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Yoshitora employs traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock methods, using multiple carved blocks to apply distinct colors. The flat areas of pigment and bold outlines emphasize movement and density, while fine line work conveys the intricate details of horse harnesses, cart wheels, and street signage.

The print was produced during the early Meiji era, a period of rapid modernization and urban growth in Japan. It was likely distributed as part of a series illustrating contemporary city life, though its exact ownership trail before entering museum collections remains undocumented.

In the late 19th century, Japanese artists increasingly turned to genre scenes that recorded the transformation of cities. Yoshitora’s depiction aligns with this trend, capturing the coexistence of traditional transport—horses and rickshaws—and the expanding presence of larger ships and commercial activity.

The work serves as a visual document of Meiji‑era urban dynamics, informing scholars of transportation, labor, and social interaction of the time. Its detailed representation continues to be referenced in studies of Japanese printmaking and the visual culture of modernization.