Year

Age

Facts

1878

Kiyokata (born Kaburaki Ken-ichi) was born in Kanda,Tokyo, on Aug.31. His father, Jōno Saigiku was one of the founders of Tokyo Nichi-nichi Shimbun (presently Mainichi Shimbun) and was a brilliant man of letters as well as popular novelist and drama critic. He was influenced by his father and grew up in a literary atmosphere.

1891

13

Through the recommendation of his father and San-yu-tei Encho, he became a disciple of Mizuno Toshikata, an ukiyoe artist of the Utagawa school and illustrator, in order to become an illustrator.

1893

15

He was given the pseudonym “Kiyokata” by his mentor Mizuno Toshikata.

1894

16

He took charge of drawing illustrations for “Yamato Shimbun” of which his father was president.

1897

19

He drew illustrations for “Tohoku Shimbun”, and became independent.

1901

23

He organized the group “Ugō-kai”. Asked to draw the frontispiece and binding for “Sannmai tsuzuki”(A series of three works) written by Izumi Kyōka, he formed a close friendship with Izumi Kyōka. He became more interested in Japanese-style painting, and began to produce many fine works inspired by the literary works.

1903

25

He began to draw frontispieces for the magazine “Bungei Club” which led the literary world, and became established as an illustrator.

1915

37

A group called “Kyōdo-kai” was established by Kiyokata’s apprentices; Ito Shinsui and Terashima Shimei. At the 9th Bun-ten exhibition organized by the Ministry of Education, his painting “A Shower Passing By” won the best prize.

1916

38

“Kinrei-sha” was organized by Kiyokata together with Kikkawa Reika, Yuki Somei, Hirafuku Hyakusui, and Matsuoka Eikyū.

1919

41

He served as a judge for the 1st Teiten (the exhibition organized by the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts)

1927

49

He submitted “Tsukiji-Akashichō”at the 8th Teiten exhibition. He received a prize from the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts.
He had established himself as a key figure in the field both in name and reality.

1930

52

“The Portrait of San-yu-tei Enchō” was exhibited in the 11th Teiten.
This work was designated as a national important cultural property in 2003.

1937

59

The Imperial Arts Academy was established and Kiyokata became a member of this academy.

1944

66

He was appointed as a Court Artist.

1946

68

He was a judge at the 1st Japan Arts Exhibition (Nitten).
He moved to Zaimokuza, Kamakura from Gotemba where he had been evacuated from Ushigome-Yaraichō, Tokyo, because his house had been burned down during World War Ⅱ.

1954

76

He was granted the Order of Cultural Merit. Moved to Yukinoshita, Kamakura.

1972

Died in Yukinoshita on Mar. 2, at 93.