Utagawa Hiroshige – “Sekigahara-juku” 関ヶ原宿 – The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō – Showa Reprint Japanese Woodblock Print

About the Artwork

This finely produced Showa-era reprint presents one of Utagawa Hiroshige’s (歌川広重, 1797–1858) celebrated scenes from The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (東海道五十三次) — Sekigahara-juku (関ヶ原宿).
Located near the border of Gifu and Shiga Prefectures, Sekigahara was a famous checkpoint and post town, remembered in Japanese history for the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara (1600), which established the Tokugawa shogunate.

In this print, Hiroshige captures a quiet evening scene at an inn, with travelers resting beneath blue-and-white shop curtains (noren) bearing merchant crests. The composition’s depth and tranquil palette — soft grays, indigos, and pale ochres — reflect Hiroshige’s mastery in evoking atmosphere and motion through simplicity.

Artistic and Historical Context

The Tōkaidō series stands as Hiroshige’s greatest achievement, chronicling the beauty and rhythm of Edo-period travel along Japan’s most important road.
Each print in the series blends documentary observation with poetic mood, revealing how landscape, weather, and human activity coexist in delicate harmony.

This edition was produced in mid-20th century Japan by skilled artisans dedicated to preserving the original Edo printing techniques — hand-carved cherrywood blocks and water-based pigments applied to fine washi paper.

Artwork Details

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige (歌川広重, 1797–1858)
Title: 関ヶ原宿 (Sekigahara-juku / Sekigahara Station)
Series: The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō (東海道五十三次)
Period: Showa-era reprint of the Edo-period original
Medium: Polychrome woodblock print (nishiki-e) on handmade washi paper
Technique: Hand-carved woodblocks, water-based pigments
Dimensions: Approx. 38 × 26 cm (print area)
Publisher: Showa period Japanese print workshop (reproduction of original Edo design)

Collector Highlights

• Faithful Showa-era reprint of a Hiroshige Tōkaidō classic

• Features Sekigahara-juku, an iconic station rich in historical significance

• Demonstrates Hiroshige’s mastery of color gradation (bokashi) and narrative composition

• Excellent for collectors of ukiyo-e, Edo travel prints, and Japanese scenic art

• Printed on high-quality washi paper using authentic woodblock methods