Artist – Utagawa KUNITERU ( 歌川国輝; 1808–1876) was an ukiyo-e artist in the tradition of the Utagawa school. Born in Edo (Tokyo), he studied under both Toyokuni-I and Kunisada-I (Toyokuni-III). He produced prints of a wide variety of subjects, including many depicting the increasing Western influence on Japan, with his main output taking the form of book illustrations and single-sheet ukiyo-e. As Kunitsuna-II he concentrated on caricatures and scenes from his travels. After taking his master's name, he expanded his range to include scenes of sumo wrestling, and the modernisation and westernization of Japan. Nevertheless he also featured the classical themes like bijin-ga and kabuki-prints.

KUNITERU-I (1808~1876) is often confused with his disciple KUNITERU-II (1830~1874), who was 22 years younger than him. As is often the case, KUNITERU-II often used the same artist names as his master.


Personal life -  There is only sparse information on KUNITERU available. He was born in 1808. Intially named Ōta (太田), but commonly called Kinjirō (金次郎). After entering "Kuni"sadas workshop he took his master's name "Kuni"teru ("国"輝). KUNITERU died at the age of 68 in 1876.


Aliases - KUNITERU's former name was Ōta (太田), but commonly called Kinjirō (金次郎). His ga-name since entering Kunisada's workshop was KUNITERU (国輝). He was known by various names: he called himself Kunitsuna-II (二代国綱), Kuniteru Kunihiko (国 輝 国彦) and Kunihiko-II (二代国彦) or Ichiyûsai Kuniteru (一雄斎国輝) until the Ganji era (1864/1865). Before 1844 he also has been known as Sadashige (貞重).


Disciples -  Utagawa Kuniteru-II