Prints originally designed in the first half of
the 19c by provincial artists and distributed by itinerant pedlars who sold medicines
and other products in the Toyama 富山 area (Etchuu 越中, now Toyama prefecture). Became
a general term for prints used to sell products in the provinces. Many designs
were modeled on Edo actor prints. They were given away as advertisements or gifts
and were therefore made cheaply on inexpensive paper of various sizes and shapes.
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