Yumeji Takehisa

Born in Honjo-Town, Oku District (now part of Setouchi City), Okayama Prefecture with the real name of Mojiro. In 1901, at the age of 18, Takehisa moved to Tokyo. While still attending Waseda Jitsugyo School, he began submitting his illustrations to magazines and gained recognition. His popularity became guaranteed by establishing “Yumeji-shiki Bijin-ga” or Yumeji-style illustration of females, which was characterized by a sense of transience and melancholy. In 1914, he opened the Minatoya Ezōshi Store which handled prints, chiyogami decorative paper, han’eri-neckpiece for kimono, and obi-sashes, aiming to connect everyday life with art. He also devoted himself to the field of design. In 1923, he attempted to establish the design publishing company Dontaku Zuan-sha, but the plan was prevented by the Great Kanto Earthquake. From 1931, he traveled to the United States and later toured Europe, returning to Japan in 1933. He passed away due to tuberculosis the following year.
Takehisa’s stay on the West Coast was largely supported by the local Japanese individuals who purchased his works. For example, Gennosuke Kodani, originally from Chiba Prefecture, achieved the first success in abalone fishing at Point Lobos and welcomed artists like Chiura Obata and Shiyei (Yukie) Kotoku at his residence. Takehisa also stayed by Kodani for about three months from August 1931. Los Angeles-based photographer Toyo Miyatake had already been familiar with Takehisa’s works through publications like Yumeji Gashu and communicated with the artist by taking a portrait. The painting Nude on the West Coast (now in the collection of Yumeji Art Museum) was formerly owned by Miyatake.