| Biography | Sculptor. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture, and spent his childhood in Fukui City. In 1919, entered Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, majoring in Italian, but left in 1921. While translating Ascanio Condivi’s book “The Life of Michaelangelo” (1553), he encountered and was inspired by poet and sculptor Kotaro Takamura, and began to teach himself sculpture. In 1931, he moved to France. In 1938, he established the Paris Japanese Artists’ Association. During the years he was in Europe, he deepened his friendships with many intellectuals, including Georges Rouault, Aristide Maillol, Romain Rolland (novelist), and Charles Vildrac (playwright), while also devoting his time to his own creative activities. In 1957, he returned to Japan. In 1975, he received the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government. He produced many portrait sculptures of philosophers, literary scholars and artists, while also pursuing universal beauty through his deep sense of contemplation. |