Bidspirit auction | Chikanobu Yoshu, Playing Football (Kemari),

Chikanobu Yoshu, Playing Football (Kemari), Cherry Blossoms - Artist: Chikanobu Yoshu (1838-1912) Title: Playing Football (Kemari) Series: The Outer Palace of Chiyoda Publisher: Fukuda Hatsuijiro Date: 1897 Size: (R) 24.6 x 33.9, (C) 24.5 x 33.9, (L) 24.8 x 34.2 cm Condition: Trimmed, some pinholes, faint stains and creases, minor foxing in left panel, good impression in colours. The Outer Palace of Chiyoda is a companion series to The Inner Palace of Chiyoda. It depicts the life of male members of the royal court and historic scenes from the outside walls of Chiyoda Palace. A group of noblemen plays the Japanese football game - kemari. It is a non-competitive sport of the court, requiring eight participants who attempt to kick a deer-skin ball (mari) into the air repeatedly without letting it touch the ground. In the image, watched by the group of samurai on the left, the players wear full flowing robes and court hats, kicking the ball between them. The whole scene is framed by blossoming cherry trees, the sign of spring. Ref: JG111914-1