CATALOGUE 57. Tsukuda Island in Musashi Province, by Katsushika Hokusai (Calza 2003).

Tsukudajima is shown here as a small island surrounded by boats; the variety suggests more activity than just fishing or ferries. Cargo is piled high on the foremost vessel, which has an almost-unbelievable curvature. One crewman poles the boat through the water, relying on a plank laid over the cargo to walk fore to aft. Other boats use a ro or, in the case of the right foreground boat, a kai to propel.


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