Night Rain at Koizumi (Koizumi yau), from the series Eight Views of Kanazawa (Kanazawa hakkei) c. 20th century

Editor: This is Utagawa Hiroshige’s woodblock print, *Night Rain at Koizumi*, part of the series *Eight Views of Kanazawa*. The rain is so heavy, it’s almost oppressive. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Notice how the driving rain veils the landscape, connecting the terrestrial and celestial realms. Rain in Japanese art is often associated with purification, renewal, even sorrow. Consider the cultural memory of the monsoon season. Does the rain evoke such feelings? Editor: I see it! The rain is a visual link to shared cultural experience. Thanks. Curator: Indeed. Symbols echo and transform across time.