Shinobazu Pond, Benten Shrine — 不忍池弁天

This print focuses specifically on the Benten-dō shrine — formally the Tobikan'ei-ji Benten-dō — situated on the small island at the center of Shinobazu Pond in Ueno. The shrine, dedicated to Benzaiten, the goddess of water and music, is one of Tokyo's most photographed landmarks and appears in Hasui's work across multiple versions. The vermilion-lacquered structure against the white of winter or the green of summer lotus is a strong color counterpoint that Hasui exploited in his compositions. A covered causeway or arched bridge typically connects the island to the shore and provides a receding diagonal to the foreground. The Japanese title, 不忍池弁天, makes explicit what other Shinobazu prints leave implicit: the shrine is the compositional and thematic subject.