The Prince of Satsuma Porcelain: The Legacy of Yabu Masashichi In the golden era of the Meiji period, when Japan was first unveiling its profound artistic soul to a curious and hungry Western world, one name emerged as a beacon of unparalleled refinement: Yabu Masashimachi. Known affectionately to history as "the prince" of Satsuma ware painting, Masashichi was far more than a mere craftsman; he was a visionary architect of beauty. Born in 1853 into a lineage steeped in the traditions of Japanese aesthetics—the grandson of a Confucian scholar and the son of a celebrated Ukiyo-e artist—his ve…