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Exhibitions
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ANDO HIROSHIGE
Tokaido - Hoeido edition 1-5
1 Nihonbashi
View looking across Nihon Bridge, Edo, from whence all distances were measured with a daimyo`s cortège coming into view over the summit. In the foreground is a group of five fish-vendors (and a sixth partly hidden) getting out of the way, on the left, and two dogs on the right.
This bridge was located in the centre of Edo and was the starting point of the Tokaido Highway.
2 Shinagawa
A street of houses backing on to the seashore, and the tail-end of a daimyo`s procession passing along it; behind the houses ships moored in the bay.
Being the first station on the highway, Shinagawa was thronged with travellers coming and going. The road was lined with many teahouses, restaurants and entertainment quarters. The bay, seen in Hiroshige`s picture, has been reclaimed and now forms a part of Tokyo.
3 Kawasaki
A ferry-boat crossing the river, and passengers waiting on the further bank in front of a cluster of houses; Fuji in the distance. Close to the further bank is a man on a raft.
Travellers crossing the river here by ferryboat may have felt they were being carried towards a different world. However, those returning to Edo looked forward to reentering the familiar homeland. This desolate area along the seashore is now an important industrial district of Japan.
4 Kanagawa
View of a street along the top of a cliff overlooking Yedo Bay, and female touts trying to drag travellers into the resthouses.
This station was on a cliff overlooking a magnificent seascape of Edo Bay. One side of the highway was lined with two storied teahouses which commanded views of the beautiful bay.The land has been reclaimed from the bay seen in the picture and now forms a part of Yokohama City.
5 Hodogaya
A bridge over a stream, and across it two coolies are carrying a closed kago towards a village on the opposite bank; behind the village rises a low wooden hill.
At this countryside station the travellers had covered a distance of 34 km from Edo and were well into the mood of travelling. By the bridge stands a restaurant which serves Soba (buckwheat noodle) and waitresses stand in front beckoning travellers to the restaurant.
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