One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.43Nihonbashi Bridge and Edobashi Bridge

The Nihonbashi and Edobashi bridges both crossed the Nihonbashi River and were located close to each other. The river was actually an artificial canal flowing from a castle moat through the city to Edo Bay. On the north bank between the two bridges was a fish market which supplied fish not only to the shogunate, but also to Edo citizens. The market cannot be seen but is to the left of this print. A section of Nihonbashi Bridge is shown in the foreground, including the parapet and an ornamental cap known as a giboshi placed on a bridge post, which is a symbol of this famous bridge.
Fresh fish were brought to the market early in the morning by boats from various places, mostly Edo Bay, and the area was crowded with fishmongers. The first people to arrive each day were shogun officials in charge of procuring fish. They usually picked the freshest fish at the cheapest prices before other fishmongers arrived.
Fish were usually carried on the fishmongers’ shoulders in round wooden tubs suspended from both ends of a pole. In this print, Hiroshige depicts only a tub containing fresh bonito, which was so loved by Edo residents that some high-spirited people paid any amount to acquire the first bonito of the season.
It appears that the busy time on the river is already over because only a few boats can be seen. On the opposite side of the river from the fish market are wharves for boats which transported such items as rice, fresh fish and dried fish. Behind the wharves stand a row of storehouses for the delivered goods, and beyond Edobashi Bridge is a row of white warehouses. On the horizon the red sun about to rise. Bonito fish and swallows in the sky indicate an early summer scene.