Iwasaki Katushika (岩崎 勝己, Iwasaki Katushika, 29 July 1912 in Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture – 25 October 2000 in Tokyo). He was a Japanese painter and printmaker who is considered one of the best of the shin-hanga (new prints) artists.
In his early years he studied Western-style painting with Kawai Gyokudō and Matsuura Gion. From 1935 to 1939 he worked in advertising for the Mitsukoshi department store in Osaka. After serving with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, Iwasaki resumed his career as an illustrator, working at first for Sankei Shimbun and then from the mid-1950s for Asahi Shimbun until he stopped working in 1972. He was also active as a book illustrator.
The term “Iwasaki style” refers to his use of bold colors and simple shapes that grew out of his wartime experience with posters. He is credited with helping to revive traditional Japanese painting style after World War II through his work as a graphic designer and illustrator.
Iwasaki Katushika was a Japanese artist who is widely considered one of the most influential creators of anime and manga artwork. He is often referred to as the “God of Manga” for his contributions.
Iwasaki Katushika was born on February 18, 1919 in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. He started drawing at an early age and at only 12 years old, he created his first manga called “Sarashina Nikki” (Sarashina Diary).
His manga career greatly expanded in 1941 when he published “Kaze no Matasaburo” (Matasaburo of the Wind) and “Kaze no Yukikaze” (Yukikaze of the Wind) in Shonen Magazine. He continued to publish different works until his death on September 3, 2011.
Toshio Nagahama, a Japanese animator, produced an animated version of Iwasaki’s “Kaze no Matasaburo” in 1983. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 1988, it won the Animage Anime Grand Prix Award.*
Katushika won many awards during his life time including: The Order of Cultural
Iwasaki Katushika (岩崎 樹齢, July 29, 1912 – November 20, 2001) was a Japanese painter. Born in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. He studied oil painting at Tama Art University, but he left an unfinished degree. In 1954, he received the 31st Bunten Exhibition “Ministry of Education Award”. In 1976 he was selected to exhibit his work in the 7th International São Paulo Art Biennial. From 1953 to his death he was a member of the Japan Art Academy and from 1956 to 1964 a member of the Imperial Arts Academy.
For most of his life Iwasaki lived in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, where he died of pneumonia on November 20, 2001. His grave is at Kamakura Reien Cemetery.)
The Japanese artist Iwasaki Katushika has a distinctive style that is rooted in traditional Japanese art. Katushika’s work is often characterized as being highly detailed with dramatic, often jarring compositions. His paintings are typically rendered in only black, white and red.
Katushika is best known for his works of historical interest, particularly those of the Edo period of Japan (1603–1867). His works are also known for their bold use of color, composition, and focus on the mundane aspects of everyday life. As a result, his work is sometimes compared to that of the Dutch 17th century painter Johannes Vermeer.
However, Katushika was never trained in art or painting and instead entered Osaka Municipal University as an engineering student. After graduating he took a job at Osram, where he worked on television technology. He didn’t begin painting until his 30s, after which he supported himself by selling his paintings while also working full-time at Osram through the 1960s and 1970s. By this time he had become a popular artist whose paintings were beginning to sell for high prices.
**In 1979 Katushika began working for the Toshiba Corporation designing LCD televisions and electronic devices. This allowed him to devote more time to
A native of Kanagawa Prefecture, Iwasaki was born in Yokohama in 1929. He became interested in art at an early age and by his late teens was already creating semi-abstract landscapes while studying at what is now the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. However, Iwasaki soon changed his medium to ink and brush, which he found more enjoyable.
Trying to emulate the work of artist Shūsaku Arakawa, who was a pioneer in paper cutouts, Iwasaki came up with his own style. The curvature of his works is characteristic of his style and he often pairs contrasting colors together. Iwasaki graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1953 and afterward continued to produce his signature ink paintings which have been exhibited at many museums across Japan.
Iwasaki was born in 1903, in Tokyo. In 1931, he graduated from the Department of Oil Painting at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He also studied under Shiko Munakata and Gyosei Ishikawa. He taught art at high schools in Tokyo and Osaka, but left teaching after seven years to take a job as an illustrator for a newspaper in Osaka. He was to remain an illustrator for the rest of his life.
Iwasaki’s influence on Japanese animation is profound, and his work has been cited as an inspiration by many of the biggest names in anime: Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli, Mitsuo Iso of Madhouse Studios, Mamoru Oshii of Production I.G., Katsuhiro Otomo of Madhouse Studios, Satoshi Kon of Madhouse Studios, Michio Mihara of Shogakukan Anime and Tatsunoko Production, Makoto Shinkai of CoMix Wave Films, Yasuhiro Yoshiura of Studio 3Hz and Tatsunoko Production, Hiroyuki Okiura of Sunrise Studios and Bones Inc., Toshio Hirata of Sunrise Studios, Yoshitaka Amano of Gaiax Co., Ltd., Junichi Souki and Hiroaki Sakurai of Sunrise Studios, Ryo-timo and Atsuko Ishida.
In 1983 Iwasaki was given a Special Award at the 6th Animation Kobe in 1984 for “Heidi” and also given an Award Of Merit at the 7th Animation Kobe in 1985 for “Laputa: Castle in the Sky.” In 1986 he won first place at the 7th Annual Japan Movie Critics Awards for
