A STAR OF THE EAST _Frontispiece_ From a Print by Toshikata FACING PAGE THE SWEET SCENT OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM 30 From a Print by Hiroshige A CHERRY BLOSSOM PARTY 48 From a Print by Hiroshige STREET SCENE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 72 From a Print by Hiroshige RICE PLANTING, PROVINCE OF HOKI 89 From a Print by Hiroshige AMATEUR CONCHOLOGISTS 110 From a Print by Hiroshige VIEW OF FUSI-YAMA FROM A TEA HOUSE 138 From a Print by Hiroshige KUTANI EARTHENWARE, DECORATED WITH POLYCHROME } ENAMELS. EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY } 146 } INCENSE-BURNER, AWATA FAYENCE. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY } From "The Arts of Japan," by Edward Dillon BRONZE INCENSE-BURNER AND SMALL FLOWER-VASE. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 154 From "The Arts of Japan," by Edward Dillon KAKEMONO ON PAPER. ATTRIBUTED TO MATAHEI } } KAKEMONO ON PAPER. ATTRIBUTED TO SHIMMAN, UKIYO } 160 SCHOOL. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY } From "The Arts of Japan," by Edward Dillon TEA HOUSE, NEAR TOKIO 170 From a Print by Hiroshige AERIAL TRANSPORT: BASKET SLUNG ON ROPES, PROVINCE OF HIDA 182 From a Print by Hiroshige A LABOUR OF LOVE 198 From a Print by Toshikata THE ETERNAL FEMININE 218 From a Print by Toshikata A MINISTERING ANGEL 242 From a Print by Toshikata FIREWORKS IN TOKIO (SUMMER) 264 From a Print by Hiroshige A SIGN OF THE TIMES 278 THE EMPIRE OF THE EAST CHAPTER I A GLIMPSE AT THE PAST