Junkyo Ohishi, A Picture of Courage and Strength

Junkyo Ohishi also known as Junkyo Oishi, is a testament to the courage and strength of people despite the adversities in their life. She is best known as the Mother of the Disabled and is famous for her mouth-drawing paintings.  She is also known as the handless geisha.  Junkyo Ohishi’s contributions to society have left a lasting legacy as a missionary, social worker, and talented artist.

Junkyo Ohishi was born on March 14, 1888 in Osaka, Japan, the eldest daughter of Chuzo and Iwa Ohishi. Her given name was Yone Ohishi. She grew up in a family of meager means who owned a sushi restaurant, Futaba-zusi. She showed talent in dancing at a young age, and this did not go unnoticed. Junkyo Ohishi was soon adopted by the master of a famous geisha dancing school. Thus began her initial training as a dancer and geisha under the stage name Tsumakichi.  Just as Junkyo Ohishi’s life seemed to be looking up on the bright side, tragedy struck. When she was 17 years old, her foster father attacked her, cut both her arms, and murdered five other geishas.Japanese magazine “The Mainichi Graphic, 4 January 1956 issue” published by The Mainichi Newspapers Co.,Ltd.

With amazing resilience, Junkyo Ohishi continued with life and joined a touring theater and went on stage as a comic storyteller.  When she was 19 years old, she observed how a bird used its beak to hold things. This gave her the inspiration to paint by holding a paintbrush with her mouth. She then arrived at a decision that would forever shape her life. Junkyo Ohishi left the theater and began taking lessons in calligraphy and painting. She soon married and had two children. At age 39 she divorced and, six month after, she heard the calling to become a Buddhist nun. In 1951 she founded the Bukkoin Temple in Kyoto. Junkyo Ohishi dedicated her life to printing, calligraphy, writing books, and helping the handicapped.

Junkyo Ohishi’s works are highly regarded by the Nitten (Japan Fine Arts Exhibition). She was recognized as a member of  The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World. The Bukkoin Temple she founded continues to help the handicapped. Junkyo Ohishi passed away on April 21, 1968, at age 80. She left us with her enduring works of art. Still today, she continues to touch many lives with her talent, courage, and strength.