Hiroshige Ryogoku Fireworks - Edo Summer Night in Ukiyo-e

Every year on May 28th, the Sumida River came alive.

The Kawabira — Edo's annual river opening — marked the start of summer fireworks season at Ryōgoku. Boats of all sizes crowded the water, teahouses overflowed with revelers, and the bridge was packed shoulder to shoulder from dusk until late August.

Utagawa Hiroshige captured this moment in Edo Meisho Gosei ("Five Elements of Famous Edo Places"), c. 1848. This print represents 火 Hi — Fire — one of the five classical elements of East Asian philosophy. A fitting choice for a scene lit by fireworks above the river.

The Woman in the Hemp-Leaf Yukata

In the foreground, a woman stands quietly in a 麻の葉 (hemp-leaf) patterned yukata. Beside her, a jōtan (助炭) rests on the hibachi — a paper-framed windscreen used to shield the coals from wind and extend their burn.

Is she waiting? Preparing to step out onto the water for an evening of fireworks and summer air?

The detail is quintessentially Hiroshige — a private moment suspended within a grand public spectacle.

📍 Collection: National Diet Library, Japan | c. 1848