The engraving depicts the street of one of the ancient quarters of Odemmata, which means “The Great Postal Station”. There was a highway Osyukaydo. It was one of the first stations where they kept postal horses – “theme”. The quarter was famous for shops of large wholesale companies, located in solid rows under one roof, which differed only in signs – noren. Such stores were called “Nagayakisiki”, in the original meaning – “houses in the alleys.” Through the open gate of the quarter the viewer sees two geishas in the same kimono.
Some carelessness in clothes and hairstyles suggests a fun time spent. Hiroshige depicts the evening time, when most of the shops are already closed and only one, who sells cotton fabrics, attracts the viewer’s attention. Through the open door there are stacks of folded fabrics, late buyer and seller. To prevent the spread of fires, at night the big gate of the block was locked. And on the roof were provided fencing, where there were buckets of water in case of fire.
In this sheet there are no significant color modifications, except for the color of a square cartouche. In the later version it becomes bright red. The color of the curtains – norean – is darker, and against this background the hieroglyphs of advertising are highlighted.
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