Fujieda Station #23
This woodblock print, titled Fujieda: Changing Porters and Horses (Fujieda: Jinba Tsugitate), is one of the most historically significant scenes from Utagawa Hiroshige’s masterwork, The Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō.
While many prints in this series celebrate natural beauty or famous landmarks, this specific work offers a rare, "behind-the-scenes" look at the rigorous logistics of feudal travel. It depicts a bustling post station where the essential transfer of goods and official documents occurs. You can see the physical toll of the journey in the weary horses and the muscular, hard-working porters (known as kumosuke) who powered the transportation network of the Edo period.
Historical Context
Fujieda was a major post town located in modern-day Shizuoka Prefecture. It served as a vital junction between the coastal and mountainous regions of the Tōkaidō road. This print captures the Jinba Tsugitate—the mandatory exchange of fresh horses and porters. This system was strictly regulated by the Shogunate to ensure the swift delivery of official mail and the movement of daimyo (lords) during their required travels to Edo.
