Utagawa Yoshikazu The production date: 1853 (Kaei 6) The very famous local product of Narumi post station was the shibori, or tie-dye textile of Arimatsu and Narumi. During the Edo period, almost the entire shibori (A special dyeing technique to produce patterns on kimono by tying threads around cloth.) in Japan were produced in this region. In this picture, a traveler is surprised by a dragon and an octopus pattern drawn on the yukata, a casual summer kimono. A local specialty of Kuwana post station is clam. In this picture, sparrows are about to hop out from clam shells. This scene visualizes the autumn’s kigo (a seasonal word used to construct Japanese poetries), and expresses the scene of “Sparrows turn into clams.” There was a superstitious belief that there are not many sparrows during cold autumn season since they turn into clams. As seen in this picture, people would be surprised if it actually happens in reality. 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) In this print, the sign beside the store translates “a Yamanaka specialty - mesh bags.” Yamanaka is the name of a hamlet in the hills (yamanaka) to the east of Fujikawa. The mesh bags were all woven of ramie, and were said to be sturdy and long-lasting. In the Chiryu Station print, there is a pine tree with a trunk so large that even two men cannot get their arms fully around it. The two put their bundles down and are stretching their arms around the tree. But while they are occupied with this attempt, their bundles are being stolen. 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) Like those at Goyu and Yoshida stations, the inns at Akasaka Station employed many serving women. Akasaka was such a lively town that some said there would be no point in traveling to and from Edo without Goyu, Akasaka, and Yoshida. In the print for Okazaki Station, Okazaki Castle, where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born, lies in the background, and Yahagi Bridge, which spanned the Yahagi River, in the foreground. The boy in the center is likened to Watonai, the protagonist of Kokusenya Kassen, a puppet-theater play. That story has a scene in which Watonai vanquishes a tiger with an amulet from the Ise Grand Shrine. In this print, however, the boy is raising a wooden amulet against a mere cat. 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) In this print, the sign beside the store translates “a Yamanaka specialty - mesh bags.” Yamanaka is the name of a hamlet in the hills (yamanaka) to the east of Fujikawa. The mesh bags were all woven of ramie, and were said to be sturdy and long-lasting. In the Chiryu Station print, there is a pine tree with a trunk so large that even two men cannot get their arms fully around it. The two put their bundles down and are stretching their arms around the tree. But while they are occupied with this attempt, their bundles are being stolen. 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 local sweet of Futagawa post station is kashiwa-mochi, a sweet dumpling wrapped with the leave of oak. A man sitting at a bench of teahouse is a pilgrim who visited the Kompira Shrine of Kagawa prefecture. As the custom of pilgrimage to Kompira Shrine, a mask of Tengu, a human-like imaginary creature lives in the deep mountain is strapped on his back. At Goyu post station, a traveler was stopped by a woman. This type of woman is called Tome-on’na (a woman employee of inn who compulsorily tries to bring the traveler to her inn.). Since Goyu post station is only 1.7km away from the next Akasaka post station, the Tome-on’na of Goyu station were desperate and tried very hard to bring the customer by pulling the sleeves of travelers. 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 local sweet of Futagawa post station is kashiwa-mochi, a sweet dumpling wrapped with the leave of oak. A man sitting at a bench of teahouse is a pilgrim who visited the Kompira Shrine of Kagawa prefecture. As the custom of pilgrimage to Kompira Shrine, a mask of Tengu, a human-like imaginary creature lives in the deep mountain is strapped on his back. At Goyu post station, a traveler was stopped by a woman. This type of woman is called Tome-on’na (a woman employee of inn who compulsorily tries to bring the traveler to her inn.). Since Goyu post station is only 1.7km away from the next Akasaka post station, the Tome-on’na of Goyu station were desperate and tried very hard to bring the customer by pulling the sleeves of travelers. 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) 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 ).