Rough Sea at Naruto in Awa Province

The series "Rokujuyo-shu Meisho Zue" (Landscapes at Celebrated Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces), the representative work in the last part of his life, is complete in sixty-nine designs, begun in 1853 and finished in 1856.

The series was published be Koshimura-ya Heisuke at Shiba in EDO. The major source of the designs was the sansui Kikan (Strange Views of Mountains and Water, 1796-1802) by Fuchigamu Kyokko.

This series consisting mainly of mountains and sea landscapes may be regarded as a consummate synthesis of the two famous series, "Fifty-three Stations of Tokaido" and "Sixty-nine Stations of Kiso Kaido".

Awa no Naruto (Roaring Gateway to Awa) is a narrow strait between the south-west end of Awaji Island and the north-east end of Shikoku, 1,300m. in width, connecting the Inland Sea and the Pacific. At ebb and flow tides the currents rush through this narrow passage with enormous speed, sometimes more than 20km. per hour, due to difference in water levels, creating hundreds of large and small whirlpools (diameters 15-230m.) with thundering roar.

This print, which is the finest in the series, shows a large whirlpool, foaming waves, and plovers in flight above. The "Sight of Awa no Naruto" in a set of three continuing sheets is another masterpiece by Hiroshige.