Ukiyo-e Prints

浮世絵版画

Port Townsend, Washington

PUBLISHERS

N TO Z

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

A thru G

H thru J

K thru M

CLICK ON THE IMAGES OF THE PRINTS SHOWN BELOW

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PUBLISHER

KANJI

KANA

LOCATION

EXAMPLE

SEAL

ARTISTS

DATES

Nishimura-ya Yohachi

(seal name - Nishiyo;

firm name - Eijūdō)

7 variants shown

西村屋

与八

にしむらや

よはち

Edo

The bottom half of the publisher's seal is not shown  here, but the top part of it appears on the trimmed lower edge of this print.  Below is a full example from a different print.

We know that this seal was

 being used in ca. 1782 into1807.

Bunchō, Eishi,

Eishō, Eizan,

Harunobu, Hiroshige,

Hokkei, Hokuju, as both Shunrō & Hokusai, Kiyomine, Kiyomitsu, Kiyomitsu II, Kiyonaga,

Kiyoshige,

Koryūsai, Kuninao, Kunisada,

Kuniyasu,

 Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Shigemasa, Shikimaro, Shunchō, Shun'ei, Shungyō, Shunman,  Shunshō,

Shunzan,  Toyoharu, Toyohiro, Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,  Toyoshige, Utamaro

& Utamaro II

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. An anonymous correspondent has been kind enough to let us display it.

Active as early as 1708-10

to as late as 1834 or later

Andreas Marks gives the dates ca. 1751 to 1869

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the  dates of ca. 1750 to 1850 for this publisher

"Nishimuraya Yohachi is among the most important publishers in the history of prints and may be the purblisher with the biggest output over time." This is from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 194) by Andreas Marks as are all other entries in this box. "...since his beginning, all important and popular artists worked for him." Marks talks about Nishimurya's willingness to publish unusual themes across a large range of subjects. "In the 1830s, his production of illustrated books increased significantly until it came to an abrupt end in early 1841." Marks added later: "Nishimuraya suddenly stopped producing prints and illustrated books in early 1841, apparently because of a change in leadership from Yohachi II to the adopted Yohachi III." [Perhaps another reason might have been the restrictions of the Tempo reforms which were so destructive to other publishers at that time - especially those in Osaka.] In 1799 Toyokuni I produced a memorial print devoted to the founding member of the firm. In 1807 Nishimuraya was a member of two major guilds: the Picture Books and Print Publishers Guild and the Book Publishers Guild. Little was published between 1841-1860. "The final end came in the third month of the same year when Nishimuraya was taken over by the publisher Maruya Tokuzō."

On the right is a variation of the Nishimura-ya Yohachi seal, but this one is composed solely of the single mountain motif  over the tomoe symbol sans the character cartouche below.

We know that this seal was

 being used as early as ca. 1770-72

to as late as 1825-30

as found on a Toyokuni II triptych.

The print shown to the right dated ca. 1815 is not one we have offered. However, it has a publisher's seal which we want to display for your information.  Generously provided to us by Dede and Bruce H.

The seal to the right appeared on

a Kiyomitsu I print in ca. 1770.

We know that this seal to the right was used on prints published as early as ca. 1770 to as late as 1784.

It appears on a 1776 Koryûsai print with a seal of Tsutaya Jûzaburô, too.

 The seal to the right appeared on a

Hiroshige print in ca. 1832-4.

The seal to the right appeared on a

Kiyonaga print from ca. 1781.

The seal to the right appeared on an

Okura Masanobu print in ca. 1708-10.

This pushed out dating back by about 55 years.

This seal - to the right -was used

on a Kiyonaga print in ca. 1778.

Nishi Shin

西新

にししん

Edo

Kunisada

The British Museum web site has the left panel of the two prints shown here. They identifiy this publisher as Nishi Shin.

1821

Nuno Kichi

布吉

ぬの

きち

Edo

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 was sent to us from our contributor ED.  We are grateful for this addition to our site.

Possibly as early as 1830 or earlier and as late as 1848 or later

Oden

Marks #U246

尾伝

おでん

Edo

Kunisada, Kunitomi,

Kuniyasu & Sadafusa

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1831-1832

Ōmi-ya Heihachi

近江屋

平八

おうみや

へいはち

Edo

Eisen, Eizan,

Kunisada, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi,

Sadahide, Shunkō,

Shunshō II, Shuntei,

Toyokuni I & Toyokuni II

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. An anonymous correspondent has been kind enough to let us display it.

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the dates of 1804-44 for this publisher

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1811-1851

Ōmi-ya Yohei

おうみや

よへえ

Edo

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. An anonymous correspondent has been kind enough to let us display it.

This has been offered as an alternate name for the publisher Sano-ya Kihei. (See that entry below.)

Ōta-ya Takichi

(Family name - Ōta Takichi,

Ōta Hidekatsu after ca. 1883,

aka Hori Takichi)

4 variants shown

Marks #423

太田屋

多吉

おおたや

たきち

Edo/Tokyo

 Kuniaki,

Kunichika, Kunihisa II,

as Kunisada & Toyokuni III, Kunisada II, Kuniyoshi,

Kyōsai, Yoshiiku,

Yoshimori & Yoshitora

As early as 1830 or earlier and as late as 1872 or later

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1849-1867

This publisher started out as a carver from a family of carvers. "In the mid 1840s, Ōtaya predomnantly worked as a carver for Kuniyoshi but then began to publish Kuniyoshi's actor prints by himself." After he quit publishing he continued carving under the name Hidekatsu until at least 1877. He died in 1882. Source and quote from: Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900, by Andreas Marks, p. 292.

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

To the right is an alternative

seal for Ōta-ya Takichi.

To the right is another alternative

seal for Ōta-ya Takichi.

Sano-ya Kihei

(seal name - Sanoki, 

firm name - Taihōdō

until ca. 1804,

then Kikakudō,

 & Omi-ya Yohei,

family name - Okumura Kihei)

3 variants shown

佐野屋

喜兵衛

さのや
きへえ

Edo

Eisen, Eizan,

Hiroshige, Hokkei,

Kuninobu,

as Kunisada & as Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II, Kuniteru,

 Kuniteru II, Kuniyoshi,

Sadahide, Shunkō II,

Shunsen, Toyokuni I,

Toyokuni II, Yoshikazu

& Yoshitora

As early as ca. 1806 or earlier

to as late as 1861 or later

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1717-1875

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1716 for this publisher

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 244) relates an interesting bit of information which not only applies to the practice of this publisher, but, by extrapolation to others as well: "From the early 1820s, he also issued actor prints, a topic he pursued constantly until the mid-1850s. With a few exceptions his actor prints are just average and well over twenty cases are kown when Sanoya reissued already existing woodblocks with old designs and just modified the actor's face line to portrait the actual actor of the new performance." We suppose this was an expedient cost-saver. In the next paragraph Marks gives Sano-ya its due: "Sanoya's stronghold was clearly prints of beautiful women, a field which he dominated undisputedly." One series was so popular new blocks had to be cut because the old ones had worn down. This firm was a member of the Guild of Fan Producers (Uchiwa toiya) "...and we know that he produced fan prints at least from the 1820s until the 1860s."

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.

The Hiroshige print to the left was brought to me for an appraisal. The owner has kindly let us reproduce the image here plus the very poorly printed publisher's seal.

Sano-ya Tomigorō

(aka Kinseidō)

佐野屋

富五郎

さのや

とみごろう

Edo

Hiroshige II, Kuniaki II,

Kunichika,

Toyokuni III, Yoshiiku,

Yoshimori, Yoshitora

& Yoshitsuya

This print has a seal we have not offered

yet. It was sent to us by our great

contributor Eikei  (英渓) .

As early as 1855 or earlier

to as late as 1868 or later

Senri

千里

せんり 

Edo

(or Osaka)

Possibly Yoshikuni, but under a different seal. This is based on an identification made by the British Museum: #2004,0619,0.2. The artist in the example shown to the right is as yet unidentified. We're working on it.

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 M's collection. We are grateful for this contribution to our site

As early as ca. 1820 or earlier to as late as ca. 1844 or later

Shimizu

2 variants shown

清水

しみず

Edo

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna says that this seal was also used by the publisher Mikawa-ya from ca. 1804 to 1818. I find this information a bit confusing and hope we can clear it up in time.

Eisen, Eizan,

Hiroshige, Kunimitsu,

Kunisada, Kuniyoshi,

Toyohiro,  Toyokuni I

& Toyokuni II

As early as 1804 or earlier to as late as ca. 1830 or later

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the end date of ca. 1840 for this publisher

To the left is another seal used by this publisher.

Shimizu-ya Naōjirō

清水屋

直次郎

しみずやなおじろう

Edo

Kunisada II,

Kuniyoshi, Toyokuni III,

Yoshimune & Yoshitora

As early as 1843 or earlier

to as late as 1868 or later

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

Shimizu-ya

Tsunejirō

2 variants shown

清水屋

常次郎じんすけ

しみずや

つねじろう

Edo

Fusatane or Hideteru ?,

Kuniteru,

Toyokuni III & Yoshitsuya

As early as 1847 or earlier

to as late as 1860 or later

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

The triptych shown to the right is not one we have offered. However, it has an alternate publisher's seal which we want to display for your information. This image has been sent to us from the Michi Trading Company of Houston, Texas . We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

Sumimaru-ya Jinsuke

住丸屋

 甚助

すみまるや

じんすけ

Edo

Eizan,

Hokusai, Kunimaru,

Kunisada, Shuntei,

Toyokuni I, possibly Utamaro

 & Utamaro II

 Active 1801 to 1834?

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as ca. 1803 to 1814

Sumiyoshi-ya Masagorō

住吉屋

政吾郎

すみよしや

まさごろう

Edo

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

As early as 1847

to as late as 1852 or later

Takemura Hideo

Marks #524

竹村
秀雄

たけむらひでお

Yokohama

There is no link to this

Hodo print shown above.

Hodo & Kōitsu

Andreas Marks gives

the dates as ca. 1926-1939

Tama-ya Sōsuke

玉屋

想助

たまや

そうすけ

Edo/Tokyo

Kuniyoshi, Toyokuni III,

Yoshifuji, Yoshiiku,

Yoshikazu, & Yoshitoshi

As early as 1847

to as late as 1869 or later

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the dates of ca. 1845-70 for this publisher

Tenki

(aka Tenmaya Kihei)

天喜

てんき

Osaka

Ashiyuki, Hironobu,

Hirosada, Hokucho,

Hokuei, Hokusetsu,

Hokushū, Kiyokuni,

Kunhiro, Nobuharu,

Nobuhiro, Nobukatsu,

Nobumasa, Sadahiro,

Sadamasu, Sadanobu, 

Sadayoshi,  Shibakuni,

Shigeharu, Shigenao,

Toshikuni, Toyohide,

Umekuni & Yoshikuni

As early as 1823 to as late as ca. 1835 or later

Note; There are several variant seals for this publisher. We will add them as they become available.

Toshin

(aka Tokura-ya Shinbei)

利倉屋

新兵衛

としくらや

しんべえ

Osaka

Ashihiro, Ashikuni, Ashiyuki, Chikakuni, Hikokuni, Hokuchu, Hokusei, Hokushū, Kunihiro, Kuninao, Shibakuni, Shigeharu, Shigenobu, Shuncho, Shunshi, Tamikuni, Utakuni  & Yoshikuni

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.  This was contributed by my friend Mike.

One more point: This print is often

shown without any publisher's

seal at all.

As early as 1815 to

as late as 1828 or later

Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke

(seal name- Tsujibun,

firm name - Kinshōdō,

family name -

Tsujioka Bunsuke)

3 variants shown

辻岡屋

文助

つじおかや
ぶんすけ

Edo

There is no link to this

Kuniyoshi print shown above.

Eitaku, Fusatane,

Ginkō, Hirokage,

Hiroshige II, Hiroshige III,

Kuniaki II, Kunichika,

Kunihisa II, Kunisada II,

Kunisato, Kunitaka,

Kuniteru, Kuniteru II,

Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Kyōsai,

Nobukazu, Sadahide, Toshihide,
Toyokuni III,

Yoshifuji, Yoshiharu,

Yoshiharu II,

Yoshiiku, Yoshikazu,

Yoshimitsu, Yoshimune,

Yoshitoshi, Yoshitoyo

 & Yoshitsuya

As early as 1814 to as late as 1895 or later. However, while there was activity in a period from 1814-ca. 1819 we have not found any other activity until 1847.

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1814 to ca. 1896

"Tsujiokaya Bunsuke published actor prints by Toyokuni beginning around 1814. His output decreased significantly during the late 1820s and early 1830s. In the late 1830s and early 1840s, he picked up again and became more active by issuing some minor series of Kuniyoshi and Kunisada respectively. But it was not until the late 1840s when Tsujiokaya's business finally boomed through issuing Kunisada's actor prints." In the fourth month of 1852 he took over the publishing firm of Tsuru-ya Kiemon. (See that listing below.) In the mid-1850s Tsujioka started publishing illustrated books and in time this became a more important factor than the production of prints. Source and quotes from Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 262.

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

This example comes from a different  print than the one being shown.

To the right is an alternative

seal for Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke.

Tsuji-ya Yasubei

辻安

Edo

Fusatane, Hiroshige,

Hiroshige II,

Kunihisa II, Kunimori,

Kunimori II,

as Kunisada & Toyokuni III,

Kuniyoshi, Hōrai Shunshō,

 Yoshitora & Yoshitsuna

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 was sent to us from our contributor ED.  We are grateful for this addition to our site.

As early as the 1830s or earlier

to as late as 1862 or later

Tsunashima Kamekichi

綱島
亀吉

つなしまかめきち

Tokyo

There is no link to this

Yoshitoshi print shown above.

Beisaku, Chikanobu,

Hiroshige III, Kunimatsu,

Nobukazu, Seisai, Yoshiiku,

Yoshitora & Yoshitoshi

As early as 1869 or earlier

to as late as 1904 or later

Tsunoi

津伊

つのい

Tokyo

Kunichika & Yoshitoshi

Active in 1868/69

The carver Hori Chō worked on blocks for Kunichika for this publisher in 1868.

Tsuru-ya Kiemon

(seal name - Tsuruki;

firm name - Senkakudō)

鶴屋

喜右衛門

つるや

きえもん

Edo

Chōki, Eizan,

Hiroshige, Hokusai,

Kiyoharu, Kiyomasa,

Kiyomasa II, Kiyomasu II,

Kiyomine,

Kiyomitsu II,

Kiyonaga, Kiyonobu II,

Kunisada, Kunimasa,

 Kuniyoshi, 

possibly Kyōsai,

Masanobu, Masayoshi,

Sadafusa,

Sadahide,

 Sadakage,  Shunchō,

Shun'ei, Shunsen,

Shunshō, Shunsui

Toyokuni I, Toyonobu,

Utamaro, Utamaro II

& possibly Yoshiiku

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

As early as the 1620s or earlier to as late as 1852.

Again in ca. 1870 to 1898.

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 190) tells us that this firm was one of the longeset lasting. They started out printing books. "In the 1670s, he published the first picture albums by Moronobu." In 1807 Tsuruya published the first prints by Kunisada. That was the same year the firm was part of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild and the Book Publishers Guild. "In 1811 and 1813, Tsuruya functioned as gyōji (censor) for the guild, following regulations by the government that attempted to control the market better." The most successful book they ever printed was the so-called 'Country Genji' authored by Ryūtei Tanehiko and illustrated by Kunisada. However, its success also got them into trouble with the authorities. Tsuruya "...was not able to recover from the complications with the 'Country Genji' and his business was taken over by fellow publisher Tsujiokaya Bunsuke in the fourth month of 1852. From this point on there are no more prints by Tsuruya, but books appear again starting around 1870 by Tsuruya Kiemon. In which way this Tsuruya is related to the previous is unclear."

An anonymous contributor has sent us this book illustration by Hasegawa Settan which shows the front and interior of  the shop of Tsuru-ya Kiemon.

Click on the image ot see a page with a larger detail.

This is not the publisher's seal, but rather one of their logos.

The image to the right by Toyokuni I gives and alternate seal which we have not offered yet. This was contributed to this site by my friend Mike.

Click on the image ot see a page with a larger detail.

Tsuta-ya Jūzaburō

(seal name - Tsutajū, 

firm name - Kōshodō;

and others we have found are Shokodō, & Kōshodō Shujin)

蔦屋

重三郎   

つたや

じゅうざぶろう

Edo

Chōki, Eisen,

Eishi, Fusanobu,

Harumachi, Hiroshige,

Hokuba,

as both Sori & Hokusai,

Kiyomasa, Kiyomitsu,

Kiyonaga, Koryūsai,

Kunimaru,

as both Kunisada &

 Toyokuni III, Kunimasa, 

Kuniyasu, Kuniyoshi,

Masanobu, Masayoshi,

Sharaku, Shigemasa,

Shunchō, Shun'ei,

Shunman, Shunshō

Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,

 Tsukimaro & Utamaro

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. An anonymous correspondent has been kind enough to let us display it.

It shows the interior of Tsutaya's shop as it appeared in 1799 in the Ehon azuma asobi or 'Picture Book of the Pleasure Sports of the Eastern Capital' illustrated by Hokusai.

(This is from information

provided by Andreas Marks.)

Started publishing in 1774

and continued to as late as

1847-52 or later

(This last date is from a seal

found on a Toyokuni III

triptych in the Boston MFA.)

"Tsuta-ya Jūzaburō is notable for having established a commanding and innovative presence in the Edo publishing world. He... is credited with 'the gift of discovering genius', particularly that of Utamaro. At various times he offered lodgings to Kyokutei Bakin, Santō Kyōden and Utamaro.... Tsuta-ya Jūzaburō... was born in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter in 1750. [He died in 1797.] In 1773 opened a bookshop at the entrance to the quarter selling the guidebooks, or Yoshiwara saiken, published by the firm of Urokogataya Magobee, which had been in business since 1660. The following year he launched his career as a publisher with a courtesan critique, and in 1775 he produced his own guide to the Yoshiwara. In doing so he was probably taking advantage of the fact that Urokogataya Magobee was at the time beset by problems connected with a copyright infringement case..." For years Tsutajū competed head to head with Urokogataya for the Yoshiwara saiken market. Urokogataya lingered on until 1803 when they ceased publishing. "Well before this, however, he had begun to branch out, employing artists such as Katsukawa Shunshō to illustrate his guidebooks, and from 1776, publishing illustrated books on haikai poetry, ehon and sharebon." In 1783 he moved away from the Yoshiwara to a larger and permanent home.

In the 1780s he published poetry and light fiction, but in 1791 the new conservative government came down hard on him. "In that year, he published three of Santō Kyōden's sharebon. These were subsequently made an example of by the new régime in power... with the result that not only was Kyōden punished but also Tsutajū, who had gone through the correct procedures to gain permission to publish, had half his wealth confiscated, and the gyōji, or guild officials, were banished from Edo." After this Tsutajū left the guild he was working with and "...joined the guild of 'serious books'." Supposedly he did this more for financial reasons - he could now raise new capital to replace some of what he had been fined - than to clean up his act. "...the main focus of his activity in the early 1790s was actually not 'serious' publishing, but single sheet ukiyoe prints of beauties and actors by Utamaro, Sharaku and others." In 1794 he bought up the blocks for some illustrated books published by others, moved their seals and put his own on them. In 1796 he came out with his own new original publication in this field. "Although the firm survived for some years under the chief clerk, it lacked the entrepreneurial energy that had propelled it from obscurity..."

Source and quotes from: The Book in Japan: A Cultural History from the Beginnings to the Nineteenth Century by Peter Kornicki.

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 204) says: Tsutaya Jūzaburō is probably the best known publisher today, mainly because of his forerunner position and connection to Utamaro and Sharaku." The first artist he published was Shigemasa in 1774. "In 1775, or perhaps already in 1774, Tsutaya joined the publisher Urokogataya in regularly issuing the 'Guide to the Yoshiwara' (Yoshiwara saiken). In fall of 1776, Tsutaya took over and continued these guides on a regular basis until 1836." In 1783 he took over the business of Maru-ya Kohei. This was also the first year he published works by Utamaro. After Jūzaburō I died in 1797 his chief clerk Yūsuke took over and continued the business operations the way they had been. He also adopted the name Jūzaburō II. Marks adds that "After the 1810s, only a very few publications appeared." In 1807 Tsutaya was listed as a member of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild and the Book Publishers Guild. The head of the firm acted as a print censor in 1811, 1812 and again in 1813. "In 1833 Jūzaburō II passed away and shortly thereafter, in 1837, Jūzaburō III died. The business was continued by Jūzaburō IV..." In 1852 it was taken over by Yamada Shōjirō. [That firm is listed further down this page.]

Tsuta-ya Kichizō

(seal name - Tsutakichi,

firm name - Kōeidō)

蔦屋
吉蔵

つたや
きちぞう

Edo

Chikanobu, Eisai,

Eisen, Ginkō,

Hiroshige, Hiroshige II,

Hiroshige III, Ikkei,

Kunichika,

Kunisada II,

Kunisada III,

Kunikiyo,

Kuniteru, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Rinsai,

Sadatora,

Senchō, Sūgakudō,

Toshinobu, Toyokuni III,

Yoshiharu II, Yoshitora,

Yoshitoshi, Yoshitsuna,

Yoshitsuru I & Yoshitsuya

As early as ca. 1821 or earlier to as late as 1865 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1820 to 1890

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the earliest date of ca. 1801 for this publisher.  A new end date of at least 1871 has been offered.

  Uemura Yohei

上村

与兵衛

うえむら

よへえ

Edo

Kiyonobu II, Kunimaru, Kunimasa,

Kunisada, Kunitora, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Shun'ei,

Toyokuni I & Utamaro

The print is shown courtesy of my friend Mike. I am truly grateful.

As early as ca. 1753 or earlier

to as late as 1825 or later

Uo-ya Eikichi

2 variants shown

魚屋
栄吉

うおや
えいきち

Edo

There is no link to the

Toyokuni III print shown above.

Hiroshige, Hiroshige II,

Kunisada II, Toyokuni III

& Yoshimori

As early as 1855 or earlier to

as late as 1864 or later

The Museum für angewandte Kunst in Vienna gives the dates of ca. 1845-68 for this publisher

There is no longer a link

to the print shown above.

Wakasa-ya Yoichi

(seal name - Wakayo,  

firm name - Jakurindō,

family name - Yamamoto Yoichi)

2 variants shown

若狹屋

与市

わかさや
よいち

Edo

There is no link to the

Hiroshige II print shown above.

Eisen, Eishi, Eishō, Eizan,

Hiroshige, Hiroshige II,

Hiroshige III,

Hokusai,

Kagehide II, Kiyonaga,

Kuniaki II, Kunichika,

Kunihisa II,

Kunisada II, Kunisato,

Kuniteru II,

Kunitomo, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi,

Kyōsai, Sadahide,

Sadakage, Sadamine,

Sadatora, Shunchō,

Shun'ei, Shunkō II,

Shunman, 

Shunsen, Toyoharu,

Toyohiro, Toyokuni I,

Toyokuni III, Utamaro,

Yoshitora & Yoshitsuna

As early as ca. 1789 to as late as 1867 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1794 to ca. 1897

"In 1807, he became a member of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild (Jihon toiya). In 1811 and 1812 he was one of the print censors." Later the firm belonged to the Guild of Fan Producers or Uchiwa toiya. "Beginning in 1876, publications appeared under the family name of Yamamoto Yoichi." Quote from: Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 222.

The print shown to the right is not one we have offered. It is the right-hand panel of a triptych. To see the full image click on it.

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

Wata-ya
Kihei
(aka Wataki &

Kinzuido)

2 variants shown

綿屋

喜兵衛

わたやきへえ

Osaka

There is no link to the

Nagakuni print shown above.

Ashihiro,

Ashisato,

Ashiyuki, Kagematsu,

Kunihiro, Nagahide,

Nagakuni, Sadamasa,

Sadanobu,

 Sadayoshi, Shibakuni,

Shigeharu, Shunchō,

Tamikuni, Toyohide & Yoshikuni

As early as 1806 or earlier to as late as 1860 or later

We know of at least 25 variant seals used by this publisher. Some of them could be grouped together according to specific motives, but others are considerably different from those shown here.

Osaka

To the right is an alternative

seal for Wata-ya Kihei.

Osaka

To the right is another alternative

seal for Wata-ya Kihei. It was sent to

us by our great contributor Eikei (英渓).

The image is trimmed on the right side

of the print. We will add the image when

or if it is made available to us.

Osaka

Above is a diptych by Shigeharu.

There is no page linked to this image.

Osaka

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.

Ya

(aka Matsuba-ya)

We are using Schwaab's identification for this publisher. We have been unable to find corroborative information so far.

 Other scholars, such as Murashige Narazaki, list this seal as unidentified.

屋

や

Osaka

Hokuei

Ca. 1833

Yahata-ya Sakujirō
(*There are several alternate readings for this publisher's name.

One source refers to it as Hachimanya Sakujirō. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts refers to this publisher as Yawataya Sakujirō.)

八幡屋
作次郎

やはたや
さくじろう

Edo

Kuniyoshi & Toyokuni III

As early as 1843 or earlier to

as late as 1852 or later

Yamada-ya Shōjirō

(Seal name - Yamadaya Shōjirō,

firm name - Kinkyōdō)

山田屋

庄次郎

やまだや

しょうじろう

Edo

Eisen, Eizan, Hiroshige,

Hiroshige II, Kunihisa II,

Kunisada II,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Sekkyō,

 Toyokuni III & 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 ED. We are grateful for this contribution to our site.

Possibly as early as

ca. 1809-13 or earlier to

as late as 1860 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as late 1851 to ca. 1866

"As early as 1789, the publisher Yamadaya Shōbei issued woodblock prints..." Then "In late 1851, a change in leadership of the business caused a name change and Yamadaya Shōbei became Yamadaya Shōjirō, continuing however to use the same publisher seals." This firm did so well that by the 4th month of 1852 it was able to take over the publishing house of Tsutaya Juzaburō." Source and quotes from: Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900, by Andreas Marks, p. 300.

Yamaguchi-ya Tōbei

(firm name -  Kinkōdō,

family name - Arakawa Tōbei)
 2 variants shown

山口屋

藤兵衛
(錦耕堂)

やまぐや

とうべえ
(きんこうどう)

Edo

Chikuyō,

Eisen, Eizan, Gengyo,

Hiroshige, Hiroshige II,

Hokusai, Isai,

Kuniaki I, Kuniaki II,

Kunichika, Kunihisa II,

Kunimaro, Kunimasa III,

as Kunisada & as Toyokuni III, Kunisada II, Kuniteru,

Kunitomi, Kunitoshi,

Kuniyasu, Kuniyoshi,

Sadahide, Sadakage,

Sadatora, Shun'ei,

Shungyō,

Shuntei, Torinyō,

Toshinobu,

Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,

Tsukimaro,

Utamaro, Utamaro II,

Yoshifuji, Yoshiharu,

Yoshiharu II, ,

Yoshiiku, Yoshimasa,

Yoshitora, Yoshitoro-jo

& Yoshitoshi

As early as 1804 to

as late as 1872 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1805 to 1895

"Yamaguchiya Tōbei was one of the publishers, if not the publisher, with the biggest output in the history of Japanese woodblock printing." Like other early, prominent houses Yamaguchi-ya was a member of the Picture Book and Print Publishers Guild (Jihon toiya) in 1807 and like others the head of the firm served, too, as a censor, but in 1812 and 1813. Source and quote from: Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks, p. 248.

Yamamoto-ya Heikichi
(firm name -  Eikyūdō,

family name -

Yamamoto Heikichi,

 and aka Yamamoto Kyūbei)

山本屋

平吉

やまもとや

へいきち

Edo

There is no link to the

Kunisada print shown above.

Chikanobu, Eisen,

Eizan, Hiroshige, Hokuju,

possibly Kiyonobu II,

 Kunichika, Kunihisa,

Kunihisa II,

Kuninao, Kuniharu, 

as both Kunisada

& Toyokuni III,

Kunisada II,

Kuniteru II,  Kunitora,

Kunitsuna, Kuniyasu,

Kuniyoshi, Sadahide,

Shunkyō II, Shuntei,

Toyokuni I, Toyokuni II,

Toyonobu,

Yoshifusa & Yoshitora

Possibly as early as 1733

to as late as ca. 1875

or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates of ca. 1812 to 1886

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

Andreas Marks in his Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900 (p. 258) says: "The publishing firm Eikyūdō was first operated by a Yamamoto Kyūbei form c. 1805 until 1811. Presumably in 1812, Heikichi took over, who might have been some kind of relative of Kyūbei. ¶ Yamamotoya became one of the top five most active publishers in the history of Japanese woodblock prints." Later Marks adds: "His output in the 1830s and 1840s was enormous and at that time he seemed to have rarely produced illustrated books like other publishers and instead concentrated fully on prints." Marks noted in the 1850s that "...generally speaking, Yamamatoya's publications mainly served the mainstream interest and are not very remarkable. A continuous production and market presence seem to have been the main goal and he published almost 800 compositions by Kunisada alone. ¶ In the sixth month of 1865, the son Kinjirō inherited the business and took the name Heikichi. He continued until c. 1886 by issuing actor prints by Chikanobu and others."

Yamashiro-ya

Jinbei

(Frank Turk identifies this publisher as Yamashiroya Kambei)

山城屋甚兵衛

やましろうや

じんべえ

Edo

Hiroshige, Hiroshige II,

Kunimasa IV, Kunisada II,

 Kuniyoshi,  Sadahide,

 Toyokuni III,

Yoshiiku, Yoshikazu, Yoshitora,

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

As early as ca. 1830 to as late as

1867 or later

Yamato-ya

Kyūbei

大和屋

久兵衛

やまとや

きゅうべえ

Edo

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.

As early as ca. 1848

to as late as 1855 or later

So far, after much searching, Kuniyoshi is still the only artist who seems to have worked with this publisher - and even there there are only a couple of examples with this seal.  There was one reference to a Toyohiro print I found, but that was dated from the first years of the 19th century which leaves too great of a time a gap for the probability that this is the same publishing house.

Yorozu-ya Magobei

(Seal name - Manson/Yorozumago,

firm name - Kinseidō,

family name - Ōkura Magobei)

 萬屋

孫兵衛

Andreas Marks gives

the kanji as

万屋孫兵衛 

よろずや.まごべい

Tokyo

Bairei, Chikanobu,

Ginkō,

Hayakawa Shōzan,

Hiroshige II, Hiroshige III,

Ikkei, possibly Ikumaru,

Kuniaki II,

Kunichika, Kunisada III,

 Kuniteru, Kyōsai,

Rinsai,

 Yasuji, Yoshiiku,

Yoshitora & Yoshitoshi

Active as early as 1869 to as late as 1874 or later

Andreas Marks gives the

dates as late 1869 to 1919

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

Yorozu Magobei was not only an important publisher during his day, but the firm went on to import Western paper products and to help found the porcelain works which is known as Noritake.  Source: Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks 1680-1900, by Andreas Marks, p. 312.