Utagawa Kunisada(ToyokuniⅢ) 1852 (Kaei 5) This work is from the series “Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou ”. Right now 140 works of this series are found . The artist Toyokuni III is one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists. The landscape of the post station is illustrated at the background, and a figure in front is a character of kabuki play who has a connection to the post station. Also, the figure’s portrait is based on a famous kabuki actor. Utagawa Kunisada (Utagawa Toyokuni III) Tenmei 6~Genji 1 (1786~1864) Kunisada had a long career started from Bunka 4 (1807) till his death, became the most popular and successful ukiyo-e artist of that time. In the late Edo period, Kunisada’s reputation was far exceeded that of his contemporaries, more highly regarded than even Hokusai or Hiroshige. He was the most productive ukiyo-e artist and produced every genre of ukiyo-e. The pictures of beauties with his characteristic depictions of hunched back and short neck women were the dist inctive features of Kunisada’s style and a famous example was the picture of “Fraudulent Murasaki’s Bumpkin Genji”.

Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) 1852 (Kaei 5) At the background of this picture, the landscape of the vast Suruga Bay and the sale boats are illustrated. The figure illustrated in front is Shinobu, a character from “Go-ban Taiheiki Shiroishi Banashi (A Chronicle of Great Peace Played out on the Chess: The Story of Shiroishi)”. Shinobu’s father was killed by a samurai, and she, together with her elder sister Miyagino, avenges the murder of her father. Trained under a military specialist Yui Minbu-no-suke (no12), then assisted by Kanae Yagorou (no.10), they finally complete their revenge mission. The kabuki actor who took part of Shinobu was Iwai Kume-saburou III, and he was very popular and known for his beauty. These works are part of the series “Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou”. Right now 140 works of this series are found. The artist Toyokuni III was one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists. The landscape of the post station is illustrated at the background, and a figure in front is a character of kabuki play who has a connection to the post station. Also, all figures’ portraits are based on the famous kabuki actors. At the background of this picture, the landscape of the vast Suruga Bay and the sale boats are illustrated. The figure illustrated in front is Shinobu, a character from “Go-ban Taiheiki Shiroishi Banashi (A Chronicle of Great Peace Played out on the Chess: The Story of Shiroishi)”. Shinobu’s father was killed by a samurai, and she, together with her elder sister Miyagino, avenges the murder of her father. Trained under a military specialist Yui Minbu-no-suke , then assisted by Kanae Yagorou , they finally complete their revenge mission. The kabuki actor who took part of Shinobu was Iwai Kume-saburou III, and he was very popular and known for his beauty.

Utagawa Kunisada(ToyokuniⅢ) 1852 (Kaei 5) This work is from the series “Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou ”. Right now 140 works of this series are found . The artist Toyokuni III is one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists. The landscape of the post station is illustrated at the background, and a figure in front is a character of kabuki play who has a connection to the post station. Also, the figure’s portrait is based on a famous kabuki actor. Utagawa Kunisada (Utagawa Toyokuni III) Tenmei 6~Genji 1 (1786~1864) Kunisada had a long career started from Bunka 4 (1807) till his death, became the most popular and successful ukiyo-e artist of that time. In the late Edo period, Kunisada’s reputation was far exceeded that of his contemporaries, more highly regarded than even Hokusai or Hiroshige. He was the most productive ukiyo-e artist and produced every genre of ukiyo-e. The pictures of beauties with his characteristic depictions of hunched back and short neck women were the dist inctive features of Kunisada’s style and a famous example was the picture of “Fraudulent Murasaki’s Bumpkin Genji”.

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) 1852 Background landscape of this picture is Osaka, a long slope located near Totsuka Post Station and the name of the place still remains today. This place was famous for its scenic view of Mt. Fuji, and on the left of this picture, the blue Mt. Fuji is also illustrated. The figure illustrated is Onoe Kikujirou II takes part of a courtesan whose name is Osaka, the same name of the slope illustrated at the background. The chrysanthemum flowers that are illustrated at the title frame and kimono that the actor wears are also connected to the name of the actor since Kikujirou’s “kiku” means chrysanthemum.

Artist: Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada) 1852 (Kaei 5) The Namazu-bozu (Catfish Priest) is a character in the kabuki play “Shibaraku (Wait a Moment)”. A portrait of a man with long sideburns and “Namazu-guma (Catfish kumadori makeup) “conveys a strong impression. Kumadori makeup is special, stylized makeup used in kabuki, which involves lines drawn on the face in set configurations and patterns. The character of Namazu-bozu is special since he has two different aspects, the role as the enemy of the main character and the comical fool. These works are part of the series “Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou”. Right now 140 works of this series are found. The artist Toyokuni III was one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists. The landscape of the post station is illustrated at the background, and a figure in front is a character of kabuki play who has a connection to the post station. Also, all figures’ portraits are based on the famous kabuki actors. The Namazu-bozu (Catfish Priest) is a character in the kabuki play “Shibaraku (Wait a Moment)”. A portrait of a man with long sideburns and “Namazu-guma (Catfish kumadori makeup) “conveys a strong impression. Kumadori makeup is special, stylized makeup used in kabuki, which involves lines drawn on the face in set configurations and patterns. The character of Namazu-bozu is special since he has two different aspects, the role as the enemy of the main character and the comical fool.

These works are part of the series “Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou”. Right now 140 works of this series are found. The artist Toyokuni III was one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists. The landscape of the post station is illustrated at the background, and a figure in front is a character of kabuki play who has a connection to the post station. Also, all figures’ portraits are based on the famous kabuki actors. This work illustrates Shoushou of Kewaizaka the character who appears in “Soga Monogatari” (“The Revenge of Soga Brothers”). At the background, the landscape of Soga-no-Sato post station located between Hiratsuka and Oiso is illustrated. “Soga Monogatari” is a story that two brothers, Soga-no-Jurou and Gorou revenge against their father’s antagonist Kudou Suketsune and this is a famous kabuki drama played during New Year season in Edo period. Shoushou of Kewaizaka is courtesan and she is in love with Soga-no-Gorou. Fujikawa Tomokichi Ⅱ take part of Shoushou.

The illustrated figure is Ichikawa Danjurou VIII, who was known as a handsome actor of the time. In this picture, he takes part of Matsuwakamaru, a character of a kabuki play. The framed title describes “Yoshida Bridge that was located between Totsuka and Fujisawa Stations”, but there is no bridge drawn at the background. Yoshida Bridge was a bridge that crossed over the Kashio River. This place was also famous for the fork that separates the Toukaidou Highway and the road to Kamakura. Yoshida Bridge was connected with Matsuwakamaru since he is from Yoshida family, an aristocrat family from Kyoto.

Utagawa Kunisada(ToyokuniⅢ) 1852 (Kaei 5) This work is from the series “Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou ”. Right now 140 works of this series are found . The artist Toyokuni III is one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists. The landscape of the post station is illustrated at the background, and a figure in front is a character of kabuki play who has a connection to the post station. Also, the figure’s portrait is based on a famous kabuki actor. Utagawa Kunisada (Utagawa Toyokuni III) Tenmei 6~Genji 1 (1786~1864) Kunisada had a long career started from Bunka 4 (1807) till his death, became the most popular and successful ukiyo-e artist of that time. In the late Edo period, Kunisada’s reputation was far exceeded that of his contemporaries, more highly regarded than even Hokusai or Hiroshige. He was the most productive ukiyo-e artist and produced every genre of ukiyo-e. The pictures of beauties with his characteristic depictions of hunched back and short neck women were the dist inctive features of Kunisada’s style and a famous example was the picture of “Fraudulent Murasaki’s Bumpkin Genji”.