The Paulownia Pattern of Bold Kuniyoshi

In this print Kuniyoshi himself, at the far left with his back to us, leads a group of his students in the Shinkōsai 神幸祭, or “divine procession,” held on even-numbered years during the midsummer Sannō Festival 山王祭. During this procession, three large mikoshi 神輿, or portable shrines, are carried from their home shrines to the festival grounds. In the Edo period, the shrines were carried to Edo castle and welcomed by the shōgun.

In the print, two shrines can be seen above the crowd in the background. Kuniyoshi and his group proudly display the studio’s trademark: a paulownia leaf pattern, visible on the foreground umbrella, and on some of the clothing and fans carried by members of the group. The motif is also seen next to Kuniyoshi’s signature on each print.