Fukagawa Lumberyards

This serene winter scene shows the vastness of the lumberyards in Fukagawa, but it does not reflect how busy this area must have been. After the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657, lumber wholesalers in Nihonbashi and Kanda were ordered to move from the city center to the outskirts to reduce the risk of spreading fires. In 1701, fifteen wholesalers developed a seventy-four-acre settlement in Fukagawa, on the east side of the Sumida River. The men standing on the timber are loggers who judged the quality of the wood and oversaw the raft building. This popular print was reprinted many times, and fourteen variations exist. At top is the third version. Below is version no. 11 with black sky to create the impression of a night view.