Nissaka in Rain, Nissaka on Tokaido

Nissaka was the twenty-fifth post station on the historic Tokaido highway, and Hasui returned to this subject across multiple editions and states. Rain scenes were among Hasui's most technically demanding compositions: diagonal lines of falling water were carved across the block and printed in a diluted grey-blue ink, overlaid against the landscape behind them. This impression shows the old road at Nissaka—likely bordered by mature pines and cedars—under a driving rain, the foliage darkened with moisture and the path reflecting wet light. The rain register is printed separately from the landscape blocks, a technique requiring precise registration on damp washi to avoid misalignment. Variations between impressions labeled with the same title typically reflect differences in edition, publisher, or date of printing.