Floor plan

North wing: East AsiaThe Floating World

The Floating World

Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with the Geisha Koharu of Kinokuniya, from the series “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love” (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami), by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99
Xu You and Chao Fu, by Okumura Masanobu, 18th century
Hara: Mount Fuji in the Morning (Hara, Asa no Fuji), from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi), also known as the First Tōkaidō or Great Tōkaidō, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ca. 1833–34
Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu), by Utagawa Yoshitora, November, 1872
Boating Party on the Sumida River, by Torii Kiyonaga, 1789

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Japanese woodblock prints of the floating world: actors, courtesans, landscapes and the sea.

Section 1, north wall

  1. Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with the Geisha Koharu of Kinokuniya, from the series “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love” (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami), by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99
    Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with the Geisha Koharu of Kinokuniya, from the series “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love” (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami)Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Xu You and Chao Fu, by Okumura Masanobu, 18th century
    Xu You and Chao FuOkumura Masanobu, 18th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Hara: Mount Fuji in the Morning (Hara, Asa no Fuji), from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi), also known as the First Tōkaidō or Great Tōkaidō, by Utagawa Hiroshige, ca. 1833–34
    Hara: Mount Fuji in the Morning (Hara, Asa no Fuji), from the series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō Road (Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi), also known as the First Tōkaidō or Great TōkaidōUtagawa Hiroshige, ca. 1833–34Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu), by Utagawa Yoshitora, November, 1872
    Illustration of a Balloon Ascending (Fūsen shōyō no zu)Utagawa Yoshitora, November, 1872Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Boating Party on the Sumida River, by Torii Kiyonaga, 1789
    Boating Party on the Sumida RiverTorii Kiyonaga, 1789Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. Perspective View of the Interior of the Nakamura Theater with Ichikawa Ebizo II as Yanone Goro, by Okumura Masanobu, 1740
    Perspective View of the Interior of the Nakamura Theater with Ichikawa Ebizo II as Yanone GoroOkumura Masanobu, 1740Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. A work made of color woodblock print; ōban.
    Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaido (Kisoji no oku Amidagataki), from the series "A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri)"Katsushika Hokusai, About 1833Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 2, north wall

  1. Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a Cherry, by Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795
    Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a CherryKitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. “Hour of the Rat: Mistress,” from the series Women’s Daily Customs (Fuzoku bijin tokei), by Kitagawa Utamaro, 1790
    “Hour of the Rat: Mistress,” from the series Women’s Daily Customs (Fuzoku bijin tokei)Kitagawa Utamaro, 1790Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Outfit for the Game of Incense, by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, 19th century
    Outfit for the Game of IncenseRyūryūkyo Shinsai, 19th centuryCourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. Bandō Mitsugorō III as Daihanji Kiyozumi and Arashi Koroku IV as Koganosuke, by Shunkōsai Hokushū, 1821
    Bandō Mitsugorō III as Daihanji Kiyozumi and Arashi Koroku IV as KoganosukeShunkōsai Hokushū, 1821Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko Edobei, by Tōshūsai Sharaku, 1794
    Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji III as Yakko EdobeiTōshūsai Sharaku, 1794Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. A work made of color woodblock print; oban.
    Osumi, a Tayu of the Tsuchiya in the Shinmachi Quarter in OsakaEishosai Choki, c. 1796/97Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

Section 3, south wall

  1. Three Kabuki Actors Playing Hanetsuki, by Utagawa Kuniyasu, ca. 1823
    Three Kabuki Actors Playing HanetsukiUtagawa Kuniyasu, ca. 1823Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. Miyako Shell, by Katsushika Hokusai, probably 1821
    Miyako ShellKatsushika Hokusai, probably 1821Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Vehicles on the Streets of Tokyo, by Utagawa Yoshitora, 1870
    Vehicles on the Streets of TokyoUtagawa Yoshitora, 1870Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art