In 1888, a 1-sen postal card was sent to Maeda Yoshihiko, a Western-style painter and art educator based in Kobe. The sender expressed gratitude for a calling card, noting that a more formal letter of thanks would follow. The card was signed "高瀬" (Takase), accompanied by a red name seal bearing the same surname. This is Takase Kōzan (高瀬好山), a prominent artist known for his metalwork.
Born in 1869 in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Takase Kōzan began his career in the arts at the age of 14. In 1883, he joined a trading company in Kobe that dealt with ceramics for export. By 1887, he had transferred to the company's Kyoto branch, where he studied metalworking under the guidance of the second-generation metal artist, Tomiki Isuke (冨木伊助) .
Given Takase Kōzan's presence in Kobe in 1887 and his subsequent move to Kyoto, it's plausible that he had interactions with Maeda Yoshihiko, who was active in the Kobe art scene. The formal tone and careful handwriting of the 1888 postal card suggest that the sender was someone well-versed in classical brushwork, aligning with Takase's background.
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