early life and training uemura shōen, known by her real name uemura tsune, was a pioneering artist in meiji, taishō, and early shōwa period japanese painting. born on april 23, 1875, in shimogyō ward, kyoto, she grew up in an all-female household after her father's passing. her mother’s tea shop attracted refined clientele for the art of japanese tea ceremony, exposing uemura to a cultured environment from an early age. At 12, uemura tsune demonstrated considerable skill in drawing human figures. At 15, she began exhibiting her work and winning awards in official art contests, as well as rece…