Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797 -1858), Chronicle of Great Peace: Battle of Mochi and Sake, Buy More and More!(太平喜餅酒多多買), ca. 1845, color woodcut, bequest of John H. Van Vleck, 1980.2204a-c
Coke vs. Pepsi. Android vs. iPhone. Sake vs. mochi? I recently encountered this whimsical battle between sake (rice wine) and mochi (rice-paste cakes) by Utagawa Hiroshige, who is celebrated more often for his picturesque landscapes than for parodies of Japanese culture. In this color woodcut, however, sake barrels and bottles form a horde of samurai warriors clashing with an army of sweet confections in fancy packaging. The print’s title (in the top center yellow cartouche) includes a witty pun alluding to a famous martial epic of Japanese literature (Chronicle of the Great Peace) while also declaring a mochi and sake price war and encouraging viewers to “buy more and more!” The banners and labels scattered among the combatants advertise varieties of confectionary and famous brands of sake. Perhaps the “great peace” will come when buyers realize that good food and fine drink are best consumed together. 😉
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