It is the Edo period, and the powerful Maeda clan are ruling over Kanazawa. Due to the massive rice production, they have been able to make Kanazawa one of the largest and wealthiest castle towns in Japan. Rather than focussing on expanding their empire in terms of land, the Maeda clan’s aim became to gain cultural dominance. They invited artisans from all over Japan to come to Kanazawa to share their knowledge, techniques, and innovation. Everyone wanted to be part of “The Golden Age.”

The Tokugawa Shogunate influences still meant that there was a hierarchy in society. Samurai lived on large estates and rather than spending time on military pursuits, they focussed on cultural pursuits. Farmers were considered especially important as they grew the rice from which the Maeda clan gained their wealth. Unfortunately, the Tokugawa laws prohibited the farmers from eating rice, they were not allowed any luxury at all. Their homes were simple; they wore cotton clothing and ate millet. Merchants and artisans lived in areas that were close to rivers and main roads. This made it easy for goods and services to be traded. Any outsiders that came into the community were considered spies and were constantly watched. Artisans that brought their master craftsmen skills were considered V.I.P. They were placed in secure residences to keep their techniques secret.

Tanaka Genki was a young orphan who lived in a temple in Kyoto. The monks had taken in Genki when he was a small child. Nobody really knows how he became abandoned, but the monks found him on the steps of the temple. Genki joined several children housed by the monks and they formed a small family. The monks were keen on education, so along with prayers and rituals, Genki was taught many things. The monks were known for their excellent calligraphy, art, metal work, pottery, and textiles. Genki flourished when learning the cultural pursuits. He became a master artist, and the monks would use his work to display at different festivals.

The Hanami Matsuri (flower viewing festival) was taking place at the temple. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. People came from everywhere to view the delicate cherry blossom flowers. The temple looked like it was covered in a soft pink carpet, and the mild scent of the flower filled the air. A samurai from Kanazawa went to view the flowers and he was taken by the artwork that was on display at the temple. He managed to purchase a scroll with cherry blossoms on. He felt it really captured the festival.

Upon his return to Kanazawa, the samurai had a meeting with the head of the Maeda clan. They spoke about the samurai’s trip to Kyoto. The samurai showed the scroll to everyone who was at the meeting and they were all impressed. It was decided that the artist needed to be found and brought to Kanazawa. The samurai was asked to return to Kyoto and to bring the artist back with him to Kanazawa.

The samurai made the journey to Kyoto and the temple. A meeting was arranged with the monks, and he expressed the Maeda clan’s desire to have the artist be a resident in Kanazawa. Initially the monks did not want this to happen. They made out that they have many artists and it would be hard to know which one Maeda’s clan wanted. Secretly the monks knew exactly who they wanted as it was only Genki that had his art displayed at the temple. The samurai was not impressed and thought if he returned to Kanazawa without the artist then he would be in trouble. The monks and the samurai had tea and sat silently trying to find a solution. The samurai decided to offer payments of rice each month. The monks went away to consider the proposal andreturned agreeing to the plan. The monks quickly created a document stating about the exchange and had the samurai place his seal to mark the agreement.

The monks went and approached Genki and informed him of the deal. Since the monks had been so kind to him, he had no other option but to accept. He quickly packed a small bag of belongings and joined the samurai to travel to Kanazawa. Genki had never left the temple, so the sights, sounds, colours, smells sparked his imagination. He thought that the move to Kanazawa would be challenging but rewarding too.

Genki arrived at his new quarters and realised he had been placed in the Osaiku-sho, (The Great Workshop). This was located inside Kanazawa Castle. It was clear that he would be under a master but a master of what? He was told he would eat, sleep and work in the Osaiku-sho. That his arrival should be noted as being an invitation and that if he were to stay that this would be a lifelong commitment and one where secrets were highly protected. Another resident approached Genki and told him that he would need to prove his worth and that he was on trial. If he did not display patience and dedication, he would be sent back to Kyoto. Genki knew that this was not an option.

After a night’s sleep, Genki met with the master of the workshop. He explained that Genki would become a Kaga Yuzen apprentice. This was someone who could conduct hand painting silk dyeing. It was an incredibly unique and secretive skill to have. The process of the apprenticeship was explained. The “Silent” years mean that Genki would cook, clean, run errands, Genki would learn by observing and making rice pastes for the artists. He would eventually be moved to tracing, pasting, colouring, and adding detail. After a length of time, he could then be granted a seal and become an independent artist. Genki thought it seemed like an exceptionally long journey.

The master put Genki straight to work. Genki recognized some of the elements from his early training with the monks. He felt that he was well placed to be able to conduct the dyeing technique. In the extraordinarily little spare time that Genki had, he would venture into the gardens in the castle grounds and would draw. He moved through the seasons drawing snow seasons for winter, blossoms for spring, pond life for summer and maple leaves for autumn. Genki concentrated on capturing nature. He practised drawing using darker edges and lighter centres. Genki identified the purple, green, yellow, indigo, and crimson colours in nature as these formed the base of Kaga Yuzen designs.

A large festival was approaching, and the Tokugawa Shogunate had requested a special kimono be made for his wife. He wanted something that was unique and asked the Maeda clan to use one of their secretive techniques to create the garment. The workshop was excited to receive such a request knowing that their work would be on display for all the nobles to see. The master collected his senior artists and asked for designs. The designs were submitted to the Maeda clan. The first collection of drawings, upon seeing them the master had a cool attitude. The workshop was asked to resubmit again. The second collection of drawings, upon seeing them the master was disappointed. The third set of drawings just made the master angry. The master did not know what to do.