Japanese Meiji period woodblock print triptych by Yoshu Chikanobu (1838-1912) titled "Setsubun" (The Close of Winter) from the series "The Inner Chiyoda Palace" published by Fukuda Hatsujiro. The publisher's seal holding the date 1st month of 1896 is located at the lower left corner of the left panel below the artist's signature. The print depicts beautiful court ladies inside the Shogun's palace dressed in their elegant fashions and engaged in the "mamemaki" ritual held at the beginning of spring in which roasted soybeans are thrown out the door for good luck. The left panel measures 13 5/8" x 9 3/16", the center panel measures 13 5/8" x 9 1/2", and the right panel measures 13 5/8" x 9 1/8". Vibrant color and very good impression with embossed and lacquer highlights. There are some faint water stains to the edges of the center panel. There is some soiling and pigment transference throughout.