His given name was Taisuke Yasunami. In 1903 he entered the studio of Kanpo Araki, and the following year entered the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where he was taught by Kanzan Shimomura. In 1914 he designed the binding of Kyoka Izumi’s “Nihombashi” and illustrated Ton Satomi’s “Tajo Busshin”; with “Osen” in 1933 his position as an illustrator was assured. As a pupil of Eikyu Matsuoka he was also skilled in stage design and in the study of historical manners. Called “the Harunobu of the Showa era”, his ukiyo-e-like beauties were much admired.