Yashima in Summer

Yashima, a flat-topped mesa overlooking the Inland Sea near Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture, is famous as the site of a pivotal Genpei War battle in 1185. This woodblock print depicts the plateau during summer, when warm haze softens the views across the water to distant islands. The mesa's distinctive table-top profile, formed from volcanic lava flows, gives it a geological drama that sets it apart from the gentle coastal hills typical of the Seto Inland Sea region. Koichi renders the summer landscape with the lush greenery and humid atmospheric effects that characterize the season along the Japanese coast. Yashima's historical associations and its panoramic views have made it a tourist destination since the Meiji era, and this print places the location within the shin-hanga tradition of scenic famous-place views.