Ōta Giichi
Year unknown
Donated by Satō Jōsei
Ōta Giichi (1891-1937) was born in Onozato, Karikawa Town, Higashitagawa District (modern Onozato, Karikawa, Shōnai Town). While studying at Yamagata Prefectural Shōnai Middle School (currently Tsuruoka Minami High School) he was taught by Onuki Hakudō, and while at the Tōkyō Fine Arts School (modern Tōkyō University of the Arts), he learned under Yūki Somei. In 1913, he was selected for the 7th Japan Fine Arts Exhibition (Bunten at the time). After graduating from the same school, he became a member of the Hochi Newspaper, which specialized in sports. He created illustrations for topics such as Japanese legislature and Sumo, among other things, and drew baseball manga comics alongside famous manga artist Okamoto Ippei and famous writer Satomi Ton. In 1918, he formed the Shinkōkai association. The next year, he won his initial selection for the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition (the first Teiten at the time). He was selected multiple times after continuing until 1934. He was also selected for the likes of the Prince Shōtoku Commemorative Art Exhibition (Shōtoku Taishi Housan Bijutsuten), as well as the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. In his later years, he took up the mantle of teacher at the Japan Girl’s High School, known more modernly as Sagami Women’s University.