The Japanese word for Bullfinch is ‘Uso’, an ancient word meaning whistle. This bird was very popular during the Edo era in Japan because of its charming singing. It was also known for loving cherry buds, which might have inspired Hokusai to choose this theme.

The bird perched on the cherry branch is looking downward, suggesting that it is on a high point of the tree.

Against the bright Prussian blue background, the cherry branches flow downward, from upper left corner to the lower right corner, creating a very attractive composition. Hokusai drew this image when he was in his mid-seventies.