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"The slow-flowing Shakujii River originates from Sanpoji Pond, Shakujii Pond, and Fujimi Pond, then becomes a rapid stream in the Ōji area. It is said that the river roared like a waterfall. Hence, the name of the river became Takinogawa (Waterfall River). Takinogawa became famous for its autumn colours after the 8th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, had them planted in this area in 1721. A woman stands in the foreground, enjoying the scenery."

Photographer unknown, date unknown. From the University of Nagasaki Library Metadata Database of Japanese Old Photographs in Bakumatsu-Meiji Periods, inherited data from the original “Japanese Old Photographs of the Bakumatsu-Meiji Periods.

The slow flow of potential story lines triggered by an image caption – an unknown photographer, an unknown date, an unknown woman, and a landscape – turn into a rapid and roaring set of possibilities if viewed from a certain perspective.