He then went to Beppu, to study traditional Japanese basket weaving with his father, the bamboo master, Tanabe Chikuunsai III.

[4] Chikuunsai IV is a fourth generation bamboo artist who has shown his objects and installations internationally.

[4] Chikuunsai IV often works on large scale bamboo installations in twisting woven forms.

[5] The art critic Roberta Smith described his work as forms that “have an animated-cartoon energy and snap; they cavort almost wickedly.”[3] Chikuunsai IV's work has been the subject of one-person shows at the Asian Art Museum,[5] Tai Modern, Santa Fe,[3] Japan House Los Angeles,[4] and other venues.

In 2022, Chikuunsai IV was invited to create a site-specific installation, Yügo (Fusion), in Casa Lowe, in Barcelona, Spain.