Yoshu chikanobu biography for kids

The Edo/Tokyo artist Toyohara Chikanobu ((豊原周延 1838–1912; frequently Yôshû Chikanobu 楊洲周延 and real name Hashimoto Naoyoshi 橋本直義) was the son of a low-level retainer named Hashimoto Naohiro (died 1879) of the Sakakibara family, whose ancestry included military governors or daimyô (大名) of the Takada domain (高田藩) in Echigo Province.

As was common for members of his class, Chikanobu had training in Kanô-school painting, but he preferred ukiyo-e. He might have begun his print studies with a disciple of Keisai Eisen (渓斎英泉 1790-1848). Regardless, he joined the studio of Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi (歌川國芳 1798-1861) around 1852.

After Kuniyoshi's death, he studied with Utagawa Kunisada (歌川國貞 1786-1865), sometimes signing as Yôshû (楊洲). Finally, around 1862, Chikanobu had some instruction with Toyohara Kunichika (豊原國周 1835-1900), focusing on actor portraiture.