Night Scene at Sakurada Gate, Tokyo- V2

This second version of the Sakurada Gate night scene likely differs from the first in color palette, time of season, or compositional framing — Hasui frequently revisited significant subjects with adjusted viewpoints or atmospheric conditions. The gate's stone base, built during the Edo period, provides a geometrically stable anchor in the composition, while the moat and surrounding trees introduce organic counterpoint. In nocturnal prints such as this, Hasui's carvers cut the sky block with particular care to allow bokashi gradations to register cleanly, creating smooth tonal transitions from deep navy to softer blue-grey near the horizon. The reflection of the gate structure in the still moat water, if present, would require precise registration across multiple printing passes. Comparisons between V1 and V2 reveal the range of variation possible within the shin-hanga collaborative production system.