Among Akita Ranga (Western-style paintings from Akita) are two works of “Tobijinzu” (Illustrations of Chinese Beauties) attributed to Odano Naotake. As Akita Ranga Western-style paintings, why do they borrow their subject matter from China? Also, although they borrow Chinese subject matter, why were such peculiar works as “Tobijinzu” created which do not feature in actual Bijinga (pictures of beauties) from China? What kind of thoughts did Naotake seek to commit to these pictures?Naotake, in order to express his own thoughts in contrast to Gennai, borrowed China’s Kan Fujin and Li Qing Zhao (Ri Seisho). He re-styled the borrowed material by using newly adopted Western painting techniques, and following his particular sensibilities. This gave birth to Kan Fujin and Ri Seisho illustrations: Bijinga of a type unknown in China, and unique to Akita Ranga. In other words, borrowing in, and creation of, Tobijinzu constituted a union between the Japanese spirit (Naotake’s thoughts and sensibilities), Chinese subject (material from Chinese painting) and Western art (rules of perspective and shadow)