In 1852 he studied under Raisho Nakajima, learning the Maruyama school, and also sought instruction from Kaisen Oda. In 1866 he went to Edo and, while working on preparatory drawings and the like, learned oil painting from Yuichi Takahashi. He continued to win prizes at the National Industrial Exhibitions, and in 1896 became an Imperial Household Artist. Meanwhile, in 1878, he opened the Tenshindo studio and carried the Maruyama school to the eastern capital. In 1888 he was invited to the newly opened Tokyo School of Fine Arts, becoming a professor in 1891. In 1909 he opened the Kawabata Painting School in Koishikawa, Tokyo, contributing greatly to practical training. He left the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1912. Regarded as the last great master of the Maruyama school, he also left many works of an easy elegance.