It's good to play again for the first time Hikisomeyoshi (title on object) A series for the Hanazono poetry association (series title) Hanazono bantsuzuki (series title on object), A young woman is preparing herself at the front to play the shamisen, behind her New Year decorations with ferns (urajiro), pine branches and a crayfish. With two poems. The prints from this series are in line with the belief that the first activities of the new year were extra special. The red cartouche on the prints refers to almanacs in which it was indicated which activities could or could not be undertaken on certain days by people born in a certain year. Totoya Hokkei (mentioned on object), Japan, c. 1822, paper, colour woodcut, h 203 mm ⊙ w 172 mm.