A Life Woven in Lacquer and Verse: The World of Ogawa Haritsu Ogawa Haritsu, also known as Ritsuō, was a figure who embodied the multifaceted spirit of Edo-period Japan. Born in 1663 in what is now Tokyo, his life unfolded during a time of relative peace and flourishing arts under the Tokugawa shogunate. While biographical details remain somewhat elusive—a common trait for artists of this era whose fame rested more on their creations than documented personal histories—Haritsu’s legacy speaks volumes through the exquisite works he left behind. He wasn't merely an artist; he was a polymath, eq…