Mr. Hokusai Yoshihara (1927-98) was born in city of Imaichi, Tochigi. Imaichi is an entrance of Nikko City.

"I was not healthy kid, and frequently visited to a Kano painter's house. My painting skill improved naturally as I was playing there. " Mr. Hokusai said.

It is interesting that restoration of sculpture and painting are handled by Mr. Yoshihara, who knows skill of Kano school.

"For sculpture and coloring, there are 35 steps each from draft in the case of Toshogu. Therefore, colors are not come off easily even though it is in the sun light everyday. Also, I just use 7 colors only. However, it looks as if thousands of colors have been used because of random reflection of an ultraviolet ray. For example, greenish blue stands out in the morning sun, vermilion stands out in the daylight, and ultramarine stands out in the evening sun. " Mr. Yoshihara explained.

Mr. Yoshihara has a strict judgement for painting. One day, he saw a new Japanese painting drawn by a famous painter. He whispered to his friend, "Colors will be come off 1 year later." The colors of the painting were come off as Mr. Yoshihara mentioned.

"Technique that ancestors left, is great. However, it declines as time goes by. I am so sorry that I have no successor even though my duty is to pass down my skill to the next generation." He upseted.

Mr. Yoshihara took 15 years to restore Mitsuda-e (Roughly means ancient oil painting). The Mitsuda-e is resistant to ultraviolet ray and water. Also, Mitsuda-e was secred method of Kano school at the first time, no one could restore it after the Meiji period.

There is a possibility that Mr. Yoshihara's effort will be hidden in the history.