Born in Shitaya, Tokyo; his given name was Jojiro. After learning the Shijo school from Gyokuei Nabeta he studied the various schools, and also took Yosai Kikuchi as his model in the study of history painting. In 1891 he took part in founding the Japan Youth Painting Association, and was later active in the Japan Painting Association and the Japan Art Institute. He was known too for craft designs and illustration. He gave much effort to bringing on the younger generation, and among his pupils were Kokei Kobayashi, Seison Maeda and Togyu Okumura — many of the painters who would later carry the Japan Art Institute.