Santō Kyōden

Santō Kyōden (山東 京伝^?, September 13, 1761 Edo – October 27, 1816) was a Japanese poet, writer and artist in the Edo period. His real name was Iwase Samuru (岩瀬 醒^?), and he was also known popularly as Kyōya Denzō (京屋伝蔵, kyōya denzō^?). He is the brother of Santō Kyōzan.

Santō Kyōden was born in Fukagawa in Edo. The Iwase family into which he was born were pawnbrokers in a lumberyard. He studied ukiyo-e under master Kitao Shigemasa (北尾 重政^?), and began illustrating kibyōshi under the pseudonym of Kitao Masanobu (北尾 政寅^?). He soon started writing these novels also under the name of Santō Kyōden; several novels are labeled as written by Santō Kyōden and illustrated by Kitao Masanobu. He wrote kibyōshi and sharebon in great numbers, and became a popular writer. During this time he married twice, both his wives being licensed workers of Yoshiwara.

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