early life and training (1882-1907) kanae yamamoto, a renowned japanese artist, was born on october 24, 1882. he descended from the irie clan of hatamoto, samurai in the direct service of the tokugawa shogunate of feudal japan in edo (modern tokyo). kanae's early life was marked by his family's financial struggles, which led to him becoming an apprentice wood engraver at the age of 11. he mastered western techniques of tonal gradation in the workshop of sakurai torakichi in shiba. career and sōsaku-hanga movement kanae's training focused on book and newspaper illustration, including letterpre…