Drawbridge At Shibaura

Shibaura, on the western side of Tokyo Bay south of Shinbashi, was a port and industrial district whose waterways required movable spans to admit vessel traffic. The print likely depicts a bascule or lift bridge in the raised position or with its mechanism visible, set against warehouses, cranes, or moored craft. The choice of subject reflects Koizumi's interest in interwar Tokyo's industrial face — the Shibaura district was reclaimed land, developed for shipping and manufacturing, and represented the modernizing economy. Mokuhanga rendering of metal trusswork demands disciplined keyblock carving and registration through kentō marks; the strong horizontals and diagonals of the bridge's superstructure read well in flat color blocks. As a plate from Dai Tokyo Hyakkei, the image complements Koizumi's temple and bridge views with a record of working infrastructure, demonstrating the series' breadth: a survey not only of celebrated landmarks but of the operational fabric of the rebuilt capital.