Utagawa Hiroshige 1844-47 The Origin of Suzuka Shrine of Mt. Suzuka This print shows a scene related to the origin of Suzuka shrine. In ancient times, the Emperor Tenmu was facing problems related to succession to the throne. Here you can see him taking shelter at a house of an old man, who lives at Mt. Suzuka. Although the incident took place during ancient times, Emperor Tenmu and the old man’s daughter wear the kimono garments of the Edo period (1603-1868).

Utagawa Hiroshige 1844-47 The man depicted on the left is the historical figure Ikkyu Sojun, who was a monk and a notable poe t from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The woman on the right is also a historical figure from the Muromachi period, a courtesan named Jigoku Dayu, who was a student of Ikkyu.

Utagawa Hiroshige 1844-47 This print depicts a famous incident known as “The Revenge at Kameyama”. The lady dreaming in the bottom right of the print is Omatsu, the wife of Ishii Gennojo. In the dream, a woman was happy meeting with her husband who tells her that he has succeeded in avenging his father’s death, but in reality, Gennojo was killed by his enemy. In the frame on the upper part of the picture, the silhouettes of Gennojo’s two sons who succeeded in avenging the family deaths are depicted in front of Kameyama Castle.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date:1844-47 In this work, Yoshitsune and his loyal vassal Benkei are illustrated. Although in the caption, the anecdote of Yoshitsune’s half-brother, Minamoto-no-Noriyori is described. The cherry blossom tree of Ishi-Yakushi has a connection with Noriyori, but somehow, this tree was called as “Yoshitsune zakura (The Cherry blossom tree of Yoshitsune)”. Since people of Edo period knew the episode that Yoshitsune prohibited to break off the cherry blanches in the story of a kabuki drama “Ichino- tani Futaba Gunki”, he was illustrated with Cherry blossoms.

Utagawa　Kunisada(Utagawa ToyokuniⅢ)　 1844-47 During the Edo period (1603-1868), Yokkaichi was a place famous for mirages. In this print, a woman looks at the mirage of towers and flags that has appeared on the horizon.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date:1844-47 The Story of the Sailor Tokuzou The illustrated scene is from the legend of a sailor from Osaka, Tokuzou of Kuwana-ya and umibouzu (a monster appears at ocean). The story tells the bravery of Tokuzou that he faces to umibouzu out at sea without fear. This work links “Kuwana”, the name of post station along the Toukaidou, and the anecdote of “Kuwana-ya”, the name of the company where Tokuzou belonged.

Utagawa　Kunisada(Utagawa ToyokuniⅢ)　 1844-47 A man is surprised by a female figure appearing in the smoke rising from an incense burner. The scene depicted is based on a fantasy episode relating to hangonko, (a special incense that brings back the spirit of the dead) that says if a person burns this special incense, he can bring back the spirit of the dead.

Utagawa Kunisada (Utagawa ToyokuniⅢ) Production date:1844-47 A woman ties a white cloth to produce tie-dyeing (shibori) patterns of pine, bamboo and plum on the cloth. Arimatsu Shibori (tie-dyeing) was the famous product of Arimatsu Village located near the Narumi post station. As illustrated in the picture, tying cloth by threads and dyeing the cloth with indigo dye makes detailed pattern as hanged tenugui (Japanese towel) on the back of the woman.