Yoshio Markino
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
artist and author who spent much of his life in London. He was born at the town of Toyota
in Japan, at birth being named Heiji Makino.
He was curious about and attracted to Western culture. When he was 24 (1893) he took ship at Yokohama
, on his way to San Francisco. He enrolled at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art and stayed in the city for the next four years.
In 1897 he went to London
via New York
, and decided to stay at the British capital where he spent most of his subsequent life and career (1897-1942). He was well received among British writers and artists, and his illustrations of the city published in 1907 in The Colour of London got critical acclaim. This was followed by in 1908 by The Colour of Paris and The Colour of Rome, and in 1912 by The Charm of London.
Markino's literary talents were also recognized, and with the support of friends like Douglas Sladen
he published several autobiographical works, including A Japanese Artist in London (1910), When I was a Child (1912), and My Recollections and Reflections (1913). Markino's quirky English style was appreciated by readers who enjoyed his unique humor, but was not infrequently lamented by critics, especially as the popularity of his works grew.
Among his friends and acquaintances were the writers Yone Noguchi
, Arthur Ransome
, M. P. Shiel
, and the artist Pamela Colman Smith
. Although unnamed, he plays an important role in Ransome's Bohemia in London, and is considered to have been the model for the male protagonist in Shiel's book The Yellow Wave (1905) — a Romeo and Juliet
-type tragic romance on the background of the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905.
Between October 18, 1923 and March 9, 1927, he conducted an artistically fruitful visit to the United States
. His watercolour "The Plaza Hotel, New York City" dates from that visit (1924) (see external link).
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
artist and author who spent much of his life in London. He was born at the town of Toyota
Toyota (disambiguation)
Toyota is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan.Toyota may also refer to:- Companies :*Toyota Group*Toyota Industries Corporation*Toyota Tsusho*Toyota Boshoku*Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc....
in Japan, at birth being named Heiji Makino.
He was curious about and attracted to Western culture. When he was 24 (1893) he took ship at Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, on his way to San Francisco. He enrolled at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art and stayed in the city for the next four years.
In 1897 he went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
via New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and decided to stay at the British capital where he spent most of his subsequent life and career (1897-1942). He was well received among British writers and artists, and his illustrations of the city published in 1907 in The Colour of London got critical acclaim. This was followed by in 1908 by The Colour of Paris and The Colour of Rome, and in 1912 by The Charm of London.
Markino's literary talents were also recognized, and with the support of friends like Douglas Sladen
Douglas Sladen
Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen was an English author. He studied at Trinity College, Oxford, and went to Australia , where he became the first professor of history in the University of Sydney. Subsequently he traveled much and settled in London as a writer. Poems by Margaret Thomas were...
he published several autobiographical works, including A Japanese Artist in London (1910), When I was a Child (1912), and My Recollections and Reflections (1913). Markino's quirky English style was appreciated by readers who enjoyed his unique humor, but was not infrequently lamented by critics, especially as the popularity of his works grew.
Among his friends and acquaintances were the writers Yone Noguchi
Yone Noguchi
Yone Noguchi, or Yonejirō Noguchi, born 野口 米次郎 / Noguchi Yonejirō , was an influential Japanese writer of poetry, fiction, essays, and literary criticism in both English and Japanese. He was the father of the sculptor Isamu Noguchi.-Early life:Noguchi was born in the town of Tsushima, near Nagoya...
, Arthur Ransome
Arthur Ransome
Arthur Michell Ransome was an English author and journalist, best known for writing the Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. These tell of school-holiday adventures of children, mostly in the Lake District and the Norfolk Broads. Many of the books involve sailing; other common subjects...
, M. P. Shiel
M. P. Shiel
Matthew Phipps Shiel was a prolific British writer of West Indian descent. His legal surname remained "Shiell" though he adopted the shorter version as a de facto pen name....
, and the artist Pamela Colman Smith
Pamela Colman Smith
Pamela Colman Smith , also nicknamed Pixie, was an artist, illustrator, and writer. She is best known for designing the Waite-Smith deck of divinatory tarot cards for Arthur Edward Waite.-Biography:Smith was born in Pimlico, Middlesex , England the only child of an...
. Although unnamed, he plays an important role in Ransome's Bohemia in London, and is considered to have been the model for the male protagonist in Shiel's book The Yellow Wave (1905) — a Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
-type tragic romance on the background of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904-1905.
Between October 18, 1923 and March 9, 1927, he conducted an artistically fruitful visit to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His watercolour "The Plaza Hotel, New York City" dates from that visit (1924) (see external link).
