Shigenobu (1826-1869) was the chief pupil of the the second great master of the Japanese landscape woodblock print, Hiroshige. He took over his master's go on the latter's death, and is now principally known by it, being more usually referred to as Hiroshige II.
He was born into a family of fire-watchmen, like his master Hiroshige. He was originally named Suzuki Chinpei, and was given the name Shigenobu by his master Hiroshige. He was made part of his master's household, and married his daughter.
After Hiroshige's death in 1858, he adopted his master's go of Ichiryusai and Hiroshige. In 1864, he divorced his wife, moved to Yokohama, remarried, and adopted the name Rissho. He died there, in great poverty, in 1869.
He produced a number of series of prints, some of some merit, including: the "One Hundred Views of Famous Places in Various Provinces" (1859-1861), and "Thirty-Six Views of Eastern Capital" (i.e. Edo) (1861-1862), and a good flower series, "Thirty-Six Flowers at Famous Places in Tokyo" (as it was by then called) (1866).
He is also thought to have been responsible for some of the prints
produced under the name of his master, in particular some of those in
Hiroshige's second great series of landscape prints, the
Hundred Views of Edo.
He may also have contributed to a number of Hiroshige's other good later
series as well.
Back to JNC's home page