TOKYO Tuesday February 23 (Reuters)
- 96-year-old Toyokuni Utagawa is a renowned print master but
he has set himself a new goal: to become probably the first centenarian
to win a doctorate in law.
Monday, Utagawa heard that he
had passed rigorous written and oral examinations,
allowing him to enter the law division of Kinki University in
the western Japanese city of Osaka when the new academic year
begins in April, Kyodo news agency reported.
"I will study for four years
and then proceed to graduate school,'' Utagawa was quoted
as saying, planning to carry on his print making at the
same time. |
"If possible, I hope to
take a doctorate.'' Utagawa, the sixth generation of a renowned
family of Japanese print artists, was born in 1903 and
apprenticed himself to his father after finishing
primary school.
After several decades in management
with a trading firm after World War Two, he returned to his art
in 1972.
Hoping to start writing books,
he began to study at a part-time high school several years ago
and is due to graduate this March.
Already the author of one published
book, Utagawa also lectures several times a month on how to stay
healthy, Kyodo said.
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