A Japanese Artist in London

by Yoshio Markino, Sammy I. Tsunematsu (Introduction)

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Genres: Japanese Literature, London, Japan, History, Art

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

Yoshio Markino (牧野 義雄, December 25, 1869 – October 18, 1956) 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)

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see that no one has written a review for this book so far, sadly. Thus, I feel some kind of duty to write at least a short one for any people who might be interested in this book but don't have enough information about it to make an informed decision about whether to read or buy it. I would say that if you are interested in Japanese art and artists (particularly in a Western mode), or if you are curious about some lesser-known aspects and personalities from the history of London, then this might be up your alley. It certainly is a curious little book in many respects. It's written by a Japanese man who lived in London, England for about 45 years(!) from the late 19th century up until the middle point of World War II (when relations between England and Japan were not exactly at their best). He writes, in not entirely fluent English, about his experiences trying to find work as an artist in the capital city of the British Empire, which was not always easy for him. In fact, most of the time he was in poverty or near-poverty. Yet he was still able to enjoy his life enough to want to stay living on there and met many kind people who helped him out in their own way. His writing is fairly quaint but easily readable, and many anecdotes of the time and place in which he lived are all the more interesting considering his perspective as an outsider and as an artist. He published several other works, including one called 'The Colour of London' which includes many of his paintings of the city. You may be encouraged to seek that out after reading this (assuming you can find a copy, as both books are out of print, unfortunately).

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became interested in the artist Yoshio Markino after seeing one of his paintings online, and found this book via Google books. It’s a charming memoir about his sometimes very hard, early life as an immigrant; his struggle to survive while trying to grow as an artist. The glimpses of life in London in the early 20th century are fascinating. He writes in imperfect English in a conversational style which makes it feel like you are sitting and having a long conversation with him. I imagine he would have been a wonderful friend to have.

[al dingwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty years ago, I was delighted to publish this reprint of Yoshio Markino's idiosyncratic memoir. Markino was excellent artist, drawing inspiration from Impressionism and Japanese art, and he captured the world of the London fog in his evocative paintings, some of which are reproduced here. The book is an easy read because of its conversational style and it contains many acute observations of Britain and the British people in the early years of the 20th century. Markino, an eccentric in the artistic style, found his spiritual home in London and would probably have stayed there until he died, but the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and Japan resulted in his repatriation. He lived the remainder of his life in Japan in difficult circumstances. I was so happy to have helped bring this book to a new generation of readers.