The Mochibana Dance at the Wakanoura Festival in Kii Province

Catalog note / 解説

Hiroshige made a series of 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) designs depicting folk festivals ('matsuri') in the provinces. This is one of two impressions owned by the V&A of the only known design from the series. Wakanoura (Waka Bay) lies on the coast to the south of Wakayama in the north-western corner of Wakayama Prefecture. It is home to the Tamatsushima Shrine. The inscription in the central cartouche says that a festival was held there each year on the 17th day of the fourth month. The festival centred round a procession of people dressed in various guises dancing, singing and making music. One component was the Mochibana Dance depicted here. Mochibana ('rice cake flower') refers to the sp…