Parody of Ariwara no Narihira's journey to the east c. 1767 - 1768

“Parody of Ariwara no Narihira's journey to the east” was made by Suzuki Harunobu sometime in the 18th century with ink and color on paper. Here, Harunobu, one of the leading printmakers of his time, playfully references the classical tale of Ariwara no Narihira, a Heian-era courtier and poet, recasting his legendary journey with contemporary women. The artist situates the scene within the vibrant ‘floating world’ culture of Edo period Japan, where gender roles and social status were constantly being renegotiated. The women are not merely replicating Narihira's journey; they are reimagining it. Note the woman on horseback, shielded by an umbrella, and how she glances back with a knowing look, as if acknowledging our complicity in the parody. The journey motif becomes a metaphor for women's social mobility and evolving identities. Through his playful subversion, Harunobu invites us to question traditional narratives, celebrating the complexities and possibilities of female experience in a rapidly changing world.