Biography

Ukiyo-e artist. In 1877, became a disciple of ukiyo-e artist Yoshitoshi Tsukioka, but left the following year and became a disciple of ukiyo-e artist Kiyochika Kobayashi. Inherited Kiyochika’s style and published prints of Tokyo Meisho-e (pictures of famous place in Tokyo), which excelled in the expression of light and gradation of shadows. He was recognized as the bearer of “Kosen-ga” (light-ray picture), which was a style invented by Kiyochika. From 1884, he shifted to traditional ukiyo-e style prints. From 1881-89, he published postcard-size prints of the Tokyo Meisho-e series. The cards totaled approximately 160, which consisted of those based on Kiyochika’s works and Yasuji’s own originals. He was greatly influenced by Kiyochika, while also creating a great number of his own original landscapes, which were characterized by a clear spatial expression in lucid colors.