Otsu-e: A Demon's Prayer to Buddha

Otsu-e pictures were specialties of Otsu. They were sold since the early Edo period at roadside stands as mementos for travelers along the Tokaido，the main highway between Kyoto and Edo (now Tokyo.) At first，they mostly depicted religious themes. In the late Edo period， however， caricatures were its mainstream. This picture is one of rhe most famous Otsu-e of the latter type. This picrure shows implicitly thar a prayer to Buddha doesn'r work wirhout faith. first，they mostly depicted religious themes。 In the late Edo period，h owever，caricatures were its mainstream.This picrure is one of the most famous Otsu-e of the latter type. This picture shows implicitly that a prayer to Buddha doesn'r work wirhout faith.