坂本好一 Koichi Sakamoto (1932-Present)

Koichi Sakamoto (坂本好一, b. 1932) is a Japanese printmaker known for his finely detailed etchings and mezzotints that capture the quiet beauty of rural Japan. Born in Tochigi Prefecture, he trained in Nihonga before shifting to printmaking in the 1950s. His work reflects a deep sensitivity to nature, often depicting traditional farmhouses, village landscapes, and the changing rhythms of the seasons. By the later decades of the 20th century, his focus turned toward winter scenes, where snow-covered thatched roofs and bare trees create a meditative sense of stillness and time’s passage.

A longtime member of the Japan Print Association, Sakamoto’s work has been exhibited internationally, with shows in India, Italy, France, the United States, and Japan. His prints are held in collections such as the Spencer Museum of Art and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, attesting to his lasting impact on modern Japanese printmaking.