A picture signboard that decorates the front of the new Kabukiza Theater. The picture signboard with performances and characters has been painted by Torii-style painters for over 300 years. During the Tenmei era, the fourth generation head of the Torii school, Kiyonaga Torii (Torii Kiyonaga), played an active part in beauty paintings. Kiyocho was born in Motozaimokucho, Nihonbashi, and after his death, he was buried at Ryogoku Kaikaiin, but the tombstone had disappeared. Therefore, the Torii Kiyocho Monument (pictured) was rebuilt to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death.
Kiyocho Torii was born in 1752 in Shirokoya, a bookstore in Motozaimokucho (now Nihonbashi). This area is said to have been called "Shinba Kiyocho" because there was a new appetizer (commonly known as Shinba) on the west side of Kaedegawa.
At the age of 19, he claimed to be Kiyocho, escaped the style of the Torii school specializing in actor paintings, and demonstrated his skills as good at beauty customs paintings. The slender beauty painting style of eight heads against the backdrop of Edo famous places is called "Venus of Edo". Along with Harunobu Suzuki, Utamaro, Sharaku, Hokusai, and Hiroshige, he has been recognized as six major Ukiyo-e artists.
In 1787 (1787), the 4th generation of the Torii family was named. Since then, he has devoted himself to picture signs, numbers, yellow covers, picture books, etc. of the Torii family's family business. 1815 (1815) He died at the age of 64.
Kiyocho's tombstones were lost at Ryogoku Kaikaiin in burial ground due to disasters such as the earthquake and war. In the 200th anniversary of his death, a tombstone honoring his painting was planned, and a new Kiyocho monument was erected in April. Komatsu stone with a height of 2.1m and a width of 2.0m, and a bronze plate inspired by the representative work "Yuyo Okawabata" is embedded in the center. @ Akira Makibuchi