The Festive Custom of Asahina Continued by Jihinari for Twenty-three years (Nijusan-nen tsuzuki Jihinari kichirei Asahina)

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan, Utagawa Toyohiro's *The Festive Custom of Asahina Continued by Jari for Twenty-three Years (1820) captures a lively tradition through the exquisite medium of a color woodblock print. Toyohiro (1773–1825), a master of the Utagawa school and influential teacher to Hiroshige, crafted this horizontal *nagaban* surimono—a luxurious, privately commissioned format often produced for poetry societies or New Year's celebrations. Measuring an elongated 19.3 × 53.9 cm, its panoramic scope invites viewers into a festive scene, highlighting the enduring custom linked to the figures Asahina and Jihinari over 23 years. Surimono prints like this one stand out for their refined techniques: intricate carving on woodblocks allowed for vivid colors, subtle gradations (*bokashi*), and sometimes metallic pigments or embossing, elevating them beyond standard ukiyo-e. Toyohiro's delicate lines and atmospheric composition reflect the Utagawa school's emphasis on beauty and narrative, blending historical lore with celebratory spirit. This piece, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, exemplifies how such prints preserved cultural rituals amid Japan's floating world of entertainment and tradition. Today, it offers a window into 19th-century Japanese life, where art intertwined with poetry, theater, and community—reminding us of customs that bridged generations with joy and continuity.

About the Artist

Utagawa Toyohiro · 1763–1828

Utagawa Toyohiro (1763–1828) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist and painter who founded a major branch of the Utagawa school and is best remembered as the teacher of Utagawa Hiroshige, one of the greatest landscape print designers in Japanese art history. Born in Edo (present-day Tokyo), he studied under Utagawa Toyoharu, the founder of the Utagawa school, who was noted for introducing Western perspect...