Shutter Art

Yasaka Shrine in Ichinomiya, where fire festivals were once held. The New Year parade of firefighters with Mt. Fuji behind them is depicted.

The poet Basho walking along the Kasukabe-juku highway. It is painted so that you feel as if you are strolling the streets with him.

A small takasebune boat on the great Furutone River—expressing the owner's spirit that even a small shop like Tonegawa Senbei keeps doing its best.

The morning glory, a flower of ordinary people in the Edo period. It recreates the morning glory sellers often seen in early summer.

It is accompanied by a verse from the late master Tamatomi meaning "the wish to learn is the greatest teacher of all."

It depicts the lively festival atmosphere of Kasukabe-juku.

Porters, horses and peddlers gather at the entrance of an inn, showing the bustle of the post town in the morning. Basho and Sora, setting out from Kasukabe-juku on their journey of "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," are among the crowd.

A stylish kabuki actor holding a cherry branch in his mouth. In his hand is Edosuke's famous hanamochi rice cake.

It depicts pupils learning at a terakoya (temple school) in the Edo period.

This is said to be where a waki-honjin (sub-inn for officials) stood in the Edo period. It recreates samurai attendants who could not fit into the main honjin inn.

It depicts the imposing gate of the honjin, the inn where feudal lords stayed.

The teaching of the first Toranosuke: "the spirit of hospitality." It portrays the strength of a tiger and the warmth of the heart.

There were once boat landings called Kamikigura-gashi and Shimokigura-gashi near here, and river transport to and from Edo flourished.

This area, the center of the village headmen, had rice wholesalers and a post station office. It shows horses and porters carrying rice.

Kasukabe boasts one of the largest numbers of mikoshi in Japan. It depicts dashing young men carrying the mikoshi actually kept here.

Two scenes are painted: an actor holding a kumade rake and the lively Tori-no-Ichi fair at Shinmei Shrine. (The shop has closed, but the shutter art remains.)

It depicts the dignified figure of Ryoma taking a photograph.

It depicts an actor holding tobacco, considered a stylish pastime.

It depicts the brave town firefighters of old.

A fashionable schoolgirl of the Taisho era is vividly depicted.

It captures the energy of young men carrying an irimoya-roofed mikoshi.

Soft colors and brushwork express the gentleness of Edo cherry blossoms.

It depicts the peaceful station front of Kasukabe in days gone by.

It depicts elegant ladies reminiscent of the Rokumeikan social era. (The shop has closed, but the shutter art remains.)

It conveys the vivid presence of carpenters—you can almost hear the sound of their tools.

Araibari (washing and stretching kimono fabric) was a household chore in the Edo period. It depicts the daily life of women.

Yamada Paulownia Chest Factory has continued since the Edo period. It depicts the craftsman's work and the tools that are the soul of the artisan.

It shows the intensity of a printer holding Utagawa Hiroshige's Red Fuji and a painter gripping his brush.

Opened by its founder Kakutaro, it has long been affectionately known locally as "Kakudoko."