Cherry Blossoms in the Shin-Yoshiwara Courtesan's District

Cherry trees in full bloom continue from left to right across the wide composition. Beneath them, many groups of richly dressed women and their attendants pass by. At the far right a red building can be seen, with people gathered. The whole picture is tinted with the pale pink of the cherry blossoms.

According to the museum's commentary, Yoshiwara began in the early Edo period, in 1617 (Genna 3), as a licensed quarter that gathered brothels scattered about the city into one place, and after it moved following the great fire of 1657 (Meireki 3) it was called Shin-Yoshiwara. This work depicts the prosperity of Shin-Yoshiwara, with groups centered on oiran in splendid costumes passing beneath blooming cherry trees.

The oiran was the highest-ranking courtesan. The commentary describes a dazzling sight found only in the pleasure quarter, where the courtesans' gorgeous costumes compete in beauty with the cherry trees in full bloom. Toyokuni was born in Shiba Shinmei Mishimacho, entered the school of Utagawa Toyoharu, and won fame with "Portraits of Actors on Stage" in 1794 (Kansei 6), and he had many pupils including Kunimasa, Kunisada, and Kuniyoshi. Each sheet is 36.9 cm high and 26.3 cm wide.