In 1913 he entered the Tokyo Dental College, but later turned to literature and painting, and in 1920 entered the Japan Art School to study drawing. The following year “Portrait of a Woman” was selected for the eighth Nika exhibition at his first attempt. From 1923 he took part in the Endo-kai around Tetsugoro Yorozu. In 1930 he left the Nika-kai and founded the Dokuritsu Bijutsu Kyokai. In 1934 he travelled to Europe, returning the following year after studying in various countries. He established a manner of his own showing the influence of Cézanne, Fauvism and Cubism. In 1952 he became a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, and in 1967 received the Order of Culture.