Toyohara Kunichika

Kunichika was born in the Kyobashi district of Tokyo, formerly called Edo. His original name was Yasohachi Oshima. Around the age of eleven or twelve, he became a student of the ukiyo-e master Chikanobu. At the age of thirteen he entered the studio of Kunisada as an apprentice, probably on the recommendation of Chikanobu. The young Yasohachi then received his artist name - Kunichika - derived from the names of his two masters, KUNIsada and CHIKAnobu.