His connection with hagoita illustration appeared to be maintained throughout his life, because it is assumed there used to be a stone monument inscribed with Kunichika's death poem at Honryu-ji Temple that read "Now that I am tired of drawing portraits of every day people, I could try drawing portrayals of Enma lord of death and oni ogres," which was founded at the initiative of oshi-e painter Kanemaru YUKAWA.
国周の墓所である本龍寺には、現存してはいないが、押絵師湯川周丸を発起人とした国周の辞世句「よの中の人の似かおもあきたれば　ゑむまや鬼の生きうつしせむ」を刻んだ碑があったといわれるので、終生、羽子板絵とのかかわりが保たれたのだろう。