He studied composition with Kiyoshi Nobutoki at Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, also called Geidai), where he graduated first on the list in 1920.

Later, he studied with Paul Hindemith at Berlin University of the Arts in Germany, making him the forerunner of Brahms-Hindemith-descended German style at Tokyo Music School.

His notable students at Tokyo Music School include Ikuma Dan, Makoto Sato, Yasushi Akutagawa, Mareo Ishiketa, Yuzo Toyama and Taminosuke Matsumoto; his private students included Kunio Suda.

He became an associate professor at Tokyo Music School in 1934.

He became a member of the textbook editorial committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture in 1940.