original_query: What is the significance of the Kanō school in Japanese art history? What is the most relevant chunk to answer the query?
query: What is the significance of the Kanō school in Japanese art history?
answer: The Kanō school was a prominent family of artists who established a distinct style of painting that became the official style of Japan during the Edo period.  Initially influenced by Chinese painting, it evolved to incorporate Japanese elements and catered to the tastes of the ruling classes and wealthy merchants.  The school maintained high academic standards and strong ties to the Tokugawa shogunate, influencing the development of Japanese art for generations.