He was highly dedicated to nurturing younger generations of artists, with notable students including Chen Jin (painter), Lin Aqin, Qiu Jinlian, and Zhou Hongchou, etc., who have a huge influence on Taiwan's painting circles.
Gohara Kotō, whose real name is Horie Toichiro, was born in Higashichikuma District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
While at school, he was inspired by art teacher Takei Masumi (1875–1957), and started his interest in painting.
Although it was nominally a private legal person, its main members were all important officials of the Governor-General's Office.
From 1927 to 1936, the Taiwan Exhibition was held ten times, and Xiangyuan Gutong served as a judge for one to nine of them.