Memorial Service for the Late Yoshio Murakami A4 size Yoshio Murakami (March 14, 1933 - May 4, 2006) was a Japanese painter and contemporary artist. Born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Education, Iwate University. He studied under Taro Okamoto. In 1953, he was first selected for the Nika Exhibition. In 1960, he received an honorable mention at the 4th Shell Art Award Exhibition. He was active as an avant-garde artist based in Tohoku. He also wrote poetry. He died of heart failure on May 4, 2006. He was 73 years old.