Accession No. RARE. 2026.0029: Purchased, 2024 February
[identification of item], “Tokaido Gojusantsugi Meibutsu” (“Delicacies of the 53 Stations of the Tokaido”) Woodblock Prints, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0438, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 March; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 March.
The Tokaido road is a three-hundred-mile-long route in Japan that has been depicted in art and literature. The Tokaido connected key parts of Japan, including the Edo, Kyoto and outlining areas. Edo is the former name of Toyko, in addition to being the namesake of the time period. The road was used for trade, communications, and pilgrimages. To support travelers, a series of 53 post stations were developed along the route. The posts allowed travelers to find shelter, meals, and switch out horses. Japanese artist Ando Hiroshige is credited with painting the first depiction of the 53 stations during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868).
The “Tokaido Gojusantsugi Meibutsu” (“Delicacies of the 53 Stations of the Tokaido”) Woodblock Prints, dated 1930 and produced by Imai Ichinosuke, contains 56 woodblock prints, grouped in 4 illustrations to a page. The images depict food and crafts specific to stations found along the Tokaido road that connected Kyoto to modern day Tokyo during the Edo period in Japan. The book contains green paper covered boards and pouch binding with original printed paper title slips.
The scenes depicted on the 56 prints in this collection are an alternative concept of the 53 Stations of the Tokaido. The illustrations show various meals and delicacies specific to the Tokaido stations, including flying fish, dried bonito fish, turtle meat, and bracken root cakes. Other stations show depictions of local crafts including bamboo wooden goods and tie dyed cloth. The book was produced by Imai Ichinosuke, dated 1930.