Tosa Mitsunori and Tosa Mitsuoki: Guardians of Tradition in Edo Painting Tosa Mitsunori (土佐光則, January 16, 1583 – March 1, 1638) stands as a pivotal figure in Japanese art history—specifically within the Tosa school of painting during the Azuchi–Momoyama period and its continuation into the early Edo era. Born in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, he was the son of another celebrated artist, Tosa Mitsuyoshi, establishing him firmly within a lineage dedicated to preserving and innovating upon classical aesthetics. The Tosa school distinguished itself from its contemporaries by prioritizing Yamato-e—pa…