Welcoming Face

Description

The print likely depicts a shop selling Yatsuhashi, a famous traditional Japanese sweet from Kyoto, as indicated by the noren at the entrance, inscribed with "八ツ橋." Right in front of the noren is a Tanuki, a statue of a raccon commonly found in front of Japanese shops, though the tradition seems to be slowly fading. The Tanuki is believed to bring good fortune to the shop and serves to welcome visitors. This small woodblock print, aptly titled “Welcoming Face,” indeed has the charm to attract viewers to enter the shop behind the noren.