A Samurai Warrior Who Became One of Japan’s Most Prolific Meiji Era Printmakers

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before he was a celebrated artist, Toyohara Chikanobu was a battle-hardened samurai. After fighting in the final conflicts of the Tokugawa Shogunate, he traded his sword for a brush, capturing the rapid transformation of Japan from feudal tradition to the modern, Western-influenced world of the Meiji era.

Born Hashimoto Naoyoshi in 1838, the artist known as Yōshū Chikanobu lived through the violent collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate. As a retainer of the Sakakibara clan, he fought for the loyalist cause at the Battle of Ueno and the Battle of Hakodate, serving under commanders like Enomoto Takeaki. Following the Shōgitai's surrender, he eventually transitioned to civilian life, moving to Tokyo in 1875 to pursue a career in art.

Chikanobu’s artistic lineage was deeply rooted in traditional schools, including the Kanō school and the studio of Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi. He eventually became the principal pupil of Toyohara Kunichika, adopting the 'Toyohara' name and the 'chika' element for his professional identity. Despite his samurai background, he became a master of ukiyo-e, producing a vast array of works that documented the shifting cultural landscape of the Meiji period, from kabuki actors to the evolving fashions of Japanese women.

His work is particularly noted for its ability to bridge the gap between the past and the present, a concept described as 'furumekashii/imamekashii'. While he produced memorable triptychs documenting the First Sino-Japanese War and the Satsuma Rebellion, he also looked backward, creating series like 'Chiyoda no Ōoku' that depicted the quiet, orderly life of Edo Castle’s women's quarters. By the time of his death in 1912, he had left behind a prolific body of work that captured the artistic chaos and transition of a nation in flux.

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