” from Hiroshige’s Hoeidou edition of the Toukaidou series. At the gate of the post station are a line of people entering, pulling horses adorned with a sacred Shinto staff with a pendant strip of cut papers to be presented to the Emperor at Kyoto from the Edo government. The woman in the foreground is tucking under her arm a wooden tub with clothes for washing.