Source: http://www.tokyoessentials.com/ueno.html
Shinobazu Pond dominates the southwestern side of Ueno. Today Shinobazu Pond is famous for lotuses, but in the past it nearly didn't survive at all. Just after World War II it was turned into a field for growing vegetables. Then, when that was no longer needed, rather than have it re-instated, many businessmen felt a carpark or baseball stadium would be better. Needless to say, the water was put back in, in 1949. A few years later however, out it came again. But this time the cause was a hole. The hole was accidentally drilled through the bottom during the construction of a new subway line

Source: Ukiyo-e Gallery website article "Doi Hangaten: A Meeting with Mrs. Suzue Doi" (Tokyo, March 2000)by Andreas Grund http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/doiinterview.htm

"Bythe way, I remember a story my husband told me about Hasui. When Hasuimade the drawings for the print Night at Shinobazu Pond, which Sadaichihad ordered from Hasui, it took him a long time and many attempts untilwe accepted the draft" - Mrs. Suzue Doi, wife of publisher.