Artist –  Utagawa YOSHIUME (歌川 芳梅, うたがわ よしうめ) (1819-1879), was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist. He began working in Osaka around 1841, and went by the names Ichiusai (一鶯斎) and Yabairo (夜梅楼). In 1847 he went to Edo to study painting under Utagawa Kuniyoshi. As a student of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, he used the Utagawa artist name Utagawa YOSHIUME. In 1857 he returned back to Osaka. Utagawa YOSHIUME was the founder of the KUNIYOSHI School in Osaka. He was one of the central ukiyo-e artists in Osaka during this period. Utagawa YOSHIUME drew actor pictures, landscapes, genre pictures, and illustrations for kusazoshi (草双紙).


Personal life - Little is known about the life of Utagawa Yoshiume. He was born in 1819 in Horie, Osaka (堀江, 大坂) as NAKAJIMA Tosuke (中島 藤助). After studiying in Edo, he mostly lived and worked in Osaka, where he also died at the age of 61.

 
Aliases - In addition to his go childhood name NAKAJIMA Tosuke (中島 藤助), he went by the names Ichiusai (一鶯斎), Monjin Ichiosai (門人一鶯齋), and Yabairo (夜梅楼). Yoshiume (よし梅, 芳梅), Ôkô Yoshiume (応好芳梅画), Kôchôrô Yoshiume (香朝楼芳梅) and else. After taking up studies at the Kuniyoshi school, he mainly used 'Utagawa YOSHIUME' (歌川 芳梅) as his ga.


Disciples - He trained many disciples, including Nakai Hotaki (中井芳滝), Iwai Baisetsu (岩井梅雪), Ichibaisai Hoho (一梅斎芳峰), Umenoie Baiei (梅乃家梅英), Umeharu  (BaiShun), 梅春),   and Hasegawa Sadanobu II.(二代目長谷川貞信).