Ukiyo-e 44, TC-5, Handbag - Chikanobu, Touring Asakusa Park

Art inspires fashion - Exotic style fashion.

Touring Asakusa Park

(Asakusa koen yuran no zu)
「浅草公園遊覧之図」
1. Asakusa Park (浅草公園)
Tokyo is a city where many people have dreamed of traveling. Asakusa Park is an attraction that most tourists to Tokyo will visit. Asakusa is located on the northeastern edge of central Tokyo, on the banks of the Sumida River. It is famous for the Senso-ji (浅草寺), a Buddhist temple dedicated to the bodhisattva Kannon (Lord of Compassion, Goddess of Mercy, or Guanyin).

2. The Origin of the Name (Asakusa, Japanese: short grass)
There are several theories to explain the origin of the name "Asakusa" (浅草). The most widely accepted possibility is the description given in the "Illustrated Guide of Old Edo" (Edo Oko Zusetu):
"From Shitaya to this area, the edge of the Musashino Plain, the grass grows short." This is why this area is named "Asakusa" (short grass).

3. Major Attractions - 1910s
In the 1910s, Asakusa Park had 4 major attractions. They are:
1. Fountain at Asakusa Park
2. Asakusa Bell Tower
3. Five-Storey Pagoda
4. Twelve-Storey Tower (Ryounkaku)
Among which, the Five-Storey Pagoda and the Twelve-Storey Tower (Ryounkaku, 凌雲閣) can be easily found in this painting.
The video on the left shows a detailed description of these sightseeing spots and their precious photos in the 1910s. It is interesting to compare the scene drawn by Chikanobu (豊原 周延) with the old photos of the 1910s.

4. Asakusa Park, 1891 (Asakusa Park in the eyes of Chikanobu)
In the print we see is a group of young women playing around the pond. They are very beautifully dressed. Their hair accessories, parasol and their costumes are gorgeous. The young women, especially the squatting one in the picture, were attracted by the koi fish in the pond. Regrettably, the scenes in the picture are different from the current ones. The pond in the picture was filled in and built into a shopping plaza after 1951.
On the right side, there is a child holding a hydrogen balloon. It can be seen that Western culture has been introduced to Japan in that era, and Japan has been opened to the West.
In the distance, there is a tower, called "Twelve-Storey Tower" in English and "Ryounkaku" (凌雲閣) in Japanese. Unfortunately, this first Western-style skyscraper in Japan was later destroyed during the Great Kanto Earthquake.
On the right is the "Five-Storey Pagoda". The tower on the painting is not the one of today. The original tower was destroyed during World War II, and a monument was built on its original site.
In this painting, we see the cherry blossoms that bloom around. It implies that Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原 周延) created this painting between late March and early April.
From the beautiful ladies, gorgeous costumes, novelty toys, blooming cherry blossoms, and pleasant scenery, we perceive the happy and relaxed feeling in the whole picture. You can also see the glory days of Japan in the Ukiyo-e period.

Created in 1891
Artist: Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原 周延; Japanese, 1839-1912)

• Price:$178.00
• Glazed synthetic leather
• Custom-print durable Oxford
• Double rolled handles with 6" drop
• Top zip opening has magnetic snaps on each end
• Silver hardware
• Interior features print lining; back zip pocket; 2 front open slip pockets trimmed in matching leather
• Size: 14"W x 9 1/2"H x 6"D