Toto Ommayagashi no zu (View of the Ommaya enbankment in the eastern capital)

The shading and realistic wrinkles of the figures' skin and clothing show the influence of Western painting on Kuniyoshi. Suzuki Juzo notes in Kuniyoshi (Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1992) that the numerals 1861 printed on the right figure's bangasa (numbered umbrella) coincidentally match the year of Kuniyoshi's death. Julia Meech suggests that it is the number of a rental umbrella--the man carries a bundle of bangasa on his back (Meech, Rain and Snow: The Umbrella in Japanese Art [New York: Japan Society Gallery, 1993], p. 78).

For another impression see Narazaki Muneshige, ed., Daiei hakubutsukan III (The British Museum III), vol. 3 of Hizo ukiyo-e taikan/Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections (Tokyo: Kodansha, 1988), pl. 53; and Suzuki Juzo, Kuniyoshi (Tokyo: Heibonsha, 1992), pl. 24 (Hiraki Ukiyo-e Museum, Yokohama).