Hiroshige Kunisada Kuniyoshi 53 Pairings of the Tokaido (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780013407218)

This series, Fifty-three Pairings of the Tokaido Road, Tōkaidō gojūsan tsui, 東海道五十三対, popularly called Pairs Tōkaidō or 53 Parallels for the Tokaido Road, was published in 1845-1846.

It is a unique cooperation between three artists: Utagawa Hiroshige, Utagawa Kunisada and Utagawa Kuniyoshi and five publishers: Ibaya Kyūbei, (Ibaya Senzabur? (Dansend?)) and Kojimaya J?bei, Ensh?ya Matabei, Ebiya Rinnosuke (Kaijud?) and Iseya Ichibei.

The special feature of this "Pairs Tōkaidō" is the pairing of a print for each station with a legend, a wonderful, dramatic, historic or supranatural story. These stories are told partly by the print theme, partly by accompanying text in a cartouche. Sometimes there is a poem. It is a very enjoyable tour!