Born on May 15, 1876 in Matsumae-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. He entered the Japanese painting department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) in 1897. During his time at the school, he met Kuroda Seiki, and the experience of appreciating and copying Art Nouveau materials that Kuroda had brought back from Europe set him on the path to becoming a designer.

In 1908, he was commissioned to work for Mitsukoshi Gofukuten, where he was responsible for the design of the store's posters, PR magazine covers, etc. He also worked on posters for Lactou Co., Ltd. (now Calpis Co., Ltd.) and Tokyo Underground Railway Co., Ltd. (now Tokyo Metro), as well as the bookbinding, magazine covers, and packaging designs.

In 1925, he founded the poster research group Shichininsha. He participated in the founding of Tama Imperial Art School (now Tama Art University), and served as both its principal and head professor of the design department. In 1930, he received the Imperial Prize from the Japan Art Academy. He passed away on August 18, 1965 (aged 89).