Shigemasa was born the eldest son of bookseller Suharaya Mohei in 1739 in Nihonbashi area
Edo (modern Tokyo). His family name was Kitabatake and his childhood name was Tarōkichi. Throughout his life he also used the personal names Kyūgorō and Sasuke. His work also appeared under the art names Hokuhō, Kōsuisai, Kōsuiken, Suihō Itsujin, and others, and he used the poetry name Karan. Shigemasa taught himself art before becoming a student of
Nishimura Shigenaga. His early works are
bijin-ga images of beautiful women in the style of Suzuki
Harunobu. From 1765 he began illustrating books, which became his main focus; over 250 are known. His work was published by more than twenty publishers, including
Tsutaya Jūzaburō. A number of Shigemasa's better-known works were collaborations with Katsukawa
Shunshō: the print series
Silkworm Cultivation (
Kaiko yashinai gusa) beginning about 1772 and the illustrated book
Mirror of Competing Beauties of the Green Houses (
Seirō bijin awase sugata kagami) from about 1776. Shigemasa founded the Kitao lineage of artists. Amongst his students were
Kubo Shunman and
Santō Kyōden. Shigemasa died in his 82nd year on the 24th day of the first month of 1820. ==Gallery==