Kimura Shohachi

Western-style painter. Born on August 21, 1893 in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. His father, Kimura Sohei, was the head of the beef stew restaurant "Iroha" that was established in the mid-Meiji period. His younger brothers were writer Kimura Soju and film director Kimura Sotoji. After graduating from Kyoka Junior High School, he enrolled in the French language course at Gyosei Junior High School, and aspired to study literature and developed an interest in theater. He entered the Aoibashi Western Painting Institute and learned about Kishida Ryusei. In 1912 (Taisho 1), he helped found the Fusan Society and produced innovative Fauve-style works such as "Around Toranomon." He also had a talent for writing, and began writing critiques and translating many Western art books. In 1912, he founded the Kusadosha company with Ryusei and Nakagawa Kazumasa, and held exhibitions every year, developing a unique realistic style. In 1963, he exhibited at the Inten Exhibition in the Western Painting Section and won the Chogyu Award. In 1947, he participated as a guest in the founding of the Shunyo-kai, and later played an active role as a central member. His representative works from the early Showa period, such as "The Bread Club" and "The Beef Shop Account" were exhibited at the Shunyo Exhibition. In addition to oil paintings, he also left behind excellent work in illustrations for works such as "Nigorie," "Muteki," and "Bokuto Kitan," and he also published many essays, such as "Manners Book," "Contemporary Illustrations," and "Tokyo Past and Present Book." After his death in 1959 (Showa 34), he was awarded the Japan Art Academy Imperial Prize for the text and illustrations of his posthumous work "Tokyo Hanjo-ki." He was also an authority on historical research into theater and film, kouta (traditional Japanese folk song), and Japanese music, and excelled in book design. He passed away on November 18, 1958.

[Tadao Ogura]

"The Complete Works of Shohachi Kimura, 8 volumes (1982-83, Kodansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

洋画家。明治26年8月21日、東京・日本橋に生まれる。父木村荘平は明治中期に牛鍋屋(ぎゅうなべや)「いろは」を創業した当主で、弟に作家木村荘十(そうじゅう)、映画監督木村荘十二(そとじ)がいる。京華中学校を卒業後、暁星中学仏語講座に籍を置き、文学を志し、演劇に関心をもつ。葵橋(あおいばし)洋画研究所に入って岸田劉生(りゅうせい)を知り、1912年（大正1）フュウザン会の結成に加わり『虎の門(とらのもん)付近』など革新的なフォーブ風作品を発表した。また当時から文筆の才に優れ、批評や多くの西洋美術書の翻訳を始めている。15年劉生、中川一政(かずまさ)らと草土社を創立し、毎年展覧会を開いて独特な写実様式に進んだ。18年院展洋画部に出品して樗牛(ちょぎゅう)賞を受賞。22年春陽会の創立には客員として参加、のち中心的な会員として活躍した。昭和初期の代表的作品『パンの会』『牛肉店帳場』などは春陽展に発表。油絵のほか、『にごりえ』『霧笛(むてき)』『濹東綺譚(ぼくとうきたん)』などの挿絵にも優れた仕事を残し、また、『風俗帳』『現代挿絵考』『東京今昔帳』など随筆も多く刊行した。没後の59年（昭和34）に遺著『東京繁昌記(はんじょうき)』の文と絵に対して日本芸術院恩賜賞が贈られた。演劇や映画の時代考証、小唄(こうた)や邦楽の権威でもあり、書籍の装丁にも優れていた。昭和33年11月18日没。

［小倉忠夫］

『『木村荘八全集』全8巻（1982～83・講談社）』

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