Gok'koku jimbutsu gyo...no zu|Picture of a Parade of the Five Nations

Sadahide employs the traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock method, carving separate blocks for line work and each hue. The composition is dense, with minute facial features and intricate costume details rendered in bold outlines and vivid pigments. The triptych format allows a panoramic view, and the artist’s use of bright colors and dynamic line conveys a sense of movement across the three panels.

Created in the 1860s, the print reflects Japan’s increasing exposure to foreign nations during the late Tokugawa and early Meiji periods. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through a 20th‑century acquisition of Japanese prints, where it has been catalogued as an example of cross‑cultural representation in ukiyo‑e.

The work belongs to a broader genre of Japanese prints that documented international events and foreign presence in Japan after the country’s forced opening to trade. Sadahide, known for his detailed depictions of contemporary life, frequently illustrated such public spectacles, providing a visual record of Japan’s early encounters with Western powers.