HIde Kawanishi was born in the international port city of Kobe, which inspired much of his work. He was a son of an affluent family of merchants but from childhood had always wanted to be an artist. He took a correspondence course in art from Tokyo but mostly he was self-taught, producing about a thousand print designs in his life. He is quoted on My Japanese Hanga as follows:

“I have never had a teacher of painting. I am absolutely self-educated and have painted what are not paintings. Having walked and found my own path, I am just what you may call a dilettante. I may complain about losing my youth, but there are things that I shall never lose such as innocent mind and thrills, creativity, originality, and a fresh sense of popularity and clarity. To become plain is the last thing I want to be.”

Images are from various sources.