Born in Tokyo in 1920. He has left a significant mark as a pioneer of modern copperplate etching in Japan. While a student at Keio University’s Normal School, he learned copperplate etching techniques at the Etching Institute. In 1936, he entered the Oil Painting Department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, and while working on oil paintings, tried his hand at copperplate etching in a temporary printmaking class. While continuing to mature his skills through participation in the “Ichimokukai” organized by Koshiro Onchi, he also developed the emotional aspect of the subjects of his works through his familiarity with European literature such as Baudelaire. While pursuing copperplate etching throughout his life, Komai also interacted with poets and musicians, and attempted cross-disciplinary expression with literature and music through his activities in the general art group “Jikken Kobo” (Experimental Workshop) and the publication of poetry and art books.

In Vision Fugitive, influenced by the pointillism of the Western-style painter Shikanosuke Oka, he used sandpaper to further dot the plate, a technique that produces a pale-toned surface like an aquatint. Komai was the first Japanese artist to win awards at the First Sao Paulo Biennial and the Second Lugano Black and White International Print Biennial for this work, which catapulted him into the national and international limelight.