JAPANESE PRINTS

A MILLION QUESTIONS

TWO MILLION MYSTERIES

 

Ukiyo-e Prints

浮世絵版画

Kansas City, Missouri

 

PUBLISHERS

K thru Kyōji

 

To go to our other publishers pages click on the stamps below

A thru Ebiya

Echizenya thru G

H thru Imariya Ushizō

Ise Mago thru J

Maruya thru Murataya

N thru S

T thru Uoya

  

Wakasaya to Z

 

CLICK ON THE IMAGES OF THE PRINTS SHOWN BELOW

TO SEE LARGER EXAMPLES.

 

PUBLISHER

KANJI

KANA

LOCATION

EXAMPLE

SEAL
ARTISTS
DATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagaya Kichiemon

(seal name - Kagakichi

加賀吉,

firm name - Seiseidō

 青盛堂, 

family name - Tsutusmi Kichiemon

 堤吉右衛門,

aka Kagaya Kichibei

or Yorozuya Kichibei)

 

Andreas Marks titles his

section on this publisher

 as Kagaya Kichibei  in

his book published by

Tuttle in 2010.

Marks #195

加賀屋
吉右衛門
 

かがや
きちえもん

Edo

 

Marks seal #22-025

 

Andreas Marks notes that

this particular seal was used

between 1830 and 1849.

Eizan, Fusatane,

Hayakawa Shōzan,

Hiroshige II, Hiroshige III,

Kunichika,

as Kunisada ( b) &

as Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II, Kunisada III,

Kuniteru II,

Kunitoshi, Kuniyasu,

 Kuniyoshi,

Myōrindō Kakushi,

Nobukazu, Toyokuni I, 

Yoshifuji, Yoshikazu,

Yoshiiku, Yoshitora,

Yoshitoshi, Yoshitoyo, 

  Yoshitsuya

 

A (b) means as a
 book illustrator sometimes
along with woodblock prints.

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1815 to 1850

Hori Mino carved for

this house  in 1871;

Hori Masa in 1861-2.

"By the mid 1810s, the firm Seiseidō, which was at that time owned by Kagaya Kichiemon, started to issue prints." The first series published by them appears to be by Kunisada. Little is known about this house until they hit pay dirt with the publication of Kuniyoshi's 108 Heroes of a Popular Water Margin series. "In the 1840s, Kagaya's output again decreased significantly." However, business picked up again in the 1850s. "In the second month of 1862, Kagaya Kichibei's son Otojiro inherited the business and became Kichibei II. He succeeded in continuing the, at the time, successful business and engaged many more artists..." Source and quotes from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 264.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagaya Yasubei

(seal name - Kagayasu

加賀安)

Marks #196

加賀屋安兵衛

かがや
やすべえ

Edo

 

Marks seal #25-099

 

Andreas Marks notes that

this particular seal was used

between 1849 to 1853.

 

Hiroshige II, Kunichika,

Kunisada II,

Kuniyoshi, Shigemitsu,

Toyokuni III, Yoshiiku,

Yoshikazu, Yoshitsuna

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1849 to 1861

Hori Takichi carved
Toyokuni III prints for
this house in 1852,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagiya Shōbei

(Seal name - Kagishō 鍵庄)

(Originally mistakenly referred to

as Kagiya Shōjirō - see below)

Marks #198

 

This attribution had been tentative because we had not found any other exact examples of this seal. However, E., our frequent and invaluable contributor and one who knows much more about these things than we do notes that the top character is kagi (鍵) and the second is shō (庄).

鍵屋庄兵衛

かぎや

しょうべえ

Edo

 

Marks seal #25-177

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1862-63 for

this seal.

Kunichika, Kuniaki II,

 Kunihisa II, Kunisada II,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Toyokuni III, Yoshikata

Marks gives the dates

XII/1860 to VIII/1864.

This publisher took over

the business of
Mikawaya Rihei.

Hori Kane carved

Kunihisa II for this
house in 1860 and
Toyokuni III with

Miyagi Gengyo and
Yoshiiku in 1861;

Hori Masa in 1863
 

 

          

Kakumotoya Kinjirō

(Seal name - Kakukin

角金, firm name -

Sumimoto-ya Kinjirō

角本屋金次郎)

Marks #199

角本屋金次郎

かくもとや

きんじろう

Edo

 

The print shown to the right  is not one we have offered. The image  has been sent to us by M, a great friend. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

 

Marks seal #25-114

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1852-64 for

this seal.

 

Chikuyōdō, Hiroshige III,

 Kunihisa II, Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III, Yoshiiku,

Yoshikazu, Yoshitoshi,

Yoshitsuya

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1851 to 1868

The carver Hori Koma worked for this publisher in 1854. Hori Shōji did the same in 1853. Hori Mino in 1852 on a Kuniyoshi print. Hori Chō carved a Yoshitoshi design in 1864.

 

 

 

 

 

1854 Kuniyoshi print

at the Museum of

Fine Arts, Boston

 

Marks seal #24-056

 

Dr. Marks gives the

date of only 1854

for this seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kamaya Kihei

(Seal name - Kamaki 釜喜)

Marks #201

釜屋喜兵衛

かまや

きへい

Edo

 

The print to the right is from

the Lyon Collection. Click on it to

see more information.

 

Marks seal #11-024

Kunisato,

Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1851 to 1859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kameya Iwakichi

Marks #203

亀屋岩吉

かめや.いわきち

Edo

 

The print to the right is from

the Lyon Collection. Click on it to

see more information.

 

Marks seal #06-009

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1857-63 for

this seal.

Kunihisa II, Kuniyoshi,

Sadafusa,

Toyokuni III, Yoshitoshi,

Yoshitsuya

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1845 to 1863

Hori Dai worked for

this house on Kunihisa II

triptych in 1863.

Some of the actors portrayed

in prints by this house

include: Ichikawa Kodanji IV (1812-66); Kawarazaki Gonjūrō I (1830-1903); Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII (1823-54); Nakamura Shikan IV (1831-99); Bandō Hikosaburō V(1832-77); as Ichimura Uzaemon XIII and Kakitsu IV (1844-1903); Sawamura Tanosuke III (1845-78).

 

 

Katōya Seibei

(Seal name -

Katosei 加藤清,

firm name -

KIchibidō 吉美堂)

Marks #224

加藤屋清兵衛

かとうやせいべい

Edo

 

There is no link to
this print.

 

Marks seal #25-101

Hokuga, Hiroshige II,

Hiroshige III, Kunihisa II,

Kunisada II, Kyōsai,

Sadahide, Shigekiyo,

Toyokuni III, Yoshimune,

Yoshitora, Yoshitoshi

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as XII/1862

to ca. 1865

Hori Mino carved for

this house  in 1863.

 

 

Kawachiya Genshichi

(Seal name - Kawagen 河原,

firm name - Tōeidō 東栄堂)

Marks #227

河内屋原七

かわちや

げんしち

Edo

 

The Toyokuni I print to the right

is from the Lyon Collection.

Click on it to see more information.

 

On 1.26.18 we added a

more readable seal.
This one comes from
a print in the

British Museum.

 

 

Marks seal #25-103

 

Dr. Marks states that

this seal was used

until 1811.

Eizan, Hidemaro,

  Kuninao (b),

Kunisada (   b),

  Kuniyoshi (b),

  Masanobu (b),

Ryūkoku,

  Sadashige (b),

Shuntei, Toyohisa,

Toyokuni I,

Utamaro

 

A (b) means as a
 book illustrator sometimes
along with woodblock prints.

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1802 to 1819

 

 

 

 

The Kunisada print to the right

is from the Lyon Collection.

Click on it to see more information.

 

On 9.18.17 we added a

more readable version of

this seal.

 

 

 

Marks seal #25-102

 

Dr. Marks states that

this seal was used

from 1812.

However,

we found several prints
at the Museum of Fine Arts

in Boston were dated to

as late as 1817.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kawaguchiya

Chōzō

(Seal name - Kawachō

川長, family name -

Kawamura 川村)

Marks #230

川口屋長蔵

かわぐちや

ちょうぞう

Edo

 

Marks seal #25-358

 

Dr. Marks does not

specify any dates for

this seal.

Eisen, Hiroshige,

Kunisada,  Kuniyoshi, 

Sadafusa, Sadakage,

Toyokuni II

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1830 to 1840

Some of the actors represented in prints published by this house were: Arashi Kanjūrō I (1774-1843); as Onoe Kikugorō III and Onoe Baikō III (1784-1849); Ichikawa Danzō V (1788- 1845); as Ichikawa Ebizō V, Danjūrō VII and Sanshō (1791-1859); Nakamura Shikan II (1792-1852); Kataoka Ichizō I (1792-1862); as Iwai Kumesaburō II and Hanshirō VI (1799-1836); Segawa Kikunojō V (1802-32); Bandō Mitsugorō IV (1802-63); Sawamura Tosshō I (1802-53); Iwai Shijaku I (1804-45); Onoe Eizaburō III (1808-60); Ichimura Uzaemon XII (1812-51); Ichikawa Komazō V (1812-49); Ichikawa Danzaburō V (?-1843); Arashi Kamenojō II (dates unknown); Ichikawa Tōjūrō (dates unknown); Matsumoto Taisaku (dates unknown).

 

 

 

 

The Kuniyoshi print on
the right is from a triptych
in the Lyon Collection. Click
on it to see the full composition.

 

 

Marks seal #21-202

 

Dr. Marks does not

specify any dates for

this seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Kawaguchiya

Shōzō

(Seal name - Kawashō

川正,

firm name - Shōeidō

正栄堂 or Eisendō)

Marks #231

川口屋正蔵

かわぐちや

しょうぞう

Edo

 

Marks seal #25-355

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1820s-40s for

this seal.

 

Eisen (b), Eizan,

Hiroshige, Hokuga,

Kunihide,

as Kunisada & Toyokuni III,

Kunitora,

Kuniyasu, Kuniyoshi, 

 Sadafusa,

Sadahide (b),

Senchō (b),

Toyokuni II,

Yoshimaru (b)

 

A (b) means as a
 book illustrator sometimes
along with woodblock prints.

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1824 to IV/1852

This business was taken over in the 4th month of 1852 by Ebisu-ya Shōshichi.   

 

 

          

Kawaguchiya Uhei
(seal name - Kawaguchi

川口,

firm name - Fukusendō

福川堂,

family name - Kawaguchi Uhei

福川宇兵衛)

Marks #232

川口屋卯兵衛

 

Andreas Marks gives

the kanji as

川口屋宇兵衛

かわぐちや
うへえ

Edo

 

 

Marks seal #21-142

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1800s-33 for

this seal.

 

Eisen, Eizan, Hiroshige,

Kuniaki, Kunimitsu,

as both Kunisada (  b)

& Toyokuni III, 

Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Sadamasa,

Sadatsuna, Shun'ei,

Shunkō, Shunkō II,

Shunsen,

Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,

Yoshimune, Yoshiyuki

 

 A (b) means as a

 book illustrator sometimes

along with woodblock prints.

Andreas Marks gives the

dates the 1800s to 1852

In 1808 Kawaguchiya appears to be the first publishing house to produce actor prints by Kunisada. For a short time in 1812 the firm's head was one of the censors. "By the late 1830s, Kawaguchiya entered the market for illustrated books with Sadahide..." The business was taken over by Tsuji-ya Yasubei in 1852. Source and quote from: Source and quotes from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 252.

 

 

 

 

The Toyokuni III print on
the right is from a triptych
in the collection of

Arizona State University.

Click on it to see

the full composition.

 

Marks seal #22-050
 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1833-49? for

this seal.

 

 

 

Kawaji

Marks #U127

河治

かわじ

Osaka

 

The Hokumyō print shown

to the right is from the

Lyon Collection.

Click on it to learn more.

 

Marks seal #25-104

Hokuei, Hokumyō,

Sadaashi,

Shunchō, Tomiyuki

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as 1830s

to 1850s.

Kawaoto

Andreas Marks says that Kawaoto is the seal name of this publisher. The publisher's name is Kawane -  かわね

(unidentified:未詳).

Marks #U130

川音

かわおと

Osaka

 

Marks seal #25-351

 

Dr. Marks does not

specify any dates for

this seal.

Hirosada, Kiyosada,

Kunimasu,

Kunitsune, Masunobu, 

Sadakatsu, Sadanobu,

Sadamasu I & II

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1847-1860s
 

 

          

Kazusaya Iwakichi

(Seal name - Jōgan

上岩, aka Iwazō)

 

Andreas Marks refers to this publisher as Kazusaya Iwazō.

Marks #233

上総屋岩吉

かずさや

いわきち

 Edo

The Kuniyoshi print shown to the right  is not one we have offered. The image  has been sent to us from a private collection. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

Marks seal #21-052

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1845-50 for

this seal.

Hokui, Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III,

Yoshifuji, Yoshimune,

Yoshitsuna,

Yoshitsuya, Yoshitora

Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1842 to 1855.

 

According to Marks this publisher operated out of the premises

 of another publisher, Yamashiroya Jinbei.

 

 

 

The 1852 Toyokuni III print to the right is one we have not shown. There is no link to it.

 

Marks seal #25-291
 

 

          

Kichi

吉

きち

Osaka

 

Marks seal #06-012

Ashiyuki, Hatsukuni,

Hokumyo, Hokusho,

Kunihiro, Sadamaru, 

Shigeharu, Shuno, 

Shunshi, Shunpo,

Shunyo,  Shunzei,

Toshikuni, Umekuni,

  Yoshikuni

As early as 1816  to as

late as 1833 or later

 

Marks gives the dates

of ca. 1823-33.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kikuya Ichibei

(Seal name -
Kikuichi 菊市;
firm name - Kinkōdō
金幸堂)

Marks #235

菊屋市兵衛

きくやいちべえ

Edo

 

Marks seal #26-014

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates of the 1830s

to 1867 for

this seal.

 

  Kuniaki II, Kunichika,

as Kunisada

and Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II,

Kunitsuna, Kuniteru II,

Kuniyoshi,

Sadafusa, Yoshiiku,

Yoshitoyo

Marks gives the dates

of ca. 1835-67.

Hori Kane worked on

Yoshitoyo prints in 1860

and on Kuniteru IIs in 1863.

and Kunisada II in

the same year.

Hori Mino worked on

Kunichika prints in 1865

for Kikuya Ichibei.

Horikō Chō worked on

Kunichika prints in 1867.

Hori Ei carved
Kunichika prints in 1867.

Hori Sennosuke carved
Toyokuni III prints in

1862.

 

 

 

 

 

The diptych by Kunisada
shown above is from
the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston.

 

Marks seal #21-056

 

Dr. Marks says

this seal was used

in the 1830s.

 

 

 

Kinkadō

(Seal name - Konishi 小西;

firm name Kinkadō 金花堂)

Marks #242

Marks calls this publisher

Kinkadō Konishi.

 金花堂小西

きんかどう

 こにし

Kyoto

 

One of our correspondents, H.S. sent us this Hirosada diptych. There is no link

to a larger image.

 

This seal is clostst to

Marks seal #25-170

Hironobu, Hirosada, Hokuei,

Hokuju,  Kunimasu,

possibly Kyosai, Sadamasu,

Sadahiro, Sadanobu

Marks gives the dates of

ca. 1834 to 52.

 

 

 

 

The print to the right is from

the Lyon Collection. Click on it to

see more information.

 

 

 

Marks seal #24-088

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiya Sōjirō
(Komori Sōjirō - family name  小森宗次郎;

Kobokudō - firm name 紅木堂)

Marks #252

木屋宗次郎 

きやそうじろう

Edo

 

Marks seal #26-143

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1851-74 for

this seal.

Chikanobu, Chikashige,

Fusutane, Ginkō,

Hiroshige III, Kokunimasa,

Kuniaki,

Kuniaki II, Kunichika,

Kunifuku, Kunimaro,

  Kunisada II,  Kunisada III, Kunisato,

Kuniteru II, Kuniyoshi,

Shungyō, Toshimasa,

Toyokuni III, Yasunobu, Yoshifusa,

Yoshiiku, Yoshikata, Yoshikazu,

Yoshimura, Yoshitora, Yoshtsuya,

Yoshitoshi

According to Marks this publisher

operated from ca. 1851 to 1904.

The carver Hori Koma worked for this publisher in 1860 and Hori Take from 1860-63. Hori Mino in 1865. Hori Kane carved
Yoshifusa for this house

in 1859 and Toyokuni III
and Yoshiiku in 1860.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiyomizuya

(aka Shimizuya)

There is an earlier publishing house working under the Shimizu name. I have yet to figure out what the connection might be, if any.

清水屋

きよみずや

(しみずや)

Edo

Kuniyoshi

Possibly as early as 1844 or earlier to as late 1854 or later

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kobayashi Taijirō

( Firm name -

Bunshōdō/Bunseidō
文正堂)

Marks #257

小林松五郎

こばやし
たいじるう

Edo/Tokyo

 

Marks seal #08-132

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1848-53 for

this seal. (These dates

do not agree with the

date we have assigned

to the print to the

left.)

 

Enkatsu,

Hokusai,

Kunimori II, Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III,

Yoshifuji, Yoshiiku

Yoshitora

Marks gives the dates of

ca. 1846 to 1894.

 

 

 

 

The Kuniyoshi print on
the right is from
the collection of

Arizona State University.

 Click on it to

 see more information.

 

 

Marks seal #25-279

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1846-47 for

this seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kogaya Katsugorō

(Seal name -

Kogakatsu 古賀勝)

Marks #262

古賀屋勝五郎

こがや
かつごるう

Edo/Tokyo

 

Marks seal #17-008

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1844-60 for

this seal.

Baiji,

Chikanobu, Kunichika,

Kunihisa,

Kunimichi II,

Kunisada & Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II, Kuniteru, 

Kuniyoshi, Ōsai Baiji,

 Renchidō, Sadamasu,

Sadamura,

Sadashige, Sadatoshi,

Sadayu,

Sadayuki, Shunpūsha

Yoshiiku, Yoshifuji,

Yoshimasa,

Yoshimori, Yoshinobu,

Yoshiteru, Yoshitora,

Yoshitoshi,

Yoshitsuru

Marks gives the dates of

ca. 1843 to 1874.

Horikō Hidekatsu carved

for this publisher on a
Yoshitoshi print in 1873

and on a Kunisada II

triptych in 1874.

 

 

 

 

The Kunichika print to
the right is not

one we have offered.

 

Marks seal #17-006

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates of 1844-60 for

this seal, but this example

 may actually date from 1867.

 

 

 

 

The Toyokuni III print to
the right is from the
Lyon Collection. Click
on it to see more
information.

 

Marks seal #19-042

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates of 1845 for

this seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kojimaya Jūbei

Marks #264

小嶋屋重兵衛

こじま

じゅうべえ

Edo/Tokyo

 

The print to the right is from

the Lyon Collection. Click on it to

see more information.

 

 

Marks seal #21-125

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1845-49 for

this seal.

As Kunisada and

Toyokuni III,

 Kunimasa, Kuniyoshi,

Sadashige, Toyokuni I

Utagawa Shunshō,

Yoshitora,

Yoshitoshi

Marks gives the dates of

ca. 1797 to 1869.

 

 

 

 

The print by Hōrai Shunshō

to the right is

from the

Museum of Fine Arts

in Boston.

 

This seal is not in Marks.

 

 

 

 

 

The print by Kuniyoshi

to the right is

from the

Museum of Fine Arts

in Boston.

 

Marks seal closest

to it is #06-014.

 

 

 

Koshimuraya

Heisuke

(Seal name - Kohei 越平)

Marks #274

越村屋平助

 

こしむらや

へいすけ(?)

Edo

 

The print shown to the right  is not one we have offered. However, it has a publisher's seal which we want to display for your information. The image  has been sent to us by our great contributor Eikei (英渓). We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

 

Marks seal #20-007

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1843-65 for

this seal.

Gengyo, Hiroshige,

Kunifuku, Kunitsuna,

Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III, Yoshikata

Marks gives the dates of

ca. 1843 to 1865.

Hori Take carved for them

from 1853-56?;

Hori Masa in 1863.

 

 

 

 

The print to the right is from

the Lyon Collection. Click on it to

see more information.

 

Marks seal #25-086

 

Dr. Marks gives the

date 1853 for

this seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kyōji

(Seal name - Kyōji 京次

or 京治)

 

Marks #U174

 

 

Edo

 

The print to the right is from

the Lyon Collection. Click on it to

see more information.

 

Marks seal #25-140

 

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1846-48 for

this seal.

Kuniyoshi

Marks gives the dates of

ca. 1846 to 1848.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       
   

CLICK ON THE

BACK OF THE BAREN SHOWN ABOVE TO GO TO FIRST PUBLISHERS PAGE WHERE THEY ARE ARRANGED ACCORDING TO SHAPES!

    

 

 

 HOME