Who Was Kitagawa Utamaro? The Life and Major Works of the Ukiyo-e Master of Beauties Behind “Three Beauties of the Kansei Era,” and Where to See Them

Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753–1806) was an ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period. Working with the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, he won fame with “okubi-e” portraits of beautiful women, close-up pictures of the face and upper body. His finely observed depictions of expressions and gestures were later highly regarded in Europe as well. He also appeared in the 2025 NHK historical drama “Berabou,” bringing him renewed attention. Here is a guide to his life, his major works and where to see them today.

Utamaro’s life: master of beauties who worked with Tsutaya Juzaburo

His birth year and birthplace are uncertain; he is thought to have been born around 1753. He studied under Toriyama Sekien, a painter known for his pictures of supernatural creatures, and began using the name Utamaro around 1781. From a young age he illustrated many popular books and kyoka (comic verse) picture books for the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, known as Tsutaju, showing his skill in works such as “Picture Book of Selected Insects,” a kyoka book with meticulous drawings of plants and insects.

In the early years of the Kansei era (1789–1801), his okubi-e portraits of women, published by Tsutaju’s firm Koshodo, became a sensation and made him the foremost painter of beauties. Some of his prints use “kira-zuri,” with mica powder printed into the background. After Tsutaju died in 1797, he continued to publish with various other houses. But as restrictions on publishing tightened, he was punished in 1804 over “Hideyoshi and His Five Wives Viewing Cherry Blossoms at Higashiyama,” a print depicting Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wives at a flower-viewing party. He died two years later, in 1806.

Major works

“Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy” (c. 1792–93)

A series of okubi-e portraits styled as physiognomy readings that interpret women’s character from their features and gestures. “Young Woman Blowing a Poppin,” showing a townswoman blowing a glass toy called a poppin, is especially famous.

“Three Beauties of the Present Day” (“Three Beauties of the Kansei Era,” c. 1793)

A print depicting three women celebrated in Edo in the Kansei era: Tomimoto Toyohina, a licensed performer of Tomimoto-bushi music, and Naniwaya Okita and Takashimaya Ohisa, popular waitresses at teahouses. Even among similar-looking faces, each is subtly distinguished.

“Anthology of Poems: The Love Section” (c. 1793–94)

A series of okubi-e portraits expressing the many moods of love through women’s faces, with mica-printed backgrounds.

“Picture Book of Selected Insects” (1788)

A kyoka picture book published by Tsutaya Juzaburo with realistic drawings of plants and insects. It shows the powers of observation and draftsmanship Utamaro had before he made his name with pictures of women.

Reception in Europe

When ukiyo-e attracted attention in Europe in the late 19th century, Utamaro’s pictures of women were highly praised. The French writer Edmond de Goncourt published a study of Utamaro in 1891. The influence of ukiyo-e on Western painters is covered in our article on Japonisme.

Where to see Utamaro’s work

• Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka (Kita Ward, Osaka): “The British Museum Collection of Japanese Art: Hyakka Ryoran – Edo Painting Across the Sea” runs until January 31, 2027. It includes Utamaro’s painting “Courtesan Reading a Letter,” which the organizers describe as returning from Britain to Japan for the first time (article on the exhibition).

• Sapporo Art Museum (Minami Ward, Sapporo): The touring exhibition “Five Great Ukiyo-e Artists,” featuring works by Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi, runs until January 11, 2027.

• Tokyo National Museum and Ota Memorial Museum of Art (Tokyo): Both show ukiyo-e in rotation, and Utamaro’s works are on view at times. Check each museum’s official website for upcoming displays.

There are also installations that let you experience ukiyo-e as moving images. The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU” at the Gifu City Museum of History (until January 11, 2027) creates video spaces based on more than 300 ukiyo-e by Hokusai, Hiroshige and others, and the permanent “Ukiyoe Immersive Art Museum GINZA,” scheduled to open in Ginza, Tokyo, in spring 2027, takes Utamaro’s work as a subject alongside Hokusai, Hiroshige and Kuniyoshi (article on the opening). Hokusai and Hiroshige are covered in our guides to Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige.

For Toshusai Sharaku, see our guide to his major works, the theories about his identity and where to see his prints.

Frequently asked questions

What are Utamaro’s most famous works?

His okubi-e portraits of women are the best known, including “Young Woman Blowing a Poppin” from “Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy,” “Three Beauties of the Present Day” (“Three Beauties of the Kansei Era”) and “Anthology of Poems: The Love Section.” The kyoka picture book “Picture Book of Selected Insects” is also one of his major works.

What is an okubi-e portrait of a beauty?

A picture of a woman that shows her face and upper body in close-up. Working with the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, Utamaro gained popularity with this format from the early Kansei era.

What was the relationship between Utamaro and Tsutaya Juzaburo?

From a young age Utamaro worked for Tsutaju on illustrations and kyoka picture books, and he became a star with the okubi-e portraits published by Tsutaju’s firm Koshodo. Their relationship was portrayed in the 2025 NHK historical drama “Berabou.”

Where can I see Utamaro’s work?

At “The British Museum Collection of Japanese Art: Hyakka Ryoran” at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka (until January 31, 2027) and “Five Great Ukiyo-e Artists” at the Sapporo Art Museum (until January 11, 2027). The Tokyo National Museum and the Ota Memorial Museum of Art also show ukiyo-e in rotation.

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: The “Ukiyo-e Immersive Art Exhibition GIFU” and the “Ukiyoe Immersive Art Museum GINZA” introduced in this article are, respectively, an event planned and produced by and a facility produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).

For the latest information on events by HITOHATA, INC., see HITOHATA, INC.’s event page.

*Top image: Ukiyoe Immersive Art Museum GINZA (from HITOHATA, INC.’s press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE editorial team based on official announcements from museums and organizers (as of November 9, 2026) and general art-historical knowledge of Kitagawa Utamaro.