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Ukiyoe Edo-Life

Centuries ago, Tokyo was known as Edo. More than a million people enjoyed life in this small but abundant city. They live on in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Each episode is a deep dive into a single print, and an exploration of the soul of Old Tokyo. We examine works by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige not just for their aesthetic and historical value, but for the stories they tell of everyday life. That is how the people of Edo themselves enjoyed this mass-produced medium.

  • Calligraphy Day
    Friday, December 19
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit a terakoya, a school teaching reading and writing. Today the young students have come dressed in their finest, and are busy putting brush to paper to show off their calligraphy skills.
  • 36 Views of Mt. Fuji
    Monday, December 22
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Discover story behind the "36 Views of Mt. Fuji" woodprint series; "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Hokusai. It is not just a huge wave and Mt. Fuji, the boat caught in the wave has a reason.
  • 36 Views of Mt. Fuji
    Monday, December 22
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Discover story behind the "36 Views of Mt. Fuji" woodprint series; "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" by Hokusai. It is not just a huge wave and Mt. Fuji, the boat caught in the wave has a reason.
  • Tuesday, December 23
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    The top 3 geisha idol celebrities in Edo: Tomimoto Toyohina, Takashima Ohisa, and Naniwaya Kita. See how Kitagawa Utamaro, the master of female beauty has illustrated them so differently.
  • Tuesday, December 23
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    The top 3 geisha idol celebrities in Edo: Tomimoto Toyohina, Takashima Ohisa, and Naniwaya Kita. See how Kitagawa Utamaro, the master of female beauty has illustrated them so differently.
  • A Beauty Reading A Letter Outside
    Wednesday, December 24
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    At dusk in summer, a woman is absorbed in reading a letter. This chic lady is actually an advertisement model for Mitsui Echigoya, one of the top kimono fabric store in Edo.
  • A Beauty Reading A Letter Outside
    Wednesday, December 24
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    At dusk in summer, a woman is absorbed in reading a letter. This chic lady is actually an advertisement model for Mitsui Echigoya, one of the top kimono fabric store in Edo.
  • Thursday, December 25
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    With its splendid branches and white plum blossoms, this famous painting is known for captivating Van Gogh. Discover why people were able to tell this was a specific tree at Kameido Umeyashiki.
  • Thursday, December 25
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    With its splendid branches and white plum blossoms, this famous painting is known for captivating Van Gogh. Discover why people were able to tell this was a specific tree at Kameido Umeyashiki.
  • Friday, December 26
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Mornings begin early for fishmongers and vegetable peddlers at Nihonbashi Bridge, and here is a reason. They are not going to bow to the lord's procession. The bustling scene from everyday Edo life.
  • The Piercing Gaze
    Monday, December 29
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A series of poetic videos by Koichi Hozan, a videographer living in Nara, in collaboration with a pianist, Mine Kawakami, for which she plays exclusive pieces, makes you experience each seasons.
  • The Piercing Gaze
    Monday, December 29
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A series of poetic videos by Koichi Hozan, a videographer living in Nara, in collaboration with a pianist, Mine Kawakami, for which she plays exclusive pieces, makes you experience each seasons.
  • Tuesday, December 30
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    At dusk in summer, a woman is absorbed in reading a letter.=. This chic lady is actually an advertisement model for Mitsui Echigoya, one of the top kimono fabric stores in Edo.
  • Wednesday, December 31
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    At dusk in summer, a woman is absorbed in reading a letter.=. This chic lady is actually an advertisement model for Mitsui Echigoya, one of the top kimono fabric stores in Edo.

 

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  • Sacred Cranes
    Thursday, December 18
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Two cranes hang out on the edge of a series of paddy fields where a man walks back and forth scattering something on the ground. They've been lured to a falconry preserve...but all is not as it seems.
  • Sacred Cranes
    Thursday, December 18
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Two cranes hang out on the edge of a series of paddy fields where a man walks back and forth scattering something on the ground. They've been lured to a falconry preserve...but all is not as it seems.
  • Folding Fans
    Wednesday, December 17
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit a store selling folding fans, where a young customer is having trouble making up his mind. The accessories were popular because the shape of the open fan symbolized increasing prosperity.
  • Folding Fans
    Wednesday, December 17
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit a store selling folding fans, where a young customer is having trouble making up his mind. The accessories were popular because the shape of the open fan symbolized increasing prosperity.
  • Night on the Town
    Tuesday, December 16
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A full moon shines above a bustling neighborhood. Featured prominently are kabuki theaters...on hiatus. Still, people have come out to take in the nightlife, and hopefully a celebrity sighting or two.
  • Night on the Town
    Tuesday, December 16
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A full moon shines above a bustling neighborhood. Featured prominently are kabuki theaters...on hiatus. Still, people have come out to take in the nightlife, and hopefully a celebrity sighting or two.
  • Off to Go Bathing
    Monday, December 15
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A mother and daughter brave the rain to visit their local bathhouse, exchanging words with a young girl along the way. We learn that regular bathing was an essential part of life for the townspeople.
  • Off to Go Bathing
    Monday, December 15
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A mother and daughter brave the rain to visit their local bathhouse, exchanging words with a young girl along the way. We learn that regular bathing was an essential part of life for the townspeople.
  • Airing Laundry
    Friday, December 12
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    It's summer, and a group of women have gathered at the local well to do laundry in the shade. We learn about the different techniques and tools they used to wash and dry different types of kimonos.
  • Takinogawa River
    Thursday, December 11
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We travel to a well-known tourist resort just outside of Edo, where day-trippers are enjoying river recreation and forest walks, praying at local shrines, and sitting down for riverside picnics.
  • Takinogawa River
    Thursday, December 11
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We travel to a well-known tourist resort just outside of Edo, where day-trippers are enjoying river recreation and forest walks, praying at local shrines, and sitting down for riverside picnics.
  • Clam-Digging
    Wednesday, December 10
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    It's spring, and a group of young men and women have come to the beach for some recreational clam-digging. The sea breeze mixes with the smell of freshly-cooked seafood. There's also love in the air.
  • Clam-Digging
    Wednesday, December 10
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    It's spring, and a group of young men and women have come to the beach for some recreational clam-digging. The sea breeze mixes with the smell of freshly-cooked seafood. There's also love in the air.
  • Niwaka Festival
    Tuesday, December 9
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    In Yoshiwara, a high-ranking courtesan tends to a patron, while a jester attempts to entertain with an eccentric costume, hinting at the Edo townspeople's affinity for cosplay.
  • Niwaka Festival
    Tuesday, December 9
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    In Yoshiwara, a high-ranking courtesan tends to a patron, while a jester attempts to entertain with an eccentric costume, hinting at the Edo townspeople's affinity for cosplay.
  • At Roben Falls
    Monday, December 8
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We journey to a sacred mountain where pilgrims are purifying themselves in a waterfall before moving on. Some of them have even brought along offerings. And it turns out they have something to prove.
  • At Roben Falls
    Monday, December 8
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We journey to a sacred mountain where pilgrims are purifying themselves in a waterfall before moving on. Some of them have even brought along offerings. And it turns out they have something to prove.
  • A Napping Boy
    Friday, December 5
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    When a little boy's nap is disturbed by a bad dream, his mother comes to his rescue. What was terrorizing him? We examine a print that shows how much the Edo townspeople cherished their kids.
  • Unruly Catfish
    Thursday, December 4
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Japan is a seismically active land; the Edo period was no exception. In the aftermath of a major 1855 earthquake, an angry guardian deity set off on a quest to capture those considered responsible.
  • Unruly Catfish
    Thursday, December 4
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Japan is a seismically active land; the Edo period was no exception. In the aftermath of a major 1855 earthquake, an angry guardian deity set off on a quest to capture those considered responsible.
  • Two Scenic Views
    Wednesday, December 3
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We break down a print that warps space to allow the viewer to be in two places at once: Shinobazu Pond, known for its lotus flowers, and the Sumida River, one of Edo's busiest waterways.
  • Two Scenic Views
    Wednesday, December 3
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We break down a print that warps space to allow the viewer to be in two places at once: Shinobazu Pond, known for its lotus flowers, and the Sumida River, one of Edo's busiest waterways.
  • Will Sparks Fly?
    Tuesday, December 2
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A dapper young man sits in a teahouse with his older companion when a young woman catches his eye. From the way they're looking at each other, it's clear that there's something going on between them.
  • Will Sparks Fly?
    Tuesday, December 2
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A dapper young man sits in a teahouse with his older companion when a young woman catches his eye. From the way they're looking at each other, it's clear that there's something going on between them.
  • Late Summer Fun
    Monday, December 1
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Summer is winding down, and tonight down by Edo Bay the streets are filled with professional entertainers, food sellers, and revelers. It's getting late, but this party is just getting started.
  • Late Summer Fun
    Monday, December 1
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Summer is winding down, and tonight down by Edo Bay the streets are filled with professional entertainers, food sellers, and revelers. It's getting late, but this party is just getting started.
  • A Stylish Concert
    Friday, November 28
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We attend a New Year's concert at a samurai residence, where a master koto player delights a crowd of gorgeously dressed celebrity-types. Lounging in the best seat in the house is no ordinary V.I.P.
  • The Bird Cafe
    Thursday, November 27
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit an Edo-style open-air teahouse, where the townspeople enjoyed refreshments, conversation, and the company of exotic birds. For them, these outings were about more than a good time.
  • The Bird Cafe
    Thursday, November 27
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit an Edo-style open-air teahouse, where the townspeople enjoyed refreshments, conversation, and the company of exotic birds. For them, these outings were about more than a good time.
  • Edo's Rush Hour
    Wednesday, November 26
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Edo was a city of waterways. The Yoroi Ferry transported people across the Nihonbashi River, one of its main commercial arteries. For the captain, it was a high-pressure job requiring skill and guts.
  • Edo's Rush Hour
    Wednesday, November 26
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Edo was a city of waterways. The Yoroi Ferry transported people across the Nihonbashi River, one of its main commercial arteries. For the captain, it was a high-pressure job requiring skill and guts.
  • A Fashion Night
    Tuesday, November 25
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    For a time during the Edo period, fireworks lit up the skies practically every night in the summer. It was a chance for women to dress up and let loose ... and grab the attention of male suitors.
  • A Fashion Night
    Tuesday, November 25
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    For a time during the Edo period, fireworks lit up the skies practically every night in the summer. It was a chance for women to dress up and let loose ... and grab the attention of male suitors.
  • Summer Delicacy
    Monday, November 24
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A group of anglers stand in a fast-moving, undulating river at the foot of a rugged cliff. They use "drifting mosquito hooks" to fish for a summer delicacy that was a favorite of the Edo townspeople.
  • Summer Delicacy
    Monday, November 24
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A group of anglers stand in a fast-moving, undulating river at the foot of a rugged cliff. They use "drifting mosquito hooks" to fish for a summer delicacy that was a favorite of the Edo townspeople.
  • First Childbirth
    Saturday, November 22
    4:25 pm on NHK 9.4
    In the Edo period, childbirth was a community affair, with the mother-to-be attended by a midwife and the women in her life. It was also characterized by unique customs and superstitions.
  • First Childbirth
    Saturday, November 22
    9:25 am on NHK 9.4
    In the Edo period, childbirth was a community affair, with the mother-to-be attended by a midwife and the women in her life. It was also characterized by unique customs and superstitions.
  • First Childbirth
    Friday, November 21
    9:25 pm on NHK 9.4
    In the Edo period, childbirth was a community affair, with the mother-to-be attended by a midwife and the women in her life. It was also characterized by unique customs and superstitions.
  • First Childbirth
    Friday, November 21
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    In the Edo period, childbirth was a community affair, with the mother-to-be attended by a midwife and the women in her life. It was also characterized by unique customs and superstitions.
  • Riverside Sawmill
    Thursday, November 20
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Workers at a sawmill use the latest tools and their honed skills to prepare the building blocks of Edo life: long, narrow beams, bamboo stems and leftover wood stacked as high as buildings.
  • Riverside Sawmill
    Thursday, November 20
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Workers at a sawmill use the latest tools and their honed skills to prepare the building blocks of Edo life: long, narrow beams, bamboo stems and leftover wood stacked as high as buildings.
  • Summer Light Show
    Wednesday, November 19
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We venture to the outskirts of Edo just after sunset, where a group of women and children have come to a stream to enjoy a popular summer activity. What could they be looking for among the weeds?
  • Summer Light Show
    Wednesday, November 19
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We venture to the outskirts of Edo just after sunset, where a group of women and children have come to a stream to enjoy a popular summer activity. What could they be looking for among the weeds?
  • Doodles Or Ukiyoe
    Tuesday, November 18
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A series of doodles by the famous artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi turn out to be carefully considered depictions of the kabuki actors of the day. What kind of artistic statement was he trying to make?
  • Doodles Or Ukiyoe
    Tuesday, November 18
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A series of doodles by the famous artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi turn out to be carefully considered depictions of the kabuki actors of the day. What kind of artistic statement was he trying to make?
  • A Spring Party
    Monday, November 17
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Edo. Flower viewing parties were for eating, drinking and making merry. It was also an opportunity for young men and women to mingle.
  • A Spring Party
    Monday, November 17
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in Edo. Flower viewing parties were for eating, drinking and making merry. It was also an opportunity for young men and women to mingle.
  • A Secret Date
    Saturday, November 15
    4:25 pm on NHK 9.4
    It's late at night, when all are fast asleep. A young man and woman huddle together along the veranda outside of a house, attending to a . .. rooster. What could the pair be up to?
  • A Secret Date
    Saturday, November 15
    9:25 am on NHK 9.4
    It's late at night, when all are fast asleep. A young man and woman huddle together along the veranda outside of a house, attending to a . .. rooster. What could the pair be up to?
  • A Secret Date
    Saturday, November 15
    1:25 am on NHK 9.4
    It's late at night, when all are fast asleep. A young man and woman huddle together along the veranda outside of a house, attending to a . .. rooster. What could the pair be up to?
  • A Secret Date
    Friday, November 14
    9:25 pm on NHK 9.4
    It's late at night, when all are fast asleep. A young man and woman huddle together along the veranda outside of a house, attending to a . .. rooster. What could the pair be up to?
  • A Secret Date
    Friday, November 14
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    It's late at night, when all are fast asleep. A young man and woman huddle together along the veranda outside of a house, attending to a . .. rooster. What could the pair be up to?
  • Good Or Evil Soul
    Thursday, November 13
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit the Yoshiwara district, Edo's most prominent pleasure quarters. Among the lavish spenders, courtesans and apprentices, small humanoid creatures scurry about - what could they be up to?
  • Good Or Evil Soul
    Thursday, November 13
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We visit the Yoshiwara district, Edo's most prominent pleasure quarters. Among the lavish spenders, courtesans and apprentices, small humanoid creatures scurry about - what could they be up to?
  • A Bedtime Routine
    Wednesday, November 12
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    On those hot, humid summer nights, nothing can get in the way of sleep like mosquitoes on the hunt. We learn about the tools the Edo townspeople had at their disposal to fight the pesky insects.
  • A Bedtime Routine
    Wednesday, November 12
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    On those hot, humid summer nights, nothing can get in the way of sleep like mosquitoes on the hunt. We learn about the tools the Edo townspeople had at their disposal to fight the pesky insects.
  • Sudden Shower
    Tuesday, November 11
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Caught in an evening shower, Edo townspeople scramble across a bridge in search of shelter. On the river beyond, a lone figure steers his boat, unfazed by the rain. What is his destination?
  • Sudden Shower
    Tuesday, November 11
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    Caught in an evening shower, Edo townspeople scramble across a bridge in search of shelter. On the river beyond, a lone figure steers his boat, unfazed by the rain. What is his destination?
  • On A Snowy Night
    Monday, November 10
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We come across a tranquil, snow-covered Edo cityscape. But there's something in the air: the aroma of foods both sweet and savory that helped the townspeople keep warm in the winter.
  • On A Snowy Night
    Monday, November 10
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We come across a tranquil, snow-covered Edo cityscape. But there's something in the air: the aroma of foods both sweet and savory that helped the townspeople keep warm in the winter.
  • Mt. Fuji's Faces
    Friday, November 7
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    We observe "Red Fuji" and "Black Fuji," 2 dramatically different views of Japan's most famous mountain, captured by the artist Hokusai. What did Mount Fuji mean to the people of Edo?
  • The Piercing Gaze
    Thursday, November 6
    11:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A series of poetic videos by Koichi Hozan, a videographer living in Nara, in collaboration with a pianist, Mine Kawakami, for which she plays exclusive pieces, makes you experience each seasons.
  • The Piercing Gaze
    Thursday, November 6
    4:55 am on NHK 9.4
    A series of poetic videos by Koichi Hozan, a videographer living in Nara, in collaboration with a pianist, Mine Kawakami, for which she plays exclusive pieces, makes you experience each seasons.