This print depicts a street scene in Kyoto during the city’s most famous festival, Gion Matsuri. Centered around Yasaka Shrine, this practice goes back to the year 869 when the people of Kyoto held a festival to pray to the gods to end a plague that had befallen the city. Nowadays, the festival lasts for the entire month of July and its climax is the parade of floats, or yamahoko, that are drawn through the city streets over the course of several days. In this 1936 print by Tokuriki Tomikichirō, we see crowds of people gathered to watch the floats and join in the festivities devised to entertain the gods and keep the city safe from pestilence.

- Meher McArthur, January 7, 2021

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From the picture album set, "Kyo Ju-ni ka Getsu" (Twelve months of Kyoto). The set consists of 12 prints. (2019.1.34-2019.1.45)

Signed: "Tomikichiro"

Ink and colors printed on paper

The works were originally printed in 1936. This set may be reprints from the 1950s.

A night scene with people gazing at a display of lanterns blazing against the dark sky is depicted.

This object has the following keywords:

• Japanese Customs
• Showa Period

This object is a member of the following portfolios: