Yamanaka and Co, founded in Osaka, was a well-known art dealership that focused largely on selling Asian artwork to Western customers, particularly American museums. By 1970 the NGV had a long history of acquiring work from Yamanaka, and Boyd was asked to visit their showroom in Kyoto with a view to filling gaps in the gallery’s collection. A letter of introduction to Jiro Yamanaka was included with the cover letter to Boyd.