The Fifth Month, the River Carnival at Ryogoku

Catalog note / 解説

The Fifth Month, the River Carnival at Ryogoku, from the series "Annual Events at Scenic Spots in Edo", by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) The shogunal government authorized the holding of what amounted to a night carnival at Ryogoku bridge from May 28th through August 28 under the old lunar calendar system. Taking advantage of the cool breezes along the Sumida River, large numbers of people gathered for these events. Fireworks were shot off over the river and hundreds of pleasure boats plied their trade, to the point where you couldn't see the river's surface. The first day of this season, called the opening of the river, heralded the arrival of real summer. A huge display of fireworks lit t…