Hanabusa Itcho Twelve Months: New Years (Hanabusa Iccho Jūnikagetu no Uchi Shōgatsu)
Painted by Hanabusa Icchō Tokyo Shiryō Collection 0753-C1
This work also depicts the scenery of the second day of the year. Unlike the quiet New Year's Day, children are out and about on the street and as can be seen on the left, kadozuke-geinin (traveling performers) such as manzai and shishimai are present.
The artist of this work, Itcho Hanabusa is a painter representative of the mid-Edo period. While his style of painting came from the Kano school, he also depicted many street customs and this painting was much admired by people. It is possible to see this style in this painting.
Kadozuke refers to artists who come up to the front of peoples' houses and play music and this was also a special attraction of the New Year. The types of Kadozuke for New Year included lion dancing, banzais, grand performance of kagura (scared music and dancing), torioi (strolling singers), etc. Though not included in this picture, the lion dancing in particular added a strong story line with the element of acrobatics and clownery and so along with flutes and drums, it was an Edo entertainment that merrily lifted the spirit of the New Year.