Kaneko, Yoshihiro

I’m Yoshihiro Kaneko, a printmaking artist from Osaka, now based in Yokohama. My work centers on water-based woodblock prints, capturing the intricacies of life around me. After studying abroad in Canada and majoring in printmaking, I developed a passion for Japanese traditional techniques.  

My style is naturalistic, using bright colors and occasional simplicity to create striking contrasts. I believe art can be both meaningful and entertaining. My pieces often explore nostalgic feelings and personal experiences, sometimes touching on current events like the recent Wajima earthquake.  

Two significant series in my work are “Trip in Canada” and “Wajima Printing.” The former reflects my evolving feelings about my time abroad, while the latter responds to the January 2024 earthquake, exploring themes of resilience and community through traditional woodblock printing.  

Biography  

Yoshihiro Kaneko is a Tokyo-based printmaking artist specializing in woodblock watercolor prints, cyanotypes, and mixed media. Kaneko’s oeuvre is characterized by vibrant, intricately detailed woodblock prints.  

Kaneko’s artistic practice explores themes of daily life and popular culture, with a particular emphasis on personal and collective nostalgia, as well as the impact of contemporary media such as pop culture, especially film and manga. His work reflects a deep engagement with the nuances of memory and the pervasive influence of modern media on individual and communal experiences.  

Employing a dynamic color palette and meticulous detailing, Kaneko’s prints offer a unique perspective on the intersection of traditional Japanese printmaking techniques and contemporary subject matter. Notable projects include the “Studying Abroad in Canada Twice” series (2023), which juxtaposes the excitement of a high school student’s initial visit to Canada with the more nuanced experience of a college student. Additionally, the “Walking Tour of Wajima” series (2024) captures the shared nostalgia and emotional landscape of Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the aftermath of a significant earthquake.