Five industrial expositions were held in Japan during the Meiji era, the first three in Ueno Park, Tokyo (1877, 1881, 1890), and the last two respectively in Kyoto (1895) and Osaka (1903).  Printmakers were quick to create images of the domestic expositions to be sold as souvenirs.

Also see the article Prints of the Emperor Meiji and Empress Haruko.  For another print showing the royal family arriving at the exhibition see A Picture of Ueno-koen Park Exhibition Royal Visit

The Third National Industrial Exhibition

Source: Japan Goes to the World's Fairs: Japanese Art at the Great Expositions in Europe and the United States 1867-1904, Los Angeles County Museum, 2005, p. 52.
The government's original intent was to hold large domestic exhibitions every four years, which would have meant holding an exhibition in 1885; in fact, however, the third exhibition was not held until 1890.  It took place in Ueno Park from April 1 through July 30.  The exhibition included a main hall, art museum, agriculture hall, animal husbandry hall, aquarium, and machinery hall.  The exhibition also featured Japan's first electric train, which was set up to run around the perimeter of the site.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#79
Title or Description	Illustration of the [Emperor and Empress Arriving] Opening of the Third National Industrial Exhibition  第三回博覽會開場之圖
Artist	Kojima Shōgetsu (1870–1900)
Signature	Tōshū Shōgetsu 東川勝月
Seal	Shōgetsu 勝月 (as shown above)
Publication Date	March 1890 (Meiji 23)
Publisher	猶葉周平 Yūba Shūhei [not listed in Marks]
Carver
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	fair–  full-size sheets joined at seams; wrinkling and folds throughout
Genre	ukiyo-e; kaika-e
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban triptych
H x W Paper	14 1/2 x 28 1/4 in. (36.8 x 71.8 cm)
Literature
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