Japan, Hikohachi, Mikawaya, Kuniyasu, Utagawa, Painting competition between three men, Two older men watch as a younger man paints a long-haired turtle (minogame). This surimono clearly shows a painting competition between Tôbôsaku (far right), Miura no Ôsuke (with black court hat) and Urashimatarô (foreground). According to legend, Urashimatarô once made a journey on a long-haired turtle, which is why he depicts it. A minogame would grow a seaweed tail after it was over 1, 000 years old, hence the long-haired turtle symbolizing longevity. Miura no Ôsuke depicted the numbers of the short months (1, 3, 5, 7, 10) for the year 1829. The numbers for the long months are circled in the text at the top of the surimono. This print was a New Year's surimono for the Miuraya Hikohachi, a stationery shop in Edo (present-day Tokyo), and was not intended for sale, as the black cartouche at the bottom left indicates. With one poem and text., print, prent, surimono, egoyomi (calendar leaf), prints, Ja