If only I could live another ten years. If not ten could Heaven grant me another five; I might become a true artist.
As death was approaching
Variant translation: Give me but ten years of more life - nay even but five years - and I will become a true artist
As quoted in: Japan Digest, Volume 6 (1954), p. 66
Also in: Masters of the Colour Print, Volume 8 (1930)
And: 北斎と広重 (Gabundo, 1976) by Richard Lane
