A Spirit Forged in Kyoto and France The story of Yori Saitō begins amidst the traditional atmosphere of Kyoto, where his early training took root under the guidance of Chu Asai and Takeshiro Kanokogi. In 1905, he completed his studies at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, but the pull of the broader horizon soon led him away from Japan. By 1906, he had traveled to France, seeking the heart of the modern movement. At the Académie Julian, he…