Comment - View of boys flying kites at Ueno Hirokoji. An enormous Edo kite ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧") with a Daruma face flutters at top left, a long tail dragging on the ground below. Daruma is a popular motif for kites in Japan. Alongside a yakko-dako ("yakko dako", "奴凧") or man kite is flying. In the foreground, a boy tugs on the string of his kite as another child gestures overhead, carrying his own Edo kite ("Edo-tako", "江戸凧") with blue kanji (Kanji kite, "ji tako", "字凧"). Three other Edo kites are to be seen in the background. Travelers and pedestrians stroll along the streets lined with shops, and cross over narrow wooden bridges above a canal.

Ueno Hirokôji is the area at the entrance to present day Ueno Park (the former Kan'ei-ji Temple). After the Great Fire of Meireki (1657) and 1737, the street was widened and the area was made into a firebreak. Ueno Hirokôji was a shopping quarter lined with grocery stores, restaurants and became an amusement district with more stores and entertainment booths. On the east side of Kan'ei-ji Temple (present day Ueno Park), and the lower valley was a plateau, used for kite flying and pastime amusements.

The title of each individual print is in the yellow cartouche to the left of the vertical rectangular red series title cartouche.


Series -"Famous Places in Tokiyo" (Tôkyô meisho zue, 東京名勝図会)


Artist - see Biography


Signature - "Hiroshige hitsu" ("広重筆") in red cassette at lower left;


Publisher - Hiranoyashin-zô (平野屋新蔵) (Aikindô publishing, 愛錦堂) ), lower left selvage, below circular censor's seal (Tatsu jū ni aratame, 辰十二改)


Image Size -   21.9 x 33.7 cm ( 8 5/8" x 13 1/4") + margins as shown)


Condition - Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, single sheet, Vertical ôban; Tate-e (portrait);