In 1918, he created the Society for the Creation of a National Painting Style (国画創作協会, Kokuga Sosaku Kyokai) with Tsuchida Bakusen and three other young nihonga artists from the Kyoto area.

The society held its own exhibitions (Kokuten), and at the second of these in 1919, Murakami displayed Kiyohime Crossing the Hidaka River, which is regarded as one of his representative works.

In 1920, at the 3rd Kokuten Exhibition, Murakami displayed a nude portrait, in a style reminiscent of Indian painting.

It is uncertain if the subject is a bodhisattva or a woman, and likewise the style of the work transcends both nihonga and yōga.

However, the work remained highly controversial during his lifetime, and lead to his gradual estraignment from the mainstream art world.