In the Edo period, while standing on Nihonbashi (meaning the Japan Bridge) located in the centre of Edo city, one could worship the sun rising from the east and see Edo castle in the southwest. This castle was the residence of the Tokugawa shogun, the ruler of Japan. In the distance majestic Mt. Fuji, the symbol of Japan, could be seen. And also the five major highways which connected Edo city with provinces, namely the Tokaido, the Nakasendo, the Nikkokaido, the Koshukaido and the Oshukaido started here, and the distances from Edo to all parts of Japan were reckoned from this bridge.
Taking all these elements into consideration, one may say that Nihonbashi Bridge was not only the symbol of Edo city but also the starting point for Edo people’s spirit.
At both ends of the bridge various kinds of riverside markets developed and the neighbourhood was also a commercial centre for the city. All necessities of life, such as rice, fish, salted fish, vegetables and firewood, were brought here by boats and distributed among the Edo people.
Hiroshige, talented in snow landscapes, has chosen to depict a snow scene of the most important place of Edo city for this series. This bird’s-eye scene is viewed from the northeastern side of the bridge.
The fish market, lying along the Nihonbashi River with storehouses at the back, is seen in the foreground. The front of the market is already crowded with fishmongers who have come to buy fresh fish from various parts of the city.
Early in the morning, the river is congested with boats fully laden with goods being delivered to the markets.
Nihonbashi Bridge, the starting point of the Tokaido Highway, is already crowded with travellers about to leave Edo for Kyoto. On the opposite side of the river stand many snow-blanketed merchant and craftsmen’s houses. Upstream of the river is seen another bridge, the Ikkoku (see No. 45).
Above a bank of mist on the right lies Edo castle, and an imposing Mt. Fuji completely covered with snow is in the upper left-hand corner. The mist was called suyarigasumi (spear-shaped mist) and was used as a means to divide the scenery into two, a distant view and a short-range view.
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