One of the works of the “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo ” series, by  Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858). 

It is a bold composition that is typical of Hiroshige, a close-up of a part of the bridge. At a glance, we don’t know where the bridge was, but Edo citizens at the time recognized it Nihonbashi Bridge just by looking at the appearance and a Katsuo (bonito) seller.

In addition to Nihonbashi, there are only Kyobashi Bridge and Shinbashi Bridge in machiya (a traditional form of townhouse found mainly in Kyoto) that were allowed to use high-class giboshi (bridge railing-post knobs). There is a fish market on the left side before this parapet. People in Edo loved seasonal bonito. In other words, this picture depicts the scenery of early summer. The morning sun rises beyond the white-walled storehouses in the back.