From the Twelve Months: Fourth Month, Early Birds

Early summer, when you can hear the hototogisu (Japanese cuckoo) is also the season of the first bonito of the year. Firsts in a year were thought to bless one with a long life. Judging from the high price of the fish in Edo, the fish was highly valued by the people of Edo. In this print, the artist has depicted the cutting of bonito in a very realistic way.