Hisui Sugiura
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese graphic designer who was a pioneer of modern Japanese graphic design.
in 1876.
He graduated from the Japanese-style painting department of Tokyo School of Art, which is the present Tokyo University of the Arts, in 1901.
At first, he was aiming to become a Japanese-style painter and he studied under Matsuura Ganki, a Japanese style painter of the Shijō school
.
He went to Tokyo in 1897. Afterward, he studied under Kawabata Gyokusho.
He entered the Japanese-style painting department of Tokyo School of Art.
He learned the western-style painting
and the European-style design from Kuroda Seiki
while he was attending the Tokyo School of Art.
However, because the company's design department closed the next year, he left the shop.
He went to Shimane as a junior high school teacher in 1904, then went to Tokyo again the following year and began working for the Tokyo Chuo Shinbun.
In 1908 he became a non-regular employee designer in the Mitsukoshi
dry goods shop, taking charge of the cover of Mitsukoshi Times. He became the store's design chief in 1910 and so he left the newspaper company.
The magazine Mitsukoshi began to be published in 1911.
He became the lecturer of the design department of Nihon Bijutsu Gakko (Japan School of Art) and became the adviser to Calpis
Co., a beverage manufacturer, in 1921.
He went to Europe to study modern graphic design from 1922 to 1924.
Having returned to Japan, he formed "Hichininsha," a group to study posters, in 1925.
He designed the poster of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
opening to traffic in 1927.
It can be said that his works during this period led the early stages of Japanese commercial design.
He became design department chief of Imperial School of Fine Arts (present Musashino Art University
) in 1929.
He is one of the founders of the Tama Teikoku Bijutsu Gakko (present Tama Art University
) in 1935.
His wife is Sugiura Suiko (1885-1960) who was a poet of the Araragi
faction.
She was influenced by Kitahara Hakushu
.
Many of his works are stored at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
and The Museum of Art, Ehime.
Early life
He was born in Matsuyama City, Ehime PrefectureEhime Prefecture
is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
in 1876.
He graduated from the Japanese-style painting department of Tokyo School of Art, which is the present Tokyo University of the Arts, in 1901.
At first, he was aiming to become a Japanese-style painter and he studied under Matsuura Ganki, a Japanese style painter of the Shijō school
Shijo school
The Shijō school , also known as the Maruyama-Shijō school, was an offshoot school of the Maruyama school of Japanese painting founded by Maruyama Ōkyo, and his former student Matsumura Goshun in the late 18th century. This school was one of several that made up the larger Kyoto school...
.
He went to Tokyo in 1897. Afterward, he studied under Kawabata Gyokusho.
He entered the Japanese-style painting department of Tokyo School of Art.
He learned the western-style painting
Yoga (art)
or literally "Western-style paintings" is a term used to describe paintings by Japanese artists that have been made in accordance with Western traditional conventions, techniques and materials...
and the European-style design from Kuroda Seiki
Kuroda Seiki
Viscount was the pseudonym of a Japanese painter and teacher, noted for bringing Western theories about art to a wide Japanese audience. He was among the leaders of the yōga movement in late 19th- and early 20th-century Japanese painting...
while he was attending the Tokyo School of Art.
Professional life
After he graduated from the school, he became a designer and worked for the Osaka Sanwa print shop, assuming the position of design chief.However, because the company's design department closed the next year, he left the shop.
He went to Shimane as a junior high school teacher in 1904, then went to Tokyo again the following year and began working for the Tokyo Chuo Shinbun.
In 1908 he became a non-regular employee designer in the Mitsukoshi
Mitsukoshi
is an international department store chain with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Mitsukoshi Ltd. has amalgamated with Isetan Co.,Ltd ,and changed company name to Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd.- History :...
dry goods shop, taking charge of the cover of Mitsukoshi Times. He became the store's design chief in 1910 and so he left the newspaper company.
The magazine Mitsukoshi began to be published in 1911.
He became the lecturer of the design department of Nihon Bijutsu Gakko (Japan School of Art) and became the adviser to Calpis
Calpis
is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by , headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo.The beverage has a light, somewhat milky, and slightly acidic flavor, similar to plain or vanilla-flavored yogurt or Yakult...
Co., a beverage manufacturer, in 1921.
He went to Europe to study modern graphic design from 1922 to 1924.
Having returned to Japan, he formed "Hichininsha," a group to study posters, in 1925.
He designed the poster of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
The is a subway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is part of the of Tokyo Metro network. The official name is . It is 14.3 km long and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō....
opening to traffic in 1927.
It can be said that his works during this period led the early stages of Japanese commercial design.
He became design department chief of Imperial School of Fine Arts (present Musashino Art University
Musashino Art University
is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929.Teikoku Art School was founded in 1929; in 1948 it became Musashino Art School , and in 1962 it became Musashino Art University...
) in 1929.
He is one of the founders of the Tama Teikoku Bijutsu Gakko (present Tama Art University
Tama Art University
is a private university in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1935 as a spinoff from what is today Musashino Art University...
) in 1935.
His wife is Sugiura Suiko (1885-1960) who was a poet of the Araragi
Araragi (magazine)
was a Japanese literary magazine of the prewar period.Started in 1908 by Itō Sachio, it was a leading magazine of tanka . A group of poets who contributed to the magazine had come to be known as the Araragi school....
faction.
She was influenced by Kitahara Hakushu
Kitahara Hakushu
is the pen-name of ', a Japanese tanka poet active during the Taishō and Shōwa periods of Japan. He is regarded as one of the most popular and important poets in modern Japanese literature.-Early life:...
.
Works
- Mitsukoshi Poster (angel design) (1915)
- Tokyo Underground Railway (present Tokyo Metro Ginza LineTokyo Metro Ginza LineThe is a subway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is part of the of Tokyo Metro network. The official name is . It is 14.3 km long and serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chūō, Chiyoda, and Taitō....
Ueno-Asakusa section) opening advertisement poster (1927) - the 3rd Exhibition of "Hichininsha" poster (1928)
- Hisui Sōsaku Zuan (1930)
- Package design of cigarette 'Hibiki' (1932)
- Package design of cigarette 'Hikari' (1936)
Many of his works are stored at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
The in Tokyo, Japan, is the foremost museum collecting and exhibiting contemporary Japanese art.This Tokyo museum is also known by the English acronym MOMAT...
and The Museum of Art, Ehime.
Award
- Japan Art Academy Imperial Award in 1955.
- Medals of Honor (Japan)Medals of Honor (Japan)Since the late 19th Century, the Government of Japan has issued six different types of to individuals for achievements in various fields.The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and were first awarded the following year. Several expansions and amendments have been made since then...
with Purple Ribbon in 1958.