DISCOVER FUKUI

Iwasa Matabei was an artist active in the early Edo period, often regarded as the originator of ukiyo-e. He was highly valued by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Edo shogunate, and left behind works considered foundational to ukiyo-e.

Matabei's father was Araki Murashige, who rebelled against Oda Nobunaga. While many of the Araki clan were executed, Matabei, aged two by the traditional Japanese counting system, was rescued by his wet nurse and survived.

His grave was originally located within the grounds of what is now Hoei Elementary School, but was moved to its current location at Kōshūji Temple during reconstruction work. A monument marking the "Site of Iwasa Matabei's Grave" stands within the grounds of Hoei Elementary School.