This print depicts the famous pleasure resort, Shichiri, or the Seven-League Beach, which spans about three miles. It is located between Kamakura and Fujisawa. Shichiri was the site of a famous battle; occasionally bits of armor and metal can still be found in the sand there. The Pacific Ocean stretches out to the left, and one can see the island of Enoshima to the far left. The settlement visible in the inlet, partially obscured by a large sandy hill, is most likely Koshigoe. Mount Fuji looms large in the background. Although the mountain is covered in snow, the cloud formations to the left suggest a summer storm.
The key-block print (hanshita) that outlines the mountains and details the waves was originally printed in imported Berlin blue ink, as opposed to black ink. In the later 1820s, this ink became cheaply available and therefore was widely used in landscape printing during this time.
- Leah Justin-Jinich