List of Japanese artists

This is a 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.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Heian and Kamakura periods

Name Life Comments Reference
Kose Kanaoka 9th century Painter of landscapes, court and buddhist paintings, proponent of Yamato-e 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
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
Enkū 1632–1695 Buddhist monk and Busshi sculptor
Gechu active 18th century Sculptor
Naitō Toyomasa 1773–1856 Sculptor of netsuke [1]
Tetsuya Noguchi Born 1980 Sculptor [2]
Chie Aoki Born 1981 Sculptor [3]

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
Yo Akiyama Born 1953 Ceramic artist of the Sōdeisha movement
Kimiyo Mishima 1932-2024 Ceramic artist
Masaya Imanishi Born 1947 Ceramic 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
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
Koho Yamamoto 1922- Student of Chiura Obata

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 Shōwa era, gave his name to 'Gensou red' pigment
Goto Jin Born 1968 Nihonga painter of the Heisei era.Human Beauty paintings. [4]
Fuyuko Matsui Born 1974 Contemporary Nihonga painter living in Tokyo. [5]

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 Born 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
Torii Kiyonobu I 1664–1729 Printmaker [6]
Sukenobu 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
Toriyama Sekien 1712–1788 Printmaker, teacher of Utamaro
Suzuki Harunobu 1724–1770 Printmaker
Katsukawa Shunshō 1726–1792 Printmaker, leading figure in the Katsukawa school
Sharaku d. 1801 One of the greatest and most mysterious ukiyo-e printmakers; career spanned only ten months [7]
Kitao Shigemasa 1739–1820 Printmaker-Founder of Kitao school of ukiyo-e [8]
Torii Kiyonaga 1752–1815 Printmaker, Fourth titular head of the Torii school [9]
Utamaro 1753–1806 Printmaker, painter
Koryusai 1735–1790 Printmaker [10]
Hokusai 1760–1849 Ukiyo-e painter, woodblock print artist, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji
Toyokuni 1769–1825 Printmaker, associated with the Utagawa school
Utagawa Kunimasa 1773–1810 Printmaker [11]
Toyohiro 1773–1828 Printmaker and painter of the Utagawa school, teacher of Hiroshige
Kawahara Keiga 1786–1860? Painter on paper, silk and wood at Dejima, Nagasaki and on travels through Japan. Biological depictions of flowers and animals for Philipp Franz von Siebold, scenes with persons in- and outdoors, and at the court of Edo
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
Konishi Hirosada 1810–1864 Printmaker of the Osaka school [12]
Utagawa Kunisada II 1823–1880 Printmaker of the Utagawa school
Hokuei d. 1837 Printmaker
Kunimasu Unknown Printmaker
Kawanabe Kyosai 1831–1889 Student of Kuniyoshi, first Japanese political cartoonist
Toyohara Kunichika 1835–1900 Printmaker known for actor prints [13]
Yoshitoshi 1839–1892 Printmaker, one of the last great masters of ukiyo-e [14]

Modern artists

Name Life Comments Reference
Koun Takamura 1851–1934 Father of Kotaro Takamura, sculptor of Ueno Park statue of Saigō Takamori
Tama Kiyohara 1861–1939 Western-style painter, wife of sculptor Vincenzo Ragusa, who lived 52 years in Sicily. Also known as Eleonora Ragusa
Arai Yoshimune 1863-1941 Woodblock print artist of the shin hanga movement
Kuroda Seiki 1866–1924 Painter who introduced impressionism to Japan
Kume Keiichiro 1866–1934 Impressionist painter trained in France
Okada Saburōsuke 1869–1939 Painter, mostly in the Yōga style, and art professor
Toyozo Arakawa 1874–1985 Well-known ceramic painter
Ito Yuhan 1882-1951 Woodblock print artist of the shin hanga movement
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
Ohno Bakufu 1888–1976 Painter and printmaker
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
Kanpū Ōmata 1894–1947 Painter and waka poet
Haruko Hasegawa 1895–1967 Painter, illustrator, writer; she specialized in war painting [15][16][17]
Kaita Murayama 1896–1919 Painter, known primarily for his work as an author
Bumpei Usui 1898–1994 Painter, born in Japan, emigrated to New York in 1921
Ichiro Fukuzawa 1896–1992 Surrealist painter
Iwao Yamawaki 1898–1987 Bauhaus educated photographer and architect
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 [18]
Jiro Yoshihara 1905–1972 Founding member of Gutai group
Migishi Setsuko 1905–1999 Painter and illustrator known as one of the pioneering Japanese women in oil painting [19]
Suda Kokuta 1906–1990 Abstract and Western-style painter, calligrapher
Hideo Date 1907–2004 Immigrated to California from Osaka, Japan. When in Los Angeles, he was influenced by artist and teacher Stanton MacDonald-Wright at the Art Students' League in Los Angeles. [20]
Taro Yashima 1908–1994 Children's book Illustrator and Author
Yozo Hamaguchi 1909–2000 Mezzotint printmaker
Minami Keiko 1911–2004 Aquatint engraver and printmaker
Yoshio Fujimaki 1911–disappeared 1935 Sōsaku-hanga woodblock printmaker
Itchiku Kubota 1917–2003 Textile artist [21]
Tomiyama Taeko 1921–2021 Visual artist, painter
Tsuruko Yamazaki 1925–2019 Avant-garde artist; member of the Gutai group [22]
Michio Ihara Born 1928 Sculptor [23]
Tsunehisa Kimura 1928–2008 Photomontage artist
Shozo Shimamoto 1928–2013 Gutai group artist
Tezuka Osamu 1928–1989 Famous manga artist with works like Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion [24]
Yayoi Kusama Born 1929 Conceptual artist, self-described "obsessive artist" [25]
Minoru Niizuma 1930–1998 Abstract sculptor
Shigeo Fukuda 1932–2009 Sculptor, graphic artist and poster designer who created optical illusions
Ushio Shinohara Born 1932 Japanese Neo-Dadaist artist
On Kawara 1933–2014 Conceptual Artist
Yoko Ono Born 1933 Conceptual and performance artist, singer, and widow of John Lennon
Fujiko Nakaya Born 1933 Fog sculptor
Morino Hiroaki Born 1934 Potter [26]
Shusaku Arakawa 1936–2010 Abstract painter and architect from Tokyo, living in New York since 1961
Keiichi Tanaami Born 1936 Multi-genre artist from Tokyo working as a graphic designer, illustrator, video artist and fine artist. [27]
Hiroshi Tomihari Born 1936 Woodcut printmaker
Susumu Shingu Born 1937 Kinetic sculptor. His nature-inspired works are constructed of highly engineered materials, commonly steel and Teflon
Shotaro Ishinomori 1938–1998 Manga artist and mechanical designer of Cyborg 009 and Super Sentai (Goranger to J.A.K.Q.)
Junko Chodos Born 1939 Mixed media artist residing in the United States [28]
Kanda Nissho 1937–1970 Farmer and painter of agricultural scenes [29]
Michiko Suganuma Born 1940 Urushi lacquer artist, coating original technique to traditional Japanese-urushi [30]
Tetsuya Noda Born 1940 Print artist
Tadao Okazaki Born 1943 Painter
Go Nagai Born 1945 Manga artist and mechanical designer of Mazinger Z, Getter Robo and Devilman
Shigeru Nakanishi Born 1946 Oil painter [31]
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 [32]
Susumu Matsushita Born 1950 Manga artist, air painter, character designer and concept artist
Minoru Ohira born 1950 Japanese-born artist in California
Toeko Tatsuno 1950–2014 Abstract painter, printmaker, and professor at Tama Art University
Yasumasa Morimura Born 1951 Appropriation artist
Katsura Funakoshi Born 1951 Sculptor and printmaker
Yoshitaka Amano Born 1952 Character designer, illustrator, printmaker, painter and sculptor
Shigeru Miyamoto Born 1952 Video game artist, character designer, director and producer of Nintendo
Naoyuki Kato Born 1953 Illustrator, focusing on mechanical designs and anime/manga concept art
Noriko Shinohara Born 1953 Multi-disciplinary fine artist with drawing and printmaking series, "Cutie & Bullie".
Kenjiro Okazaki Born 1955 Painter, sculptor, architect theorist [33]
Tatsuo Miyajima Born 1957 Conceptual artist based in Ibaraki, Japan [34]
Hiroshi Senju Born 1958, Tokyo Painter, modernism expressed through ancient method of Japanese painting [35]
Yoshiteru Otani Born 1958 Cartoonist [36]
Yoshitomo Nara Born 1959 Pop artist [37]
Yoshiko Shimada Born 1959 Printmaker and video artist
Takeshi Motomiya Born 1959 Abstract painter from Tokyo, living in Barcelona since 1986. Grandson of Japanese artists Migishi Setsuko and Migishi Kōtarō.
Osamu Sato Born 1960 Digital artist, photographer, and composer
Hiroshi Ōnishi 1961–2011 Painter, professor at Tokyo University of the Arts
Naoko Tosa Born 1961 Media artist
Takashi Murakami Born 1962 Sculptor and painter, founder of the Superflat movement [38]
Shiro Takatani Born 1963 Visual artist
Minako Nishiyama Born 1965 Contemporary painter and sculptor [39]
Tomoko Takahashi Born 1966 Installation artist based in London
Ryoji Ikeda Born 1966 Visual artist
Mariko Mori Born 1967, Tokyo, Japan Highly celebrated contemporary video and photographic artist
Yoko Nagayama Born 1968 Enka singer, J-pop idol, actress [40]
Junichi Kakizaki Born 1971, Nagano Sculptor, floral artist, land and environmental artist focusing on floral design
Rokudenashiko Born 1972 Sculptor and manga artist
Ryota Matsumoto Birthdate unknown Visual artist
Miya Ando Born 1973 Award-winning Post-minimalist painter and sculptor working in aluminum, steel and glass
Mori Chack Born 1973 Graphics designer
Chiharu Shiota Born 1972 Visual artist
Chinatsu Ban Born 1973 Painter and sculptor
Yurie Nagashima Born 1973 Photographer, writer and curator [41]
Tanabe Chikuunsai IV Born 1973 Bamboo master and sculptor
Tetsuya Ishida 1973–2005 Contemporary Surrealist painter
Fuyuki Yamakawa Born 1973 Sound and performance artist
Yutaka Inagawa Born 1974 Painter, line artist, photographer producing digital collage
Chiho Aoshima Born 1974 Pop artist in the Superflat movement [38]
Aya Takano Born 1976 Pop artist in the Superflat movement [38]
Tetsuya Noguchi Born 1980 Contemporary artist and sculptor [2]
Tets Ohnari Born 1980 Contemporary artist and sculptor living in Prague and Tokyo [42]
Aki Sasamoto Born 1980 Performance artist based in New York City [43]
Nahoko Kojima Born 1981 Contemporary paper cut artist, pioneered Kirie as sculpture [44]
Kohei Fujito Born 1983 Contemporary Ainu folk artist
Mitsunori Kimura Born 1983 Japanese contemporary artist
Tsubasa Kato Born 1984 Japanese contemporary artist
Mari Katayama Born 1987 Japanese multimedia artist and photographer [45]
You Shiina Birthdate unknown Japanese illustrator and manga artist [46]
Yuki Iiyama Born 1988 Japanese contemporary artist [47]

See also

References

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