Ido Masao(井堂雅夫) Heisei Ukiyo-e – Kyoto One Hundred Views, Vol. 4 Rakuchu Ten Views: Shimabara (島原) Woodblock print / Publisher: Kaneido Hidden within the historic streets of Kyoto lies Shimabara, a district that once formed the city’s official pleasure quarter during the Edo period. Established in the early 17th century, Shimabara became a place where refined entertainment, poetry, music, and traditional performing arts flourished alongside the elegant culture of the city. Unlike the better-known pleasure districts of Edo (Tokyo), Shimabara was known for its quieter and more refined atmosphere. It attracted scholars, poets, samurai, and wealthy merchants who gathered to enjoy performances, conversation, and the sophisticated cultural life that characterized Kyoto during this era. In this evocative woodblock print, Masao Ido portrays Shimabara on a rainy evening. Fine lines of rain fall gently across the scene as lanterns glow warmly beneath the gate of the historic district. Visitors walk through the entrance carrying umbrellas, their figures small against the traditional architecture that surrounds them. The central structure depicted here is the Omon Gate, the symbolic entrance to Shimabara. Passing through this gate was once like stepping into another world—a secluded district where time seemed to slow and the outside city faded away. Ido’s composition captures this sense of quiet transition. The viewer stands just outside the gate, witnessing people disappear into the lantern-lit streets beyond. The softly illuminated windows and the reflections on the wet ground create an atmosphere of calm intimacy. Rain has long been a beloved motif in Japanese art, often used to evoke introspection and fleeting moments of beauty. In this print, the falling rain softens the architecture and deepens the colors, transforming the scene into a poetic moment suspended between history and memory. Masao Ido (1945–2016) devoted his artistic career to depicting Kyoto through the traditional technique of Japanese woodblock printing. His ambitious series “Heisei Ukiyo-e: One Hundred Views of Kyoto” reinterprets the great landscape traditions of the Edo period, particularly the famous scenic prints of Utagawa Hiroshige, while portraying Kyoto as a living modern city. Through this scene of rain, lantern light, and traditional architecture, Ido invites the viewer to experience a quiet moment in Kyoto’s past—one where the elegance of Edo-period culture still lingers in the narrow streets of the old pleasure district. For collectors of Japanese prints, Masao Ido’s Kyoto series is admired for its atmospheric compositions and its ability to capture the subtle poetry of the city’s historic landscapes. [Size of the artwork] Overall size 34.7×42.3cm Picture 24.5×34.9cm [Condition] Excellent condition. Please check the photos before bidding. Any taxes related to international shipping must be borne by the purchaser. ※Recently, there has been an increase in products being returned to Japan without paying customs duties and consumption tax upon receipt. It is the buyer's responsibility to pay customs duties and consumption tax, so please be sure to pay them. Tax rates vary by country, so please check in advance. Occasionally, customs or the delivery company in your country may contact you for customs clearance via phone or email. Kindly ensure you are available to respond. Failure to do so may result in the parcel being returned to me, incurring additional shipping fees for reshipment. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. I will pack the item securely, but there may be cases where the item is repackaged at customs or damaged upon arrival due to a mistake by the shipping company. If this happens, please contact me immediately. Please promptly send me a photo of the item when it arrives and a photo of the damage to the item. We will provide refunds depending on the situation.