Sakura by the Sumida River
Andō Hiroshige’s hanami (flower viewing) scene along the Sumida River is full of lively action, including a man dancing near a musician strumming the shamisen, a three-stringed banjo-like instrument. To the right another man leans forward to offer sake from a gourd container to a woman who reaches back toward him. Images of the Sumida River, still a famous destination for blossom viewing in Tokyo, were a recurring theme in Edo Period (1600–1868) prints.
Andō Hiroshige’s <em>hanami</em> (flower viewing) scene along the Sumida River is full of lively action, including a man dancing near a musician strumming the <em>shamisen</em>, a three-stringed banjo-like instrument. To the right another man leans forward to offer <em>sake</em> from a gourd container to a woman who reaches back toward him. Images of the Sumida River, still a famous destination for blossom viewing in Tokyo, were a recurring theme in Edo Period (1600–1868) prints.