Minagawa Taizō (1917-2005). Born to a Kyoto family of textile dyers and weavers, he graduated from Kyoto City School of Arts and Crafts in 1935 and devoted his career to the resist dying technique (batik). Also noted for his woodblock prints, in 1940 he was successfully accepted in to the Bunten (the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition) as an exhibitor and in 1949 he won the Special Prize in the Nitten (previously Bunten).

Minagawa travelled the world extensively, gathering inspiration which he later expressed in artworks depicting landscapes of gardens, parks, temples and the interiors of traditional folk houses. Having a good command of techniques new and old, he developed an original style using strong colours and stylised, geometrical compositions.

After a lifetime dedicated to art, both as an artist and a teacher, Minagawa won many awards among them the Order of the Chrysanthemum from the Ministry of Education. In 1993 Minagawa became Board Chairman of the Nitten Conference and also received the 4th class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. The order was established during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in research, business industries, healthcare, social work, state and local government fields.