March 20, 1828 – July 6, 1894) was a Japanese painter, noted for his pioneering work in developing the yōga (Western-style) art movement in late 19th-century Japanese painting.There were many Japanese painters who tried Western painting and Western style painting in the modern age, but Yuichi is said to be the first "Western painter" in Japan who learned full-scale oil painting techniques and was active from the late Edo period to the middle of the Meiji era.

In 1862, he obtained a place in the arts department of the Bansho Shirabesho, the Tokugawa shogunate's research institute in western learning, where he studied under Kawakami Togai, and where he began experimentation with oil painting.

In 1866, he went to Yokohama to study under the English artist and cartoonist Charles Wirgman, who was so impressed with his talent that he sponsored his participation in the Paris World Exhibition of 1867.

Also in 1879, Takahashi was recommended by the Genrōin to become a court painter, and was commissioned to paint a portrait of the emperor.

In 1881, he received a large commission from Viscount Mishima Michitsune to paint scenes of public works projects in Yamagata prefecture.