Hokkei was one of Hokusai's first and best-known students; he worked in a variety of styles and genres and produced a large body of work in prints, book illustrations, and paintings. He was at first a fishmonger before studying with a branch of the Kan? school of painting. Later he became one of Hokusai's first students. During his peak period in the 1820s and 1830s he produced a large number of prints, mainly surimono, and book illustrations. Between his pupils also Yashima Gakutei stands out as a fine designer of surimono.