Born in Wakayama; his given name was Shotaro. He moved to Tokyo at eleven. In 1904 he studied Western painting at the Aoibashi institute and at the Pacific Painting Association’s institute. After travelling to America in 1913 he turned to Japanese painting. In 1926 he formed the Sango-kai with Hyakusui Hirafuku and others. In 1928, out of sympathy with its neo-classical manner, he left the Japan Art Institute. The following year he founded the Seiryusha and, arguing for an art made for the exhibition hall, put forward a bold manner full of movement. He was named a member of the Imperial Art Academy in 1935 but declined the following year, and was proposed for the Imperial Art Academy again in 1937 and declined that as well. He received the Order of Culture in 1959. Person of Cultural Merit.