Keisai Eisen (Japan, 1790-1848) Print, oban tate-e, from the series Shin Yoshiwara yūkun nana Komachi (新吉原遊君七小町), Courtesans of the new Yoshiwara in the role of the Seven Komachi, plate Maru-ebiya uchi Egawa (丸海老屋内江川), The Courtesan Egawa of Maru-Ebiya. Signed Keisai Eisen ga. Publisher Tsutaya Kichizō (Kōeidō). Circa 1826. Size 36.8 x 24.7 cm The title of the series, Shin Yoshiwara yugimi nana komachi, promises a comparison between Yoshiwara courtesans and the legendary beauty of the immortal poetess, Ono no Komachi (c. 825-900), as part of the classical series of seven Noh pieces depicting certainly legendary incidents from the poetess's life. This series specifies the 'New Yoshiwara', as the quarters were moved further up the Shinagawa River, near the Asakusa district, after the old Yoshiwara, located more centrally near Nihonbashi, was destroyed in the Meireki fire of 1657. Eventually, the novelty wore off and the district was generally known as Yoshiwara. However, the 'new' Yoshiwara in the title could refer to the rebuilding of Yoshiwara after one of the many devastating fires that ravaged the districts periodically. This print shows Omu Komachi, also known as Komachi Parrot.