Heating Sake with Maple Leaves (Kanzake momijigari), no. 9 from a series of 12 prints depicting parodies of plays c. 1716s - 1726s

Okumura Masanobu created “Heating Sake with Maple Leaves” sometime in the mid-1700s as a woodblock print, part of a 12-part series parodying theatrical plays. During the Edo period, depicted here, Japan experienced economic growth and relative peace, which led to the development of a vibrant urban culture. This print reflects such cultural blossoming, with its playful take on traditional narratives and its depiction of leisure. We see a group of women enjoying a picnic. One plays a shamisen, while others attend to heating sake. A male figure approaches them. The print’s style, known as ukiyo-e, often focused on the transient pleasures of life, particularly those associated with the floating world of entertainment districts. Yet, notice that despite the seeming lightheartedness, this representation of women is carefully constructed, reflecting the complex social dynamics of gender, class, and leisure in Edo society. Masanobu captures the cultural nuances of his time, presenting a snapshot of a world in flux, where tradition and modernity intertwine.