[Exploring Edo Through Ukiyo-E] Peaceful Ox Sheds Meets a Dignified Procession! An In-Depth Look at “Takanawa Ox Sheds” from the Tokaido Series
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Among the famous landscape prints depicting the Tokaido road connecting Edo to Kyoto, did you know that top artists of the era joined forces to create a massive ukiyo-e series in 1863—during the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate?
That series is “Tokaido Meisho Fukei” (Famous Places Along the Tokaido, commonly known as Gojoraku Tokaido or Gyoretsu Tokaido).
Featuring a star-studded lineup of printmakers who defined the late Edo and Meiji eras—including Utagawa Toyokuni III (Kunisada), Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Ochiai Yoshiiku, and Kawanabe Kyosai—this post spotlights a unique piece depicting a hidden landmark and everyday life in Takanawa: “Tokaido: Takanawa Ox Sheds.”
1. What Were “Takanawa and Ox Carts”?
“Takanawa” (written as 高縄 in the print’s title) served as the southern gateway to Edo—a vital transportation hub where travelers heading down the Tokaido and cargo transportation constantly intersected.
In the Edo period, the Takanawa area (near present-day Azabu and Shinagawa) was home to “Takanawa Ushimachi” (Ox Town), a neighborhood where ox carts (gyusha) and ox drivers (ushikata) resided to haul heavy goods and transport materials unloaded at the port.
The term “Ox Sheds” (ushigoya) in the title refers to these actual shelters for oxen and the living quarters for drivers located in Takanawa.
2. Key Highlights of “Tokaido: Takanawa Ox Sheds”
This artwork was designed by Utagawa Yoshitsuya, a disciple of Utagawa Kuniyoshi who specialized in warrior prints (musha-e) and bold compositions. Here are three compelling highlights where daily life meets a historical event:
The Everyday Life of Oxen and Commoners in the Foreground
The lower half of the print depicts oxen tied inside fenced shelters resting peacefully, along with laborers and drivers going about their work. The spotted white-and-black and light brown oxen are rendered with vivid realism, conveying a warm familiarity toward the animals that supported Edo’s logistics.
The Samurai Procession Filling the Upper Composition
Looking beyond the roof of the ox shed toward the upper half of the print, a massive procession unfolds as samurai in formal attire (kamishimo) and bamboo hats march in orderly formation. This dramatic contrast between “everyday life” below and “authority and grandeur” above gives the piece incredible depth.
Spatial Depth via Bird’s-Eye Perspective
Using an elevated viewpoint (bird’s-eye perspective), the composition masterfully captures the structure of the ox sheds, the movements of the workers, and the deep perspective of the procession moving in the background, all within a single image.
3. The Artist Behind the Print: Ichieisai Yoshitsuya (Utagawa Yoshitsuya)
Utagawa Yoshitsuya, who created this print, was a prominent standout among the pupils of master artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi.
Inheriting his teacher’s gift for dynamic composition and lively figure drawing, Yoshitsuya gained high popularity in warrior prints and monster/supernatural art (yokai-e). In this series, he produced exceptional works like this one—skilfully blending the vibrant everyday life of commoners with the solemn majesty of the Shogun’s procession.
Summary: Capturing Takanawa’s History and Late-Edo Momentum
Among the prints in Tokaido Meisho Fukei, “Tokaido: Takanawa Ox Sheds” stands out as a fascinating work where the real urban infrastructure of Takanawa coexists with the historic moment of the 14th Shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi, departing for Kyoto in 1863.
As you walk through the modern streetscape of Shinagawa or near Takanawa Gateway Station today, take a moment to imagine the peaceful oxen that once rested here while a grand samurai parade marched right beside them.