Tokushi Katsuhira
勝平得之
勝平得之
Tokushi Katsuhira is a woodblock print artist who never left Akita and continued to depict the nature and customs of his hometown, Akita. Katsuhira was born in 1904 as the eldest son of a paper-maker in Teppo-cho, Akita City (current Omachi 6-chome, Akita City).
While working in the family business of papermaking and plastering, he also drew pictures and decided to become a printmaker after taking a wood engraving course. In 1921, he was attracted by a picture by Takehisa Yumeji and started to make ukiyoe prints. He taught himself to make ink-printed woodblock prints, which he submitted to the Akita Kai newspaper and published later that year. Around this time, Katsuhira learned woodcarving techniques from Goro Kimura, an engraver, and earned his living by making Akita customs dolls, Akita dogs, and other items while making woodblock prints.
While helping out in the family business, he taught himself the three processes of woodblock printmaking: painting, engraving, and printing, and in 1928 developed his technique for creating vividly colored woodblock prints. In contrast to Ukiyoe prints, in which the three processes were carried out by the painter, engraver, and printer, Katsuhira's principle was to produce "creative woodblock prints," in which one person carried out the entire process.
In 1929, "Night View of the Outer Moat" and "Yatsuhashi Kaido" were selected for the Exhibition of the Japan Print Association. Since then, his works have been selected for numerous exhibitions, and he has made a name for himself in Japan. Since being chosen for the Teiten Exhibition for the first time in 1931, Katsuhira's works have been selected for numerous art exhibitions and have been highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad.
In 1935, Katsudaira became acquainted with architect Bruno Taut, who visited Akita Prefecture, and through his introduction, Katsudaira became internationally renowned. Approximately 70 of his representative works are preserved at the Museum of Oriental Art in Cologne. He also received the Akita Prefectural Order of Cultural Merit, the Akita City Order of Culture, and the Kahoku Cultural Award.
On January 4, 1971, Katsuhira died of stomach cancer at the Akita City General Hospital at the age of 66.
Katsuhira's works are warmly themed on the nature and customs of her native Akita and are well-known to many people. The colorful world of Akita's climate and seasonal landscapes, created using a unique multicolored printing technique, draws the viewer in. “Twelve Scenes of Akita,“ one of Katsuhisa's early representative works, is an assemblage of 12 works depicting the streets of Akita City, which retains the atmosphere of a castle town, and scenes along the Ushu Kaido Road.
Introducing the Akita Red Brick Folklore Museum of Akita City, where Katsuhira's work is on display. (Japanese only)
Describing the characteristics of Katsuhira's work. (Japanese only)
Introducing the life of Katsuhira in depth. (Japanese only)
Tokushi Katsuhira Memorial Museum
The memorial museum introduces the exhibition entitled <Nature and Customs of Akita> by changing the exhibition four times a year. The museum also introduces Katsuhirai's life and achievements through the printmaking process, tools, and videos.
Tokushi Katsuhira Kinenkan
(Tokushi Katsuhira Memorial Museum)
[Walk] 15 minutes from Akita Station
[Bus] Get off at Akita Chuo Kotsu 'Kawabata Iriguchi' bus stop and walk for about 1 minute