ji-san's gallery: www.roji-tealounge.com/ojiisannoe.html

Biography

Junpou Taneda was born the oldest of 4 brothers & sisters in relatively a wealthy family, but his parent’s fabric company went through bankruptcy when he was 10. He lost both parents at age 12 and all four of the children were taken away by different relatives. The relative Taneda stayed with owned a barber shop so he started to help with their shop.

He always loved to draw and his dream was to become a painter. Unfortunately, he had to give up on his dream because of barber training to make a living and support his family.

He opened his own barber shop at the age of 30. When the shop became stable, his study began for the first time under famous water-painter Kouhaku Kawabata in 1975 at the age of 56.

Since 1997, he has received numerous awards and recognition including a joint exhibition of China and Japan in 1982. In 1985, he served as Director at Organization - Nihon Nangain (Ste in Japanese only http://www.medialine.ne.jp/nihonnangain/). He also held a successful solo show in 2001. His painting technique is a blend of East and West that he not only uses a traditional charcoal black and white approach but also, adds water color to the same techniques and expanded a new style.

He passed away in 2010 peacefully. He had around 50 students at Junpou School of water paint. He lived the life that he dreamed of since a young age – living with art. Happily married and surrounded by a lot of pupils and living with the nature throughout.

Granddaughter point of view;

His barbershop was a little strange I remember. Back in the days not many people had classical music playing in the background for a barbershop. A lot of nature pictures hung on the wall (photography was also his hobby). I remember smoking breaks after each cut and he'd chat with customers, his promotional tool was matches with his design of some kind of retro looking street lamp in Europe.

The back of the house had tones of Bonsai trees and flowers along the narrow passage of the side entrance. He shower mist them everyday, enjoyed looking at them sitting down on the porch drinking sake sometimes in the evening. Summer, we enjoyed the sound of crickets sitting at the porch in the evening with breeze. You will notice most of his paintings are of nature, traditional festivals and their main symbols. Last time we went there to visit him and grandma, I was amazed by how many nature spots he’s been to.

When Christian and I went there in 2003, he had a lot of paintings ready just for us. He said,

“Drawing is the easy part for me, but I had to see the real thing or physically be there to be inspired by certain objects or be touched in some way by the scenery. Otherwise, my drawings are useless.”

“I’d be happy if anyone out there would like my paintings. I will be happy to paint if you need some more” 

He was excited when we told him that there are people enjoying his paintings over here in the US as well.

I'll never forget the way he lived to be kind to all things.