He went on to study under Kuroda Seiki and Fujishima Takeji at Tokyo School of Fine Arts, but dropped out in his first year.

In the following years he contributed works to the Bunten exhibitions and travelled in Egypt, Italy, Spain, Germany and England.

In 1914, together with Yamashita Shintarō and Arishima Ikuma, he founded the Nikakai (二科会) or "Society for Progressive Japanese Artists".

After the war, he contributed works to the Nitten exhibitions, going on to become chief judge of the yōga section.

He also served in a special advisory capacity after the introduction of the 1950 Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties.