Ukiyoe EDO-LIFE Season 3
Centuries ago, Tokyo was known as Edo. More than a million people enjoyed life in this small but abundant city. They live on in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Each episode is a deep dive into a single print, and an exploration of the soul of Old Tokyo. We examine works by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige not just for their aesthetic and historical value, but for the stories they tell of everyday life. That is how the people of Edo themselves enjoyed this mass-produced medium.
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Ukiyoe EDO-LIFE
2018
Centuries ago, Tokyo was known as Edo. More than a million people enjoyed life in this small but abundant city. They live on in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Each episode is a deep dive into a single print, and an exploration of the soul of Old Tokyo. We examine works by artists like Hokusai and Hiroshige not just for their aesthetic and historical value, but for the stories they tell of everyday life. That is how the people of Edo themselves enjoyed this mass-produced medium.
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Ukiyoe EDO-LIFE Season 3 Full Episode Guide
It's summer, and a group of women have gathered at the local well to do laundry in the shade. We learn about the different techniques and tools they used to wash and dry different types of kimonos.
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We travel to a well-known tourist resort just outside of Edo, where day-trippers are enjoying river recreation and forest walks, praying at local shrines, and sitting down for riverside picnics.
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It's spring, and a group of young men and women have come to the beach for some recreational clam-digging. The sea breeze mixes with the smell of freshly-cooked seafood. There's also love in the air.
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In the pleasure quarter of Yoshiwara, a high-ranking courtesan tends to a patron, while a jester attempts to entertain with an eccentric costume -- hinting at the Edo townspeople's affinity for cosplay.
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We journey to a sacred mountain where pilgrims are purifying themselves in a waterfall before moving on. Some of them have even brought along offerings ... and it turns out they have something to prove.
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When a little boy's nap is disturbed by a bad dream, his mother comes to his rescue. What was terrorizing him? We examine a print that shows how much the Edo townspeople cherished their kids.
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Japan is a seismically active land; the Edo period was no exception. In the aftermath of a major 1855 earthquake, an angry guardian deity sets off on a quest to capture those considered responsible.
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We break down a print that warps space to allow the viewer to be in 2 places at once: Shinobazu Pond, known for its lotus flowers, and the Sumida River, one of Edo's busiest waterways.
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For the annual Tanabata Star Festival, families across Edo flew bamboo stalks adorned with strips of paper and ornaments representing wishes. We examine what their wishes tell us about their lives.
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A dapper young man sits in a teahouse with his older companion when a young woman catches his eye. From the way they're looking at each other, it's clear that there's something going on between them.
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In the pleasure quarters of Edo, a precious house cat stares longingly out the window at a crowd of people going to and fro. Telltale signs scattered about the room reveal why it appears to be upset.
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Summer is winding down, and tonight down by Edo Bay the streets are filled with professional entertainers, food sellers and revelers. It's getting late, but this party is just getting started.
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We go out onto a river where pleasure seekers take in an aquatic show. At first glance a display of rag-tag theatricality, the performers are actually practicing a centuries-old form of swimming.
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It's edge-of-your-seat excitement as a high-speed transport boat departs for Edo carrying a rich cargo. Find out what's on the line for the stalwart crew as we break down their strategy.
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We attend a New Year's concert at a samurai residence, where a master koto player delights a crowd of gorgeously dressed celebrity-types. Lounging in the best seat in the house ... is no ordinary V.I.P.
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We visit an Edo-style open-air teahouse, where the townspeople enjoyed refreshments, conversation ... and the company of exotic birds. For them, these outings were about more than a good time.
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