IWAO AKIYAMA was born in 1921 on the southern island of Japan, Kyushu, where he grew up in the countryside. AKIYAMA tells us in his own words how he began to learn to become an artist:

"I was raised in a beautiful village where I could see the volcano, Mount Aso and other high mountains. When I looked at the canyons among the mountains, they looked to me like beautiful paintings. I remember that I started to draw at the age of 8. In my village there was my family's temple. An old Buddhist priest took care of the temple, he was also an artist of ink painting, called 'Suibokuga'. In front of my home temple, there is a stream and behind it mountains; the temple grounds was a good playground for us kids. Sometimes, when I lost interest in play, I went to the main temple where the old priest was drawing. I watched for a while. One day, when I was watching, as usual, he asked me: "Iwao, do you like drawing?"

I answered: "Yes, I like it, but I can't do it very well."

The Priest said: "Iwao, let's try; you can draw well if you want to" and he said: "I will teach you".

That day was the first day of my drawing lesson. I started learning on that day. My teacher said: "You have to learn your drawing on old newspaper" and he gave me old newspaper, brushes and ink.

At first he taught me to draw repeatedly: straight lines, circles, squares and triangles. I went to the temple every 3 days for my lesson - the priest was strict and for 3 months all I was allowed to draw were straight lines, circles, squares and triangles. After 3 months he began to teach me how to draw trees, grasses and mountains and I was allowed to use cheap white paper. My lessons were about 3 hours long; after the lesson my teacher gave me a little snack of food that was actually offering for the temple. In that way I learned drawing until I was 15 years old, under his direction. I never lost interest in my lessons."

AKIYAMA went on to study art in High School and Art School, but it was only after the War, when new art and cultural influences came to Japan from America and Europe, that he was able to concentrate seriously on producing Art. It was at that time that he met the famous Japanese Artist SHIKO MUNAKATA and that was when AKIYAMA decided to become a Woodblock Print Artist.

Today, AKIYAMA is a famous Artist in Japan. His Works are widely known and loved. Recently a monument was erected in his honor on the Island of Kyushu.

AKIYAMA recently said: "Now, I am over 80 years old, but I am still searching for my philosophy and always searching for my inspiration for my Hanga (Prints). I have applied myself to the study of folklore and of Buddhism. I will listen to my Hanga, always."