HOSOYA MASAYUKI

Hosoya Masayuki, born in Tokyo in 1943, studied at Ochanomizu Art School. Although one of his teachers claimed he had no talent, Hosoya stayed committed to art. In 1970, he moved abroad, spending time in Paris and New York. He later enrolled at the Cherbourg Art School in France. During this time, he won his first art competition and sold his first work. In 1973, he returned to Japan and settled in Kamakura, where he began establishing his career as a linocut and etching artist. 

In the 1980s, Hosoya Masayuki held exhibitions across Japan and gained national recognition. International success followed with shows in Switzerland and Lithuania. He earned second prize at a major art competition in Belgium in 1985. His Japanese linocuts and etchings often feature whimsical characters. These include musicians, circus performers, and figures in playful, dreamlike scenes. The prints show a blend of caricature and emotion that gives his work broad appeal. 

Hosoya Masayuki’s Japanese linocuts combine European influence with Japanese tradition. Picasso-like faces and French titles reflect his time abroad. At the same time, his use of delicate washi paper grounds the work in Japanese aesthetics. The visible texture of the paper enhances each image. This East–West fusion has become Hosoya’s signature style. Today, his prints are held in public and private collections across Japan, confirming his lasting influence in contemporary Japanese printmaking.