Wednesday 16 December 2015

Scenery Drawn by Hokusai

EMU Tobu 10030 series comes to across Sumida River backed by Tokyo Skytree

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was a famous artist in the Edo Period (1603-1868). He was born in Edo (present Tokyo) and brought up there. He published more than 30,000 works in his life. Sumida River, which flows through his hometown from north to south, was one of the subjects of his works. He portrayed many bridges across Sumida River. They were arched and beautiful. Although all bridges have already been reconstructed, their names still carry on.

I sometimes enjoy a stroll on the bank of Sumida River. Whenever I visit there, I understand why Hokusai got absorbed in drawing this river. It flows through the crowded downtown area, but the river is broad and spacey in contrast. The bridges across the river are vivid and beautiful. Sumida River offers us some space and a relaxing time.

The contemporary scenery along Sumida River is also attractive. I could see a beautifully shining Tobu train coming across the bridge. It was a 6-car train, set number 11651 of the EMU 10030 series. The feature of the 10030 series is its stainless-steel body without corrugations on the side bodies.

For your information, I could also see the Tokyo Skytree (634 m) behind the railway track. The Tokyo Skytree was opened in 2012 as Tokyo's new TV broadcasting tower. It is a landmark in the downtown Tokyo area, and very popular among sightseers. To be honest, I have never been there, since it is always crowded. Am I contrary?


Kuramae Bridge across Sumida River near Asakusa Station on the Tobu Line