Utagawa Yoshitora, Notes on Sericulture, 1847–52.

This article focuses on a 19th-century Japanese woodblock print titled *Notes on Sericulture*, designed by artist Utagawa Yoshitora, which illustrates various stages of silk farming (sericulture) and its reliance on mulberry tree cultivation (moriculture). The print, part of a triptych published between 1847 and 1852, depicts female workers engaged in tasks such as harvesting mulberry leaves and managing silkworm cocoons, highlighting occupational hazards including respiratory allergies from airborne proteins. The article also contextualizes the historical development of sericulture and woodblock printing in Japan, noting their Chinese origins, the evolution of woodblock techniques, and the impact of industrialization and international trade on the silk industry and woodblock art. Additionally, it details the importance of Japanese wild mountain cherry wood in producing fine-grained woodblocks essential for the print’s intricate lines.