About Ikuo Hirayama
Career
- Childhood
- Entrance into junior highschool and exposure to atmic bomb explosion
- Enrolling in the Tokyo School of Fine Arts
- The road to becoming an authentic painter of Japanese-style paintings
- Transmission of Buddhism
- Contact with profound tradition of religious art in Europe
- Journey into the origin of Japanese culture – Investigative trip to the Silk Road –
- To the world – Non-governmental ambassador of culture
- “Wall painting of the Great Tang of the Western Regions (The Great Adventure of Xuanzhuang Tripitaka)” in Xuanzhuang Tripitaka Hall of Yakushiji Temple
- Cultural activities and social contributions
- Red Cross plan for cultural heritage
Childhood
Ikuo Hirayama was born to father Mineichi, and mother Hisano of Setoda-cho, Toyota County, Hiroshima Prefecture (Ikuchi Island in present-day Setoda-cho, Onomichi City) and would be the second son in a family of 4 male and 5 female children on June 15, 1930. Ikuchi Island is blessed with the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and has many historic temples and shrines such as the three-story pagoda of the Kojoji Temple and Komyobo Temple, which is said to have been founded in the Nara Period. As a sensitive Ikuo and inquisitive boy, he spent his days romping about on the Island’s beaches gently lapped by ultramarine-hued surrounding waters.
This aesthetic sense and sensitivity nurtured by his beautiful natural environment and the deep affection of his faithful parents are very much alive in his later paintings.

Ikuo’s father Mineichi & mother Hisano

Ikuo’s father Mineichi in priestly attire

A view of Kone island from Ikuchi island where Ikuo was born (about 1915)

5 years old

At the entrance ceremony of the Setoda elementary school

At the 6th grade elementary school student the second from the right (1943)
- Childhood
- Entrance into junior highschool and exposure to atmic bomb explosion
- Enrolling in the Tokyo School of Fine Arts
- The road to becoming an authentic painter of Japanese-style paintings
- Transmission of Buddhism
- Contact with profound tradition of religious art in Europe
- Journey into the origin of Japanese culture – Investigative trip to the Silk Road –
- To the world – Non-governmental ambassador of culture
- “Wall painting of the Great Tang of the Western Regions (The Great Adventure of Xuanzhuang Tripitaka)” in Xuanzhuang Tripitaka Hall of Yakushiji Temple
- Cultural activities and social contributions
- Red Cross plan for cultural heritage