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Kakuzô was the son of Okakura Kan'emon, a wealthy silk merchant from [[Fukui prefecture]]. Educated chiefly in English-language schools in [[Yokohama]], where he was brought up, he would later attend [[Tokyo Imperial University]], where many of his teachers and mentors, [[Ernest Fenollosa]] chief among them, were Westerners. Okakura and Fenollosa would maintain a close relationship for many years. In university, Okakura focused in his studies upon politics, and other subjects which might lead him to a successful career as a government official, in accordance with his father's desires; he pursued studies of art as a hobby, on the side.

Kakuzô was the son of Okakura Kan'emon, a wealthy silk merchant from [[Fukui prefecture]]. Educated chiefly in English-language schools in [[Yokohama]], where he was brought up, he would later attend [[Tokyo Imperial University]], where many of his teachers and mentors, [[Ernest Fenollosa]] chief among them, were Westerners. Okakura and Fenollosa would maintain a close relationship for many years. In university, Okakura focused in his studies upon politics, and other subjects which might lead him to a successful career as a government official, in accordance with his father's desires; he pursued studies of art as a hobby, on the side.

Upon graduation, he was made the head of the music division of the [[Ministry of Education]], but he did not remain long in this position. In [[1886]], he accompanied Fenollosa to the US and a number of major cities in Europe, on a one-year art tour. Returning to Japan, in [[1888]] he helped found the [[Imperial Art School of Tokyo]]; he later became president of the school, but was forced to leave amid scandal in [[1897]], at which time he founded the Japan Fine Arts Academy.

Upon graduation, he was made the head of the music division of the [[Ministry of Education]], but he did not remain long in this position. In [[1886]], he accompanied Fenollosa to the US and a number of major cities in Europe, on a one-year art tour. Returning to Japan, in [[1888]] he helped found the ''[[Tokyo Bijutsu Gakko|Tokyo Bijutsu Gakkô]]''; he later became president of the school, but was forced to leave amid scandal in [[1897]], at which time he founded the Japan Fine Arts Academy.

In the last decade of his life, Okakura became a fixture in the art world and upper class circles of Boston society, developing a particularly close relationship with [[Isabella Stewart Gardner]]. While serving as head of the Asiatic Art section at the Museum of Fine Arts, he frequently led [[tea ceremony|tea ceremonies]] at the Gardner house, Fenway Court, and later gave his tea set to Mrs. Gardner as a gift.

In the last decade of his life, Okakura became a fixture in the art world and upper class circles of Boston society, developing a particularly close relationship with [[Isabella Stewart Gardner]]. While serving as head of the Asiatic Art section at the Museum of Fine Arts, he frequently led [[tea ceremony|tea ceremonies]] at the Gardner house, Fenway Court, and later gave his tea set to Mrs. Gardner as a gift.