The Maverick of the Edo Brush: The Life and Legacy of Hanabusa Itchō In the vibrant, shifting landscape of Edo-period Japan, few figures possessed the rebellious spirit and multifaceted brilliance of Hanabusa Itchō. Born in Osaka in 1652 as Taga Shinkō, the son of a physician, Itchō’s journey was one of profound transformation—from a disciplined student of tradition to a celebrated iconoclast of the literati movement. His early years were defined by rigorous training under the esteemed Kanō Yasunobu, where he mastered the meticulous techniques and sacred iconography of the Kanō school. Yet,…