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'''Irina Rin Yamashita''', an early [[convert ]] of [[Archimandrite]] Nicholas, later St. [[Nicholas of Japan]], to Orthodox Christianity, was the leading [[iconographer ]] and painter of religious art for Nicholas’ Nicholas' Orthodox mission in Japan. Examples of her works are preserved in many of the older Orthodox churches in Japan as well as in private collection collections in her hometown of Kasama.

Irina Yamashita was born in Kasama, Japan in , on [[May 22]], 1857. As a teenager she moved to Edo (Tokyo) to learn the art of traditional Japanese woodblock printing (''Ukiyo-e'') as an understudy at various studios. In 1877, she entered the newly established National Academy for Fine Artsand studied Western painting. Through a friend, Varvara (Barbara) Yamamuro, at the institute , she met Archimandrite Nicholas and became interested in Orthodox Christianity. SoonIn 1878, she was [[baptism|baptized ]] an Orthodox Christian. Noting her talent as an artist, Bp. Nicholas, in 1880, arranged for her to study iconography in Russia making arrangements for five years. At that time, her professor at the National Academy, Antonio Fontanesi stepped down and went back to Italy, and she was losing interest in studying at the academy. Quitting the National Academy, she was sent to Russia under Bp. Nicholas' arrangement and studied at the Novodevichy Resurrection Monastery for women in St. Petersburg, Russia. Here, she studied from 1881 to 1883. ThenIn St. Petersburg, she returned had opportunities to Japan where she became visit the principal artist Museum of religious artHermitage and was impressed by Western style paintings, including iconographyRaphael Santio. On the other hand, at the mission headquarters in [[Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyoshe had difficulties being sympathic toward Byzantine style icons and sometimes even expressed her frustration. In 1883, Bp. Nicholas called her back to Japan)|Kanda]] Suragadai in Tokyoaccordance with the planned schedule.

Over the ensuing years, Irina produced many icons and other religious works and illustrations for the Japanese Orthodox Mission. She is remembered as returned to Japan where she became the leader and forerunner principal artist of religious art, including iconography in Japan. Irina never married and lived a life of celibacy, much at the mission headquarters in the style of an Orthodox [[monasticHoly Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyo, Japan)|Kanda]]Suragadai in Tokyo. She died resided in the headquarter area, in 1939the dormitory of Tokyo Orthodox Seminary for Women.

Over the ensuing years, Irina produced many [[Categoryicon]]s and other religious works and illustrations for the Japanese Orthodox Mission. Her talent and devotion to her occupation was respected among faithfuls. In 1891 she depicted an icon of Theotokos as gift from the church of Japan to the Russian Crown Prince Nicholas, the future [[Nicholas II of Russia]] who visited Japan in that year.  She is remembered as the leader and forerunner of iconography in Japan. Irina never married and lived a life of [[celibacy]], much in the style of an Orthodox [[monastic]]. In 1918 she retired and went back to her birthplace, Kasama. She died in 1939. == External links ==*[http: Iconographers]//www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~machi/toppage.html Rin Yamashita Studies]  [[Category: Orthodoxy in JapanIconographers]]