歌川芳虎(永島孟斎)

Yoshitora Utagawa (Mousai Nagashima)

Unknown Birth and death
Kuniyoshi Utagawa's disciple. Yoshitora also used another artist name, Mousai, with his real family name, Nagashima.

As well as Kuniyoshi, he was excelled in Samurai painting, but also painted a number of actor, beauty woman, sumo, and Yokohama paintings.

In April Kaei 2nd (1849) , he draw the Nishikie, "Dougai Samurai midai-no Wakamochi" , disguising the haiku, “Ieyasu Tokugawa just took over the results that Oda had started and Hashiba kneaded for the Mochi.”. This became a reputation and confiscated in half a day, and Yoshitora received punishment of 50 days hands. His rebellious spirit was also similar to Kuniyoshi.
Although detailed circumstances are unknown, after that, he went out from Kuniyoshi’s school, by own hope.
In Meiji 1st (1868), he got the prize of the second popular Ukiyoe artist in the Ukiyoe contest, followed by Sadahide. He was the top class of popular artist at the time.