Takata Riding Grounds

At lower left a thick pine trunk stands, and to its right a huge round target is half visible. A few arrows lie beneath the target, and a post stands in the center. Beyond, a samurai gallops a horse on the grounds, and at right people rest behind a curtain. In the distance fields and trees spread out, and a small Mt. Fuji peeps between the trees.

The target and pine occupying most of the picture and the green grass in the foreground are placed boldly, while the distant view is kept small. Cutting off foreground objects at the edge of the picture to contrast them with the view beyond is a composition often seen in this series.

The Takata Riding Grounds are said to have been established in the 13th year of Kan'ei (1636) as a place for bannermen to practice horsemanship and archery. It was also widely known in plays and storytelling as the setting of the "Duel at Takadanobaba," in which Horibe Yasubei came to a man's aid around the Genroku era. It was both a place for samurai training and a famous site that Edo people visited to watch.

Although it belongs to the winter section, there is no snow, and green grass and a clear sky are depicted. The target, boldly cropped at the edge of the picture, is often cited as an example of Hiroshige's daring compositions.