Kaiho Yusho 海北友松

海北友松 Kaiho Yusho (1533-1615)
Painter of the early Edo period. Founder of the Kaiho school. Born in the Kohoku district of Omi (present-day Shiga Prefecture). Fifth son of Kaiho Tsunachika, a vassal of the Asai Shi. He entered Zen at the age of two in 1535, when his father was killed in battle, and trained at Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto. It is believed that he learnt the Kano school at this time. His master is said to have been either Kano Motonobu or Kano Eitoku, but it is not clear. His artistic talent was recognised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and he devoted his later years to painting.