Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s ‘Village Sparrows: Temporary Shelter in the Nest’

After a major fire in 1845, Edo’s Yoshiwara pleasure quarter found temporary accommodation, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi imagined the scene with sparrows instead of people. His intricate print fills the streets with visitors, vendors and lively interactions. What can these bird characters tell us about urban reconstruction and everyday social life? Explore the human story behind a busy, deceptively charming animal image.