was a Japanese painter, one of the last to paint in the style of the Kanà  school. He is also considered the founder of Nihonga and was an educator who trained many Nihonga painters. Many of the painters recognized in later generations as great Nihonga masters, such as Yokoyama Taikan, Shimomura Kanzan, Hishida Shunsà  and Kawai Gyokudà Â, were his students. He was one of the first five painters to be appointed as an Imperial Household Artist and was one of the most authoritative painters in Japan at that time.
Born in Edo, he was a son of a painter. After studying under his father, he continued his studies with Kanà  Shà Âsen'in, and was also influenced by the work of Kanà  Hà Âgai. He created many works in the traditional style of the Kanà  school, employing color and gold, or otherwise utilizing monochrome black ink. Although his paintings are predominantly traditional, employing traditional methods and depicting traditional subjects, Gahà Â, like Kanà  Hà Âgai, also incorporated elements of Western art. Brushstrokes, various types of detailing, and particularly attempts at proper depiction of perspective are evident in Gahà Â's paintings and in many others of this period.
His talent led him to become a studio director at the age of 22 and he was placed in charge of his master's school. Due to the political and economic upheavals surrounding the Meiji Restoration, he was compelled to seek income beyond selling fine art. He produced maps for the Naval Academy, painted on fans exported to China, and utilized his skills in various other ways to earn a living.
Following a revival of interest in Japanese painting during the 1880s, he twice won a prize at the government-sponsored picture exhibitions which led him to become famous. Gahà  was invited in 1884, by Okakura Kakuzà Â, to become the chief professor of painting at the (, now the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music) which would open five years later. His students included Kawai Gyokudà  and Yokoyama Taikan who would become future masters of Japanese painting. In 1898, Gahà  joined Okakura in leaving the Bijutsu Gakkà Â, and founding the . He would teach there until his death in 1908.
As a result of his position as chief painting professor, Gahà  had a number of important pupils, including Yokoyama Taikan and Kawai Gyokudà Â.