Dve ženy s opilcom (I)

1800

Accepted as a Pupil of Toyokuni

The drawings of the young Sumida Shōgorō impressed Utagawa Toyokuni, head of the Utagawa school, who took him on as a pupil. From his teacher he received the name KUNIsada, whose first character is taken from the name ToyoKUNI.

1808

Beginning of Work as a Book Illustrator

From 1808 he worked as a book illustrator, and the popularity of his drawings grew year by year. In 1808 or 1809 his first series of portraits of theatre actors appeared.

1809

The "Star" of the Utagawa School

Contemporaries called him the "star" of the Utagawa school; his first bijin-ga series and a series of views of Edo appeared at the same time, and in 1810–1811 he was judged the equal in skill of his teacher Toyokuni.

1813

Second Master of Ukiyo-e After Toyokuni

A contemporary ranking of the most important ukiyo-e masters placed Kunisada second only to his teacher Toyokuni — official recognition in the art world of Edo.

1844

Adopted the Name Toyokuni III

He adopted the name of his teacher Toyokuni; from 1844–1845 all his prints are signed "Toyokuni." He called himself Toyokuni II, but is counted as Toyokuni III.

mid-1840s – early 1850s

Collaboration with Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi

From the mid-1840s to the early 1850s he collaborated with Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi on three large series and a number of smaller projects; the cooperation was in large part a show of solidarity against the tightened censorship of the Tenpō reforms.