Kazuo Hamasaki (1925-2005) was a Canadian artist of Japanese heritage, known for to reconciling the Japanese tradition with his Canadian heritage combining both Canadian and Japanese watercolour techniques. He was a president of the Society of Canadian Artists. "My aim has always been to retain the traditions, yet advance forward to new horizons through the use of western pigment, paper and subject matter." Counterbalancing a "free and direct emotional style with a strict technique and use of tone. The work, richly influenced by Zen philosophy, requires hours of quiet observance to remain faithful to the resulting vision."