Kawakami Tōgai, originally Hiroshi (Japanese:川上 冬崖; 22 July 1828, Nagano Prefecture - 3 May 1881, Atami) was a Japanese painter; one of the first to work in the yōga (Western) style.
Life and work
His birth name was Yamagishi Mannojō, but was later adopted by the Kawakamis; a family of the minor nobility. As a young man, he went to Edo (Tokyo) and studied painting with Ōnishi Chinnen [ja], a follower of the Shijō school. He then found work at the Bansho Shirabesho (roughly; Institute for the Study of Barbarian Books) where he translated books in Dutch that dealt with Western-style painting. He was still employed there in 1862 when it was renamed the Yōsho Shirabesho (Institute for the Study of Western books).
In addition to his paintings, he produced numerous ink drawings in the nanga style. Many critics consider these to be superior works.
In his later years (after 1878), he worked for the map section at the Ministry of the Army. In 1881, there was a scandal involving secret army maps that had been given to the Chinese embassy. Although his subordinates were the guilty parties, he took full responsibility and committed suicide.
