Utagawaa hiroshige Production date:1844-47 A beauty reclines against a pillar. As written in the caption, the name Onna-dani (lit. women’s valley) derived from the fact that many courtesans were gathered around Hashimoto (Hashimoto located at the eastern side of Shirasuka) when Minamoto no Yoritomo visited this place. A courtesan from this place was especially loved by Yoritomo and after the Yoritomo’s death, she became a nun to mourn his spirit. It is considered the lady illustrated in this picture is linked to the courtesan.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date:1844-47 The illustrated lady wearing a beautiful kimono is Yuya, the lover of Taira no Munemori, a warrior of Taira Clan and she is illustrated with the fashion of Edo period. Taira no Shigehira, who also appeared in the picture of “Mariko post station” also stayed near this post station, as he was captured and transported to eastern Japan. There was an anecdote that Yuya consoled Shigehira by playing the koto (a board zither like Japanese musical instrument) and singing songs for him. This is a part of the Toukaidou series ukiyo-e, but unlike the other works that focus on the landscapes and views of post stations, in this series the scenes based on legends, tales, kabuki drama, and joururi plays that relate to each post station are illustrated. On the upper part of each work, an explanatory note is written and the picture relates to the notes is illustrated on the lower half. This series was rare since three very popular artists from Utagawa School, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada (Toyokuni III) were all involved to produce the series together. Furthermore, six publishers were collaborated to produce this series. (In this exhibition, works by Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi are displayed.)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date:1844-47 In this picture, the episode of Kumagai Naozane, one of the Minamoto Clan’s vassal is illustrated. The illustrated scene is the Naozane’s anecdote, which took place at Fujieda, after he became a monk. Since he didn’t prepare the travel expense to visit his home town, he asked a wealthy man of Fujieda for the money by giving junenbutsu (chanting a prayer to Buddha for ten times) in pawn. As he chanted, ten lotus flowers bloomed in the pond. After he came back to Fujieda and return the money for the wealthy man, and the man returned the junenbutsu, the bloomed lotus flowers disappeared. The man was disappointed with the result, and asked Naozane to bloom at least one lotus flower again. The anecdote tells, when he chanted a prayer, the lotus bloomed again. This is a part of the Toukaidou series ukiyo-e, but unlike the other works that focus on the landscapes and views of post stations, in this series the scenes based on legends, tales, kabuki drama, and joururi plays that relate to each post station are illustrated. On the upper part of each work, an explanatory note is written and the picture relates to the notes is illustrated on the lower half. This series was rare since three very popular artists from Utagawa School, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada (Toyokuni III) were all involved to produce the series together. Furthermore, six publishers were collaborated to produce this series. (In this exhibition, works by Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi are displayed.)

Utagawa Hiroshige Production date:1844-47 In this picture, the anecdote of Taira no Shigehira and the Lady Senju no Mae is illustrated. When Minamoto no Yoritomo faced with Shigehira, who was defeated and captured by the army of Minamoto Clan (Genji), he was impressed with Shigehira’s utmost cultivation, and treated him politely as a guest. On the way to Kamakura, Shigehira stayed a night at a house of a wealthy man near the Mariko post station. Shigehira and the owner’s daughter Senju no Mae, who served for Shigehira were in love with each other. In the picture, the scene of Senju performs a dance before Shigehira is illustrated. This is a part of the Toukaidou series ukiyo-e, but unlike the other works that focus on the landscapes and views of post stations, in this series the scenes based on legends, tales, kabuki drama, and joururi plays that relate to each post station are illustrated. On the upper part of each work, an explanatory note is written and the picture relates to the notes is illustrated on the lower half. This series was rare since three very popular artists from Utagawa School, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada (Toyokuni III) were all involved to produce the series together. Furthermore, six publishers were collaborated to produce this series. (In this exhibition, works by Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi are displayed.)

Picture: Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date: 1844-47 (Kouka 1~4) In Hakone, same as the Oiso, the young brother of Soga brother, Gorou Tokimune from the story “Soga Kyoudai no Adauchi (The Revenge of Soga Brothers)” is illustrated as the main theme. After Gorou’s father was killed, he was placed in the Hakone Gongen as an acolyte. However, he refused to become a monk and escaped from the place. This picture illustrates the scene of Gorou’s escape, and Kuniyoshi illustrated him as an adorable child. This is a part of the Toukaidou series ukiyo-e, but unlike the other works that focus on the landscapes and views of post stations, in this series the scenes based on legends, tales, kabuki drama, and joururi plays that relate to each post station are illustrated. On the upper part of each work, an explanatory note is written and the picture relates to the notes is illustrated on the lower half. This series was rare since three very popular artists from Utagawa School, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Kunisada (Toyokuni III) were all involved to produce the series together. Furthermore, six publishers were collaborated to produce this series. (In this exhibition, works by Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kuniyoshi are displayed.)

Artist: Unknown c. 1789-1801 (c. Kansei period) This is orai-mono and the famous places and historic sites situated along the travel route from Edo to Enoshima Island are written. Orai-mono is an elementary Japanese composition textbook widely used from the late Heian period to the early Meiji period. The name orai-mono (things exchanged) came from the exchange letters that were used as the examples of Japanese composition. The highlight of this book is the illustration of “The picture of Yogan-ji Temple of Mt. Kinki at Enoshima Island” and the explanatory note with an illustration is attached at the kashira-gaki (the summary of text written on the upper section of the book).

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date:1844-47 The scene of Nitta Yoshisada’s (a great worrier from Kamakura period) second son, Yoshioki’s unfortunate death at the Yaguchi Ferry of Tamagawa River is illustrated. The ship he rode was sunken by the trap of the enemy. This is a famous scene for Edo people since the kabuki play based on this episode was performed.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi Production date:1844-47 The fighting scene of Shirai Gompachi with a kumosuke (the freelance porter) at Suzu-ga-mori Execution Ground located near the Shinagawa post station is illustrated. Shirai Gompachi is one of the main characters in a kabuki play and known as a beautiful murder who keeps committing robberies and killing on the street.