Yasuda Yukihiko (1884 - 1978)

Giant of Japanese-style history painters ranked with Maeda Seison.

Yukihiko was born on February 16th of 1884 as a 4th son of a manager of Japanese-style restaurant.
His real given name was Shinzaburo.
In his early days, he was impressed by art works of Yokoyama Taikan, Hishida Shunso and Kobori Tomoto so that Yukihiko found his calling in painting.
Since 1898, he studied painting under Kobori Tomoto.
Yukihiko entered the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko), however, he dropped out of the school.
Later, he received recognition from Okakura Tenshin, and, he became a member of the Japan Art Institute (Nihon Bijutsu-In) in 1907.
He sent his work to the first Inten Exhibition.
He kept sending his works to the subsequent Inten Exhibitions until 1974 even though he was pestered with chest trouble.

Yukihiko became a professor of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1944.
He was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1948.
In 1958, The Nihon Bijutsu-In was reorganized as an incorporationed foundation, and, Yukihiko became the first administrative director.
He died in Oiso Town of Kanagawa Prefecture on April 29th of 1978.