Teng gave himself a Japanese-style pen-name as Karasaki Yau (唐崎夜雨) and a formal name called Higashida Gyōu (東田曉雨).

After he married Chung You-mei (鍾有妹) in 1926, he departed from his teaching job and went to Japan to study composition theory in the Tokyo Music Academy.

In 1932, he was invited by Wen-sheng Records (文聲唱片) to compose the March of the Daitotei (大稻埕行進曲), a Japanese popular song which was thought to be lost, until it was rediscovered by a collector in 2007.

In 1933, Teng composed several well-known Hokkien songs such as Bang Chhun Hong (望春風) and Goat Ia Chhiu (月夜愁).

Asteroid 255989 Dengyushian, discovered by Taiwanese astronomers Chi Sheng Lin and Ye Quan-Zhi in 2006, was named in his honor.