Until the 16th century, the lives of the common people had not been a main subject of painting, and even when they were included, the works were luxury items made for the ruling samurai and rich merchant classes.
Ata o século XVI, as vidas da xente común non foran unha temática principal na pintura, e cando se incluían nas obras, estas estaban destinadas para os samurais gobernantes e as clases podentes de mercadores.