江戸の染物屋に生まれ、歌川豊国に入門しました。長く売れない時代が続きましたが、1827年ごろの《通俗水滸伝豪傑百八人之一個》で、体じゅうに入れ墨のある豪傑たちを迫力たっぷりに描いて大人気になります。巨大な骸骨や大くじらの3枚続き、人が集まって顔になる絵、猫の絵など、アイデアあふれる作品で知られます。大の猫好きでした。
Kuniyoshi was born into a family of dyers in Edo and became a pupil of Utagawa Toyokuni. For years his prints did not sell well. Then, around 1827, his series of heroes from the Chinese tale Suikoden, full of powerful action, became a hit. He is known for wildly creative works: a giant skeleton and a huge whale across three sheets, faces made of people, and many cats. He loved cats dearly.
