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He was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1854. He emigrated to San Francisco in 1880 at the invitation of a department-store owner. Upon his arrival, he began work as a commercial artist for the Deakin Brothers of San Francisco. He also worked as a cartoon illustrator for a San Francisco newspaper. Eventually, he became one of the preeminent Japanese artists working in the United States. [1] He later relocated to Pasadena, California in 1895, where he received commissions to decorate the interiors of Art and Craft houses whose architecture, such as the famed Greene and Greene bungalows, often reflected Japanese aesthetics. During this time, he was also featured in an article by the "Los Angeles Herald", entitled "To See Yourselves As Aoki Sees You". It was clear that he had already gained prominence. He was active until 1910 and died in San Diego on April 26, 1912.[2][2]

Not much is known about his personal life and marriage; however, he is known to have adopted a seven year old girl named Tsuru. While being based in Pasedna, Aoki mantained a studio in San Francisco where he met Tsuru and her gaurdians.

Aoki's Japanese classical subjects and styles and decorative commissions led to his success. He "painted portraits and murals in the homes of prominent people and became very successful." His works were handled by George T. Marsh & Company. He exhibited at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893, and the Art Institute of Chicago gave him a showing in 1924.[2]

Daniell Cornell; Mark Dean Johnson; Gordon H Chang; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.; et al. Asian/American/modern art : shifting currents, 1900-1970. Berkeley, Calif. ; London : University of California Press, ©2008. pp. 6-7

Chang, Gordon; Johnson, Mark; Karlstrom, Paul; et al., eds. (2008). Asian American Art, A History, 1850–1970. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. pp. 290–291.