Sugawara Michizane crossing to China (Toto Tenjin) c. 1770s

This 18th-century woodblock print, known as a *ukiyo-e*, depicts Sugawara Michizane, a prominent scholar and politician of the Heian period. The print, created by Kitao Shigemasa, shows Michizane standing beneath a blossoming plum tree, symbolizing his association with the Tenjin shrine dedicated to him. Michizane is said to have been exiled to Kyushu and later deified as a god of scholarship, literature, and calligraphy. The print is a testament to the enduring popularity of Michizane and the artistic mastery of Shigemasa in conveying a compelling narrative through woodblock printing. The image is a fine example of *ukiyo-e*, a genre that captured the dynamism of urban Japanese life in the Edo period.