One of two prints designed by the artist depicting cormorant fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu Precture. An ancient art practiced along the Nagara River in Gifu for more than 1,300 years, cormorant fishing has a long history in Japan and is mentioned in many ancient chronicles. The samurai warlord, Oda Nobunaga took the ukai fisherman under his patronage and created the official position and title of usho (Cormorant Fishing Master). The shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu enjoyed watching ukai when he visited Gifu City and also gave his patronage and protection to the art. He was so fond of the sweet fish that he had it delivered to Edo Castle in modern day Tokyo. The haiku poet, Matsuo Basho famously wrote a haiku about ukai when he visited Gifu to watch the cormorant fishing: “Exciting to see / but soon after, comes sadness / the cormorant boats”.

Format is Oban yoko-e. Print has toning but color is still vibrant.

Link to Reference