Life of Japanese Women in Ukiyo-e

Public life in Edo-era Japan was dominated by men, but that does not mean women did not have their vibrant lives recorded. One such mediums used to record female lives was the woodblock art of ukiyo-e. The Shoto Museum of Art in Shibuya is bringing together some of the best works from Edo’s ukiyo-e masters to showcase the lives of women back in the day. Putting on make-up, working, mastering performing arts, being erotic… the artworks are categorised into ten themes according to the different aspect of womenhood in various social classes and professions. You’ll also learn more about ukiyo-e itself through the tools, texts and records of the art from outside Japan.