It is good to make the first things yourself Monotachiyoshi (title on object) A series for the Hanazono poetry association Hanazono bantsuzuki (series title on object), A woman measures dust with plovers on it, a scissors and ruler lie on the floor next to her. With two poems. The prints from this series are in line with the belief that the first activities of the new year were extra special. The red cartouche on the prints refers to almanacs in which it was indicated which activities could or could not be undertaken on certain days by people born in a certain year. Totoya Hokkei (mentioned on object), Japan, c. 1822, paper, colour woodcut, h 203 mm ⊙ w 178 mm.