The Quiet Publisher: Fukuda Kumajirō and the Blossoming of Meiji Art Fukuda Kumajirō, also known as Agano Kumajirō, remains a somewhat enigmatic figure in the vibrant landscape of late 19th and early 20th century Japanese art. Born in 1847 in the rural Agano District of Tagawa Gun, Fukushima Prefecture, his life unfolded during a period of profound transformation for Japan – the Meiji Restoration. While not widely celebrated as a painter or sculptor himself, Kumajirō’s significance lies in his pivotal role as a publisher and patron of the arts, a conduit through which many important works re…