SHUSEI KOBAYAKAWA
Shusei Kobanyakawa was a Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist active in Kyoto during the Taisho and Showa eras. Born in Tottori as the eldest son of the head priest of Kotokuji Temple, he entered monastic life at the age of nine. Though he enrolled in the Kyoto City School of Arts and Crafts, he left before graduation and studied under artists Kokkyo Taniguchi and later Shunkyo Yamamoto. Kobayakawa was repeatedly selected for the Ministry of Education Art Exhibition (Bunten) and Imperial Art Academy Exhibitions. He traveled to China multiple times and also visited Europe. As a war artist, he produced works from the frontlines, including his renowned painting Shield of the Nation (held by Ryozen Gokoku Shrine, Kyoto). After the war, he focused on religious paintings until his death at age 89.
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