List of Japanese artists

This list is intended to encompass Japanese who are primarily fine artists. For information on those who work primarily in film, television, advertising, manga, anime, video games, or performance arts, please see the relevant respective articles.

Contents

Heian and Kamakura periods

Name Life Comments Reference
Kose Kanaoka 9th century Painter of landscapes and portraits, proponent of T'ang Dynasty Chinese styles and methods
Fujiwara Takanobu 1142–1205 Nise-e Painter
Fujiwara Nobuzane 1176–1265 Nise-e Painter, son of Fujiwara Takanobu

Sculptors

Name Life Comments Reference
Tori Busshi late 6th to early 7th centuries Busshi, patron sculptor to Shōtoku Taishi and Soga no Umako
Gechu Sculptor
Jōchō d. 1057 Busshi; popularized yosegi technique of carving one figure from many pieces of wood
Kaikei mid-to-late 12th century Busshi founder of the Kei school
Jōkei late 12th century Busshi of the Kei school
Unkei 1151–1223 Busshi of the Kei school
Tankei 1173–1256 Busshi of the Kei school
Kōkei active 1175–1200 Busshi head of the Kei school during reconstruction of Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji
Hidari Jingorō active 1596–1644 Painter, sculptor and carver, his works include many of the carvings at Nikkō Tōshō-gū
Naitō Toyomasa 1773–1856 Sculptor of netsuke [1]

Pottery and ceramics

Name Life Comments Reference
Hamada Shōji 1894–1978 Potter, declared a Living National Treasure in 1955
Jun Kaneko Born 1942 Potter and Ceramics artist

Sumi-e (Ink Painting)

Name Life Comments Reference
Josetsu 1405–1423 Suiboku painter, likely a teacher of Tenshō Shūbun
Tenshō Shūbun 1414–1463 Sumi-e painter
Sesshū Tōyō 1420–1506 Associated with Sumi-e [2]
Shingei 1431–1485 Also known as Geiami, yamato-e ink painter
Soami d. 1525 Painter and landscape artist; one of the first nanga painters
Yosa Buson 1716–1784 Painter who perfected the nanga style, also a renowned poet
Ike no Taiga 1723–1776 Painter who perfected the nanga style

Kanō School

Main article: Kanō school
Name Life Comments Reference
Kanō Masanobu 1434–1530 Founder of the Kanō School, chief painter to Ashikaga shogunate during his time
Kanō Motonobu 1476–1559 Painter of the Kanō School, son of Kanō Masanobu
Kanō Eitoku 1543–1590 Painter, re-founder of the Kanō school
Kanō Mitsunobu d. 1608 Son of Eitoku, inherited Kanō school after his father's death
Kanō Tan'yū 1602–1674 Prominent Kanō school painter, official painter to the Tokugawa shogunate
Kanō Hōgai 1828–1888 Among the last of the Kanō school painters, incorporated Western stylistic elements
Hashimoto Gahō 1835–1908 Among the last of the Kanō school painters, chief professor of painting at two schools

Rimpa School

Name Life Comments Reference
Hon'ami Kōetsu 1558–1637 Painter, co-founder of the Rimpa school
Tawaraya Sōtatsu d. 1643 Painter, co-founder of the Rimpa school
Ogata Kōrin 1657–1716 Painter and lacquerer, major figure in the Rimpa school
Ogata Kenzan 1663–1743 Painter and potter, major figure in the Rimpa school
Sakai Hōitsu 1761–1828 Painter, associated with the Rimpa school
Kamisaka Sekka 1866–1942 The most recent painting master of the Rimpa school and craftsman

Tosa School

Name Life Comments Reference
Iwasa Matabei 1578–1650 Tosa school painter of genre and historical scenes, predecessor to ukiyo-e

Kyoto School

Name Life Comments Reference
Tomioka Tessai 1836–1924 Painter and calligrapher of the Kyoto School
Maruyama Ōkyo 1733–1795 Sumi-e painter, founder of Shijō school
Kikuchi Yōsai 1781–1878 Painter of the Kyoto, Shijō, and Maruyama schools

Nihonga Painters

Main article: List of Nihonga Painters
Name Life Comments Reference
Yokoyama Taikan 1868–1958 Painter
Okuda Gensou 1912–2003 Nihonga painter of the Showa era, gave his name to 'Gensou red' pigment
Junnosuke Yamamoto 1945- Nihonga painter of the post-war era.
Goto Jin 1968- Nihonga painter of the Heisei era.Human Beauty paintings.

Eccentrics and smaller schools

Name Life Comments Reference
Ogura Yonesuke Itoh 1870–1940 Japanese born painter of Hawaii's Volcano School
Otagaki Rengetsu 1791–1851 Calligrapher and poet
Hasegawa Settan d. 1843 Painter of the Hasegawa school, ukiyo-e printmaker, and sculptor
Hasegawa Tohaku 1539–1610 Ink painter, founder of the Hasegawa school
Shibata Zeshin 1807–1891 Painter trained in the Kyoto School, master craftsman and innovator, particularly in lacquer
Eijiro Miyama 1934– Outsider artist known as the "Hat Man"

Ukiyo-e painters and printmakers

Name Life Comments Reference
Hishikawa Moronobu 1618–1694 "father of ukiyo-e [3]
Torii Kiyonobu I 1664–1729 Printmaker [4]
Sukenobu 1671–1750 printmaker [5]
Miyagawa Chōshun 1682–1752 Ukiyo-e painter, Miyagawa school
Miyagawa Shunsui fl. c. 1740-60s Ukiyo-e painter, son and student of Miyagawa Chōshun
Miyagawa Isshō mid-18th century Painter, student of Miyagawa Chōshun
Okumura Masanobu 1686–1764 Printmaker, Torii school initially [6]
Toriyama Sekien 1712–1788 Printmaker, teacher of Utamaro
Suzuki Harunobu 1724–1770 Printmaker [7]
Katsukawa Shunshō 1726–1792 Printmaker, leading figure in the Katsukawa school [8]
Sharaku d. 1801 One of the greatest and most mysterious ukiyo-e printmakers; career spanned only ten months [9]
Kitao Shigemasa 1739–1820 Printmaker-Founder of Kitao school of ukiyo-e [10]
Torii Kiyonaga 1752–1815 Printmaker, Fourth titular head of the Torii school [11]
Utamaro 1753–1806 Printmaker, Painter
Koryusai 1735–1790 Printmaker [12]
Hokusai 1760–1849 Ukiyo-e painter, woodblock print artist, Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji
Toyokuni 1769–1825 Printmaker, associated with the Utagawa school
Utagawa Kunimasa 1773–1810 Printmaker [13]
Toyohiro 1773–1828 Printmaker and painter of the Utagawa school, teacher of Hiroshige
Hiroshige 1797–1858 Ukiyo-e painter and woodblock print artist, Sixty-nine Stations on the Kiso Kaidō, Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō and 100 Famous Views of Edo
Shunchō Printmaker
Bunrō Printmaker
Konishi Hirosada 1810–1864 Printmaker of the Osaka school [14]
Soseki 1822–1877 Printmaker
Utagawa Kunisada II 1823–1880 Printmaker of the Utagawa school
Hokuei Printmaker
Yoshifuji 1828–1887 Printmaker
Kunimasu Printmaker
Kawanabe Kyosai 1831–1889 Student of Kuniyoshi, first Japanese political cartoonist
Toyohara Kunichika 1835–1900 Printmaker known for actor prints [15]
Fusatane Printmaker
Kunikazu Printmaker
Enjaku Printmaker
Yamamoto Shōun 1870–1965 Printmaker
Yoshitoshi 1839–1892 Printmaker, one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e [16]

Modern Artists

Name Life Comments Reference
Koun Takamura 1851–1934 Father of Kotaro Takamura, sculptor of Ueno Park statue of Saigō Takamori
Kuroda Seiki 1866–1924 Painter who introduced impressionism to Japan
Kume Keiichiro 1866–1934 Impressionist painter trained in France
Toyozo Arakawa 1874–1985 Well-known ceramic painter
Tama Kiyohara 1861–1939 Western-style painter, wife of sculptor Vincenzo Ragusa, who lived 52 years in Sicily. Also known as Eleonora Ragusa
Kotaro Takamura 1883–1956 Sculptor and poet, combining Western styles with Japanese tradition
Rosanjin 1883–1959 Calligrapher, ceramicist and restaurateur
Tsuguharu Foujita 1886–1968 Painter and engraver, applied French oil painting techniques to traditional Japanese painting
Kawai Kanjirō 1890–1966 Potter and a key figure in mingei (Japanese folk art) and studio pottery movements
Yasuo Kuniyoshi 1893–1953 Migrated to New York from Japan in 1906. Well known for his paintings related to Social Realism
Kaita Murayama 1896–1919 Painter, known primarily for his work as an author
Minoru Ohira born 1950 Japanese-born artist in California
Kenzo Okada 1902–1982 Abstract expressionist painter in New York City and Japan
Shiko Munakata 1903–1975 Woodcut artist, painter, and calligrapher
Koiso Ryouhei 1903–1988 Painter of World War II military scenes
Isamu Noguchi 1904–1988 Sculptor [17]
Jiro Yoshihara 1905–1972 Founding member of Gutai group
Taro Yashima 1908–1994 Children's book Illustrator and Author
Itchiku Kubota Born 1917 Textile Artist [18]
Michio Ihara Born 1928 Sculptor [19]
Tsunehisa Kimura Born 1928 Photomontage artist
Shozo Shimamoto Born 1928 Gutai group artist
Tezuka Osamu 1928–1989 Famous manga artist with works like Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion [20]
Yayoi Kusama Born 1929 Conceptual Artist. Self-described "obsessive artist" [21]
Minoru Niizuma 1930–1998 Abstract sculptor
On Kawara Born 1933 Conceptual Artist
Yoko Ono Born 1933 Conceptual and performance artist, singer, and widow of John Lennon
Morino Hiroaki Born 1934 Potter [22]
Shusaku Arakawa 1936–2010 Abstract painter and Architect, from Tokyo, living in New York since 1961
Hiroshi Tomihari Born 1936 Woodcut printmaker
Kanda Nissho 1937–1970 Farmer and painter of agricultural scenes [23]
Michiko Suganuma Born 1940 Urushi lacquer artist, coating original technique to traditional Japanese-urushi [24]
Kiyoto Ota Born 1948 Japanese-Mexican sculptor
Ryosuke Cohen Born 1948 Mail artist
Naohisa Inoue Born 1948 Surrealist painter of fantasy lands
Jin Homura Born 1948 Oil painter, primarily in primary colors [25]
Rey Morimura Born 1948 Printmaker, primarily woodblock [26]
Katsunori Hamanishi Born 1949 Printmaker, primarily mezzotint [27]
Yasumasa Morimura Born 1951 Appropriation artist
Atsuko Tsurumi Born 1951 Surrealist and impressionist painter
Yoshitaka Amano Born 1952 Character designer, illustrator, printmaker, painter and sculptor
Naoyuki Kato Born 1953 Illustrator, focusing on mechanical designs and anime/manga concept art
Kenjiro Okazaki Born 1955 Painter Sculptor Architect Theorist [28]
Hiroshi Senju Born 1958, Tokyo Painter - modernism expressed through ancient method of Japanese painting [29]
Yoshitomo Nara Born 1959 Pop artist [30]
Yoshiko Shimada Born 1959 Printmaker and video artist
Takashi Murakami Born 1962 Sculptor and painter, founder of the Superflat movement [31]
Juri Morioka Born 1964 Abstract painter, based in New York [32]
Tomoko Takahashi Born 1966 Installation artist based in London
Koji Ishikawa Born 1968, Osaka Based in Los Angeles, large format works with themes of primitive energy
Junichi Kakizaki Born 1971 Sculptor and Installation artist focusing on floral design
Mori Chack Born 1973 Graphics designer
Chinatsu Ban Born 1973 Painter and sculptor
Yutaka Inagawa Born 1974 Painter, line artist, photographer, producing digital collage
Chiho Aoshima Born 1974 Pop artist in the Superflat movement [33]
Aya Takano Born 1976 Pop artist in the Superflat movement [34]
Ayako Rokkaku Born 1982 painter
Pinkman Born 1982 Emerging Japanese painter based in Tokyo [35]
Takayuki Kubota (artist) Born 1985 Japanese artist based in Tokyo [36]

External links

See also