Masatake Kozaki (born 1972 in Fukushima) is a painter who has developed a distinctive artistic language grounded in traditional Nihonga techniques. Inspired by the ancient Chinese utopia of Tōgenkyō, his work draws on compositional and decorative elements found in Nanban folding screens, Rakuchū Rakugai-zu, and the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. His canvases are populated with fantastical flora, fauna, and hybrid beings that evoke a sense of the marvelous.
In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Kozaki has turned his attention to his native Tohoku region, questioning the possibility of "Tohoku-ga" through the use of regional motifs such as akabeko and kokeshi dolls. While rooted in the format of folding screens, his practice has expanded to include circular panels and three-dimensional forms. Through opulent yet humorous expression, his work reflects both the ideals and the instability of contemporary society.