Comment - The tryptich shows a lively scene with all it's hustle and bustle during the springtime festival on New Year's Day. The scene is framed by Mount Fuji on the left panel, with a row of rooftops, and an emerging firetower. A red Edo kite (edo tako, 江戸凧) on the left slope in the far behind the watchtower, and a white octopus kite (takotako; 鮹凧  'or' たこカイト) in the far distance on the right slope of Mount Fuji. On the right rim of the right panel is a large kadomatsu tree. The right panel in front shows the master of a house. He is dressed in formal kamishimo attire and a black hat. His face looks, as if he is completely drunk from the toso (spiced sake) he had at the beginning of the new year celebration. Behind him his apprentice carries a drum. A servant beind the apprentice carries a box with liquor on a shoulder pole. The apprentice and the servant both are showing worried faces. Two boys directly behind the master are engrossed in flying a red edo kite with white kanji. Left to the master, another boy is handling an edo kite standing on the ground. The kite shows a grim Daruma face. The kite line of the Daruma kite curls on the ground in front of the kamashimo wearing master's sandals. Directly behind the daruma edo kite are four children with blue caps, gathered in front of a toy vendor rack. Right to the rack is a flute blowing comedian with a head scarf. Left to this group is a vendor with a large box, carried with a black shoulder pole.

The center shows Mikawa Manzai performers, namely Tayu and Saizo. Mikawa Manzai is a traditional Shinto traditional comedic style, with performers who go from house to house, singing and dancing to the drumming of the saizo. Wishing tree twigs emerge from behind. Abaft this group is a boy, holding a nearly curling kiteline in his right hand. His far away kite is just falling down.

The left panel shows a lion dance performance accompanied by flute and drum players on getas. The geta wearing lion dance performer pretends biting one of the children's heads. The lion performer's helper is standing beind, and is smiling at the scene. The dog in the foreground is looking up at the children. A small kadomatsu frames the left rim of the left panel.
Upper left of the left panel shows the red title cassette.

The large blue edo kite with the white kanji and the long tail ropes in the center panel, and the red edo beaneth it, seem not to be attributable to any of the kite-flying children. The right panel shows two other edo kites in the far distance.


Series - ~


Artist - see Biography


Signature -  Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (一勇斎国芳画)  on all three panels lower right, the signature of the right panel is hidden in the restored cut-off lower edge


Publisher - Wakasa-ya Uhei (若狭屋右兵衛) by Wakau seal (若宇) lower left to KUNIYOSHI's signature


Image Size - 36.8 x 72.4 cm  (14 1/2" x 28 1/2")


Condition - triptych; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e); panels restorated and presumably partially cropped