Ukiyo-e Prints

浮世絵版画

Port Townsend, Washington

PUBLISHERS

K THRU M

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

A thru G

H thru J

N to Z

CLICK ON THE IMAGES OF THE PRINTS SHOWN BELOW

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PUBLISHER

KANJI

KANA

LOCATION

EXAMPLE

SEAL

Kaga-ya Kichiemon

(seal name - Kagakichi

加賀吉,

firm name - Seiseidō

 青盛堂, 

family name - Tsutusmi Kichibei

 堤吉右衛門,

aka Kaga-ya Kichibei

or Yorozu-ya 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 #22-027

Andreas Marks notes that

this particular seal was used between 1830s to 1844.

Eizan, Fusatane,

Hayakawa Shōzan,

Hiroshige II, Hiroshige III,

Kunichika, as Kunisada &

as Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II, Kunisada III,

Kuniteru II,

Kunitoshi, Kuniyasu,

 Kuniyoshi,

Myōrindō Kakushi,

Nobukazu, Toyokuni I, 

Yoshifuji, Yoshikazu,

Yoshiiku, Yoshitora,

Yoshitoshi, Yoshitoyo

  & Yoshitsuya

As early as the first decade of the 19th c. to as late as 1875 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1815 to 1850

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1804 for this publisher.

"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.

Kaga-ya 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,

Toyokuni III, Yoshiiku,

Yoshikazu & Yoshitsuna

As early as 1852 or earlier to as late as 1859 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1849 to 1861

Kagi-ya Shōjirō?

(Now Kagi-ya Shōbei - see below)

This attribution is tentative because we have 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 I do notes that the top character is kagi (鍵) and the second is shō (庄). We know from another seal that there was already an established publisher with this name and that this may simply be a variant seal which they also used.

It  appears that  Kagiya Shōbei is the same publisher. The expanded list below reflects this information. Marks #198

鍵屋

庄 兵衛

かぎや

しょう べえ

Edo

There is no longer a page

linked to this print.

Kunichika, Kuniaki II,

 Kunihisa, Kunisada II,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Toyokuni III & Yoshikata

As early as 1860 or earlier to

as late as 1863 or later

Kakumoto-ya 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

Chikuyōdō, Hiroshige III,

 Kunihisa II, Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III, Yoshiiku,

Yoshikazu, Yoshitoshi

& Yoshitsuya

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 M, a great friend. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

As early as 1849

or earlier to as late

as 1868 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1851 to 1868

Kawaguchi-ya

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

Eisen, Hiroshige,

Kunisada,  Kuniyoshi, 

Sadafusa, Sadakage

& Toyokuni II

As early as 1830 or earlier

to as late as 1844 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1830 to 1840

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the dates of ca. 1845-1868 for this publisher

 Kawaguchi-ya

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

Eisen, Eizan,

Hiroshige, Hokuga,

Kunihide,

as Kunisada & Toyokuni III,

Kunitora,

Kuniyasu, Kuniyoshi, 

 Sadafusa, Senchō

& Toyokuni II

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1824 to IV/1852

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the dates of ca.

 1816-1854 for this publisher

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

Kawaguchi-ya 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

Eisen, Eizan, Hiroshige,

Kuniaki, Kunimitsu,

as both Kunisada & Toyokuni III, 

Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Sadamasa,

Sadatsuna, Shun'ei,

Shunkō, Shunkō II,

Shunsen,

Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,

Yoshimune & Yoshiyuki

As early as 1791

 to as late as ca. 1854

Andreas Marks gives the

dates the 1800s to 1852

In 1808 Kawaguchi-ya 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.

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

Hirosada, Kiyosada,

Kunimasu,

Kunitsune, Masunobu, 

Sadakatsu, Sadanobu

& Sadamasu I & II

As early as 1848 or earlier

 to as late as 1856 or later

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1847-1860s

Kazusa-ya 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

Hokui, Kuniyoshi,

Yoshifuji, Yoshimune,

Yoshitsuya & Yoshitora

As early as 1840 to as late as

1852 or later

Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1842 to 1855

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the dates of ca. 1845-1868 for this publisher

According to Marks this publisher operated out of the premises of another publisher, Yamashiro-ya Jinbei.

Kichi
(cf. Iseya Kanekichi listed on the previous page)

吉

きち

Osaka

Kinkadō

吉

きんかどう

Osaka & possibly

Tokyo

Hironobu, Hirosada, Hokuei, Hokuju,  possibly Kyosai, Sadamasu, Sadanobu & Sadahiro

As early as 1832 or earlier to as late as 1861 or later. Possibly as late as 1880.

Normally we don't show the same seal twice, but in this case we are making an exception. One of our correspondents, H.S. sent us this Hirosada diptych with a much more readable publisher's seal. Thanks H.S.

There is no link to a larger image.

Ki-ya Sōjirō
(aka Kōmokūdō & Kobokudō)

Marks #252

木屋
宗次郎 

きや
そうじろう

Edo

There is no longer a page

linked to this print.

Fusutane, Kuniaki,

Kuniaki II, Kunichika,

  Kunisada II, Kunisato,

Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III, Yoshifusa,

Yoshiiku, Yoshikata, Yoshikazu,

Yoshitora, Yoshtsuya,

 & Yoshitoshi

Kiyomizu-ya

(aka Shimizu-ya)

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

(aka Bunseidō)

Marks #257

小林
松五郎

こばやし
たいじるう

Edo

 Kuniyoshi,

Toyokuni III,

Yoshifuji &Yoshiiku

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1845 for this publisher.

Koga-ya Katsugorō

Marks #262

古賀屋

勝五郎

こがや
かつごるう

Edo

Kunisada II, Kuniteru, 

Kuniyoshi & Yoshimori

Koshimura-ya

Heisuke

(aka Koshihei)

Marks #274

越平

こしむらや

へいすけ(?)

Edo

Hiroshige, Kunitsuna,

Kuniyoshi & Yoshikata

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.

As early as 1853 or earlier

to as late 1863 or later

Maru-ya Bun'emon

(seal name - Marubun;

firm name - Bunjudō)

Marks #292

丸屋

文右衛門

まるや

ぶんえもん

Edo

Eiri, Eisui, Eizan, Hokusai,

Kikumaro (aka Tsukimaro),

Kunimasa,

 Kunisada, Sekihō,

Shinsai, Shuntei,

Toyokuni I,

Toyomaru,

Utamaro & Utamaro II

Two points: 1) I would like to thank my friend Mike for providing this image and 2) this print has been trimmed at the bottom. That is why the publisher's seal does not form a full circle. Normally it would.

As early as 1793 or earlier

 to as late as 1825 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates ca. 1793 to 1834

"In 1807, Maruya is listed as a member of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild (Jihon toiya). In the third month of 1813 and the first month of 1814, Maruya served as censor (gyōji)..." Few books and prints were published between the last half of the 1820s and the time the firm closed. Source and quotes from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 216.

Maru-ya Heijirō

Marks #293

丸屋
平次郎

まるや
へいじろう

Edo/Tokyo

There is no longer a page

linked to this print.

Kunichika, Kunisada II

& Kuniteru

As early as 1866 or earlier

to as late as 1871 or later

Maru-ya Jimpachi
(seal name - Marujin;

 firm name - Enjudō

from 1807-33;

Tōkokudō from 1865-72)

Marks #294

丸屋
甚八

まるや
じんぱち

Edo

There is no longer a link to this print.

Bunchō, Eirin,

Eisen, Eishin, Eizan,

Harunobu, Hiroshige,

Hiroshige II (aka Shigenobu),

Kaigetsudô Anchi

Kiyomitsu, Kiyomitsu II

Koryūsai,

Kunichika, Kunisada II,

Kunitsuna II, Kuniyoshi,

Sadahide, Sekihō,

Shigemasa,

Shun'ei, Shunkō

Shunkō II (Shunsen),

 Shunshō, Toyokuni I,

Toyokuni II, Toyokuni III,

Utamaro, Yoshiiku,

Yoshikazu, Yoshitora,

Yoshitoshi & Yoshitsuya

As early as the 1710s

 to as late as 1872 or later

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1759-1872.

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1751 for this publisher.

This print was contributed to our site by F.

There is no page linked to it.

Marks seal #24-021

Andreas Marks notes that

this particular seal was used only in 1865.

"Maruya Jinpachi is among the most active publishrs in the history of Japanese woodblock printing." In 1807 he was a member of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild. "In the 1850s, Maruya had no successors and in the sixth month of 1853, he adopted Iseya Chūsuke, who was  asmall nearby publisher active since c. 1849. In the tenth month, Iseya Chūsuke continued the business under the name Maruya Jinpachi." Source and quotes from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 198.

Maru-ya Kyūshirō

Marks #298

丸屋

久四郎

まるや

きゆうしろう

Edo

Marks seal #21-126

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1854-59  for this seal.

Hiroshige,

Kunisada II,

 Toyokuni III & Yoshikazu

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 from the Eikei (英渓) Collection. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

Active in 1854-55. A broader range of dates will be added later.

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1844 to 1868 for this publisher

Maru-ya

Seijirō

(seal name - Marusei,

 firm name - Jukakudō)

Marks #299

丸屋

   清次郎    

まるや

せいじろう

Marks seal #27-010

Dr. Marks gives the

dates 1835-55  for this seal.

Eisen,

Hiroshige, Kunihide,

Kunimasa,

as Kunisada & Toyokuni III,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,

Yoshikazu,

Yoshinobu, Yoshitora

& Yoshitsuya

As early as 1825 or earlier to as late as 1855 or later

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1799-1863.

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1801 to 1860 for this publisher

According to Andreas Marks there was a hiatus in the production of prints from 1802 until the late 1820s or early 1830s. At the end of its run the firm was "...taken over with not much success by Fukushimiya Taschichi in the ninth month 1863." Source and quotes from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 238.

Maru-ya

Tetsujirō

(seal name - Marutetsu 丸銕,

firm name - 涎寿堂,

family name - Kobayashi Tetsujirō

小林銕次郎)

Marks #300

丸屋

銕次郎

まるや

てつじろう

Edo/Tokyo

This seal is not exactly like

the one in Dr. Marks book, but

it is close enough to list here.

Marks seal #12-015

Arinobu, Chikanobu,

Chikashige, Eitaku,

Fusatane, Gengyo,

Hiroshige II, Hiroshige III, Kunichika, Kunihisa,

Kunisada II, Kunisada III,

Kuniteru II, Kyōsai,

Sadahide, ShōShōzan,

Toyokuni III, Toyonobu,

Tsuyanaga, Yoshiiku,

Yoshimori, Yoshitora

and Yoshitoshi

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1847-97.

 Maru-ya

Tokuzō

(seal name - Marutoku 丸徳,

firm name - Hōzendō 宝善堂,

family name - Sekiyama Tokuzō

関山徳造

Marks #301

丸屋

徳造

まるや

とくぞう

Edo

There is no image to post yet.

Sorry!

Marks seal #22-097

Andreas Marks notes that this particular seal was used between 1860-61.

Gengyo, Sadahide,

Toyokuni III & Yoshiiku

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1860-67.

Marks notes that this publisher took over the business of Nishimura-ya Yohachi in 1860.

Masugindō

Marks #304

?

ますぎんどう

Edo

Marks seal #08-096

Andreas Marks notes that this particular seal was used between 1830s-54.

Kuniyoshi

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 from a private collection. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

We know that this publiser was active as early as 1847 to as late as 1850 or later

Matsumura Tatsuemon

(seal name - Matsu 松)

Marks #311

松村辰
右衛門

(We have corrected

the kanji using information

provided by Andreas Marks.)

まつむら
たつえもん

Edo

Eisen,

Kunimaru, Kunimasu,

Kunisada, Kuniyasu,

Sadafusa, Sadahide,

Sadakage, Toyokuni I,

Toyokuni II & Utamaro

As early as 1795 or earlier to as late as the late 1831 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1793 to ca. 1832.

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna also identifies this publisher as Matsumura Yahei with the date as early as ca. 1751

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 218) says: "Since the mid 1790s he bagan also to issue actor prints and really concentrated on this field in the 1810s when he became one of the most active publishers in this field."

Mikawa-ya Denbei

三河屋

伝兵衛

みかわや

でんべえ

Edo

There is no page linked to

this print.

Eizan &
Kunisada II

As early as 1807 or earlier

to as late as 1865 or later

Dr. Marks identifies

this publisher as

Mikawa-ya Kihei

(Seal name - Miki 三河)

Marks #326

Originally posted as

Mita-ya Kihachi

(A contributor wrote to point out certain mistakes in this entry. We originally referred to this as Mita-ya Kihei, but now believe that was a mistake. Thanks ED.)

Dr. Marks notes that

"Seals are sometimes misassigned

to Mitaya Kihachi."

Now

三河屋

喜兵衛

Originally

三田屋

喜八

みかわや

きへえ

(Corrected but wrongly)

みたや

きはち

Edo

Gengyo, Hiroshige,

Kuniyoshi & Toyokuni III

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.

Active as early as ca. 1852

to as late as 1856

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1845 to 1865

Mikawa-ya Tetsugorō

(Seal name - Santetsu

三鉄)

Marks #329

三河屋

鉄五郎

みかわや

てつごるう

Edo

Kōsai, Kunisada II,

Kunisato, Kunitaka,

Kuniyoshi, Toyokuni III,

Yoshiho,

Yoshikazu & Yoshitsuna

As early as 1852 or earlier

to as late as 1858 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1845 to 1858

Dr. Marks notes that this publisher operated out of the same shop as Yamashiro-ya Heisuke.

Minato-ya Kohei

(Seal name -

Minatoko 湊小,

family name - Kinsendō

錦船堂)

Marks #332

湊屋
小兵衛 

みなとや
こへえ

Edo

Gengyo,

Kunichika, Kunihisa II,

Kunisada II, Kunitsuna,

Kuniyoshi, Shigemitsu,

Toyokuni III,

Yoshifuji, Yosikazu

& Yoshitsuna

As early as 1849 or earlier

to as late as 1862 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1841 to 1862

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1830 to as late as 1860 for this publisher

Dr. Marks notes that this publisher may have become the house of Okamoto Kaitoku. Marks #406

Morita-ya Hanjirō

(aka Honzō)

Andreas Marks gives this

publisher's name as

Morita Hanzō.

Marks #352

森田屋

?

Morita Hanzō is

森田屋

半蔵

もりたや
はんじろう

Edo

There is no longer a link to this print.

Eisen, Hirosada,

Hiroshige,

Kunisada, Kuniyoshi,

Sadatora & Toyokuni I

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1825 to 1835

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1818 to 1844 for this publisher

Mori-ya Jihei

(seal name - Moriji

森治,

firm name - Kinshindō

錦森堂,

family name - Ishikawa Jihei

石川治兵衛)

Marks #353

森屋

治兵衛

もりや

じへえ

Edo

Chōki,

Eisho, Eizan,

Fusatane, Hiroshige,

Hiroshige II, Hokuju,

Hokusai,

Kiyohiro, Kiyomitsu,

Kunichika, Kunimaru,

Kunimitsu, Kuninao,

Kuninobu,

as Kunisada & Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II,

Kuniteru, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Sadafusa,

Sadahide,

Sadatora, Shigemasa,

Shigemasa II,

Shun'ei, Shuntei,

Toyokuni I,

Toyokuni II, Utamaro,

Utamaro II, Yoshikazu

& Yoshitora

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 from a private collector. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

As early as 1760 or earlier

to as late as 1864 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1797 to 1886.

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 222) says: "Moriya's business went well and by 1807 he was one of the few members of the newly founded Guild of Picture Book and Print Publishers (Jihon toiya). From 1811 until 1813 he sometimes acted as a censor of prints."

Murata-ya

Jirōbei

(seal name - Murata

村田,

firm name - Eiyūdō

栄邑堂)

Marks #359

村田屋

治郎兵衛

(Andrea Marks gives a

reading of 村田屋.次郎兵衛

which we believe is a correct

alternate form.)

むらたや

じろうべえ

Edo

Baishō,

Bunchō, Chikanobu,

Chōki, Eishō, Fusanobu, 

Hagawa Wagen,

Hiroshige,

Hokuba, Hokusai,

Ikku, Kikumaro,

Kiyomasu II, Kiyomitsu,

Kiyonobu I,

Kiyonobu II,

Kiyotsune,

Kunimasa, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi,  Kyosen,

Masayoshi,

Tamura Sadanobu, Shigemasa,

Shigenaga, Hirose Shigenobu,

Shunchō, Shun'ei,

Shunkō, Shunshō,

Shuntei, Toyokuni I,

Toyonobu, Tsukimaro

Utamaro, Utamaro II

& Wagen

As early as ca. 1659

 to as late as 1815-20 or later.

Andreas Marks believes it extends as late as 1844. See quote below.

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the end date of ca. 1830 for this publisher

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 188) says: "It is not clear if Murataya Jirōbei's business came to an end in the early 1820s as he suddenly disappeared from the scene. In the first half of the 1840s however there appears a small number of series by Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi that bear a 'Murata' publisher seal." Originally a publisher of books the firm started printing actor and bijin prints in ca. 1720s. In 1807 the head of the firm was listed as a member of the Picture Books and Print Publishers Guild (Jihon toiya - 地本問屋? or  じほんといや) and the Book Publishers Guild (Shomotsu toiya - 問屋). In 1811 and 1812 the head of the firm was also a censor of prints.

Murata-ya Tetsu

(This is a correction based on information from Dr. Marks of the name we first listed.)

Seal name - Muratetsu 村鉄

Marks #360

村田屋鉄

むらやてつ

Edo

Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and

Yoshitora

As early as 1842

to as late as 1846

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1843 to 1844

CLICK ON THE

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