Comment - A yellow squared kite with two tails is flying behind the central dominating pine tree. The kite carries a red symbol. Two males are handling a kite line. One kiteline is wound around the stem of the pine tree to reduce pull of the usually big Totomi kites. A passer-by with a textile cap carries goods with a stick on his right shoulder. Vast rice paddies reaching to the background. A mountain range frames the back. Maybe Mount Akiba range.

The squared kite has a counterpart at the more elaborate Fukuroi print from HIROSHIGE's 1859 Series "One Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Provinces", and carries two tails, instead of one.

Series - The series "Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road" ("東海道五拾三驛", "Tôkaidô gojûsan eki") is the 'little sister' of the more elaborate series "One Hundred Views of Famous Places in the Provinces". Just compare the prints representing Fukuroi Station. The complete series of the "Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road" version carries a wide decorative frame.


Artist - see Biography


Signature - Risshô ga (立祥画) red cassette lower right, next to the yellow cassette with the print number "28"


Publisher -probably Maruya Tetsujirô (小林鉄次郎) from Enjudô (no publisher seal on the print)


Image Size -   25.5 x 18.5 cm (10 1/16" x 7 5/16") + margins as shown


Condition - Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, single sheet, Vertical ôban; Tate-e (portrait);