Utagawa Kunisada Ⅱ 二代目歌川国貞

二代目歌川国貞 Utagawa KunisadaⅡ (1823-1880)
Born in a farmhouse near Edo (now Tokyo), his childhood name was Masakichi and later Seitaro, he became a pupil of Utagawa Kunisada I at around the age of 14 or 15. His master Kunisada succeeded him as Toyokuni III in 1844 (Koka 1). Two years later, in 1846 (Koka 3), at the age of 24, he became the son-in-law of the eldest daughter (O-ring) of Toyokuni III. At this time, he became the second (third?) generation Toyokuni. It is not clear whether he took the name Kunimasa II or Kunimasa III, or whether he had taken the name Kunimasa II when he became the son-in-law of Toyokuni III, or whether he assumed the name Kunimasa II at a different time.