A leading artist of the shin-hanga (new print) movement. His given name was Bunjiro. He was born in Tokyo, the eldest son of a dealer in braided cord, and the writer Kanagaki Robun was his uncle. He studied under Kaburaki Kiyokata, who gave him the art name Hasui. He later came to know Watanabe Shozaburo, and seeing Eight Views of Omi by Ito Shinsui, a fellow pupil, he grew interested in the woodblock print. With Shinsui and others he carried the shin-hanga movement forward and opened new ground in the modern landscape print. In 1918 Watanabe published his Shiobara triptych, and for the rest of his life he issued landscape prints in great number. His views of the four seasons are held in high regard abroad as well; the snow and rain scenes are the most sought after.