Biography

Painter. Born in Hokkaido, then moved to Tokyo shortly after. Around 1923, encountered and was inspired by poet and sculptor Kotaro Takamura. From 1928, studied under painter Riichiro Kawashima, after leaving Waseda University. In 1937, participated in the founding of an art association, Jiyu Bijutsu Kyokai. The motifs of his paintings were cityscapes, and nature in Hokkaido, but soon after WWII ended, they gradually became more and more abstract. By the mid-1950s, he achieved an abstract painting style composed of autonomous lines and colors. He was inspired by artistic trends outside Japan, while also consistently pursuing abstract expression. He continued to hold solo exhibitions, while also participating in such exhibitions as the Contemporary Art Exhibition of Japan. In 1987, his solo exhibition was held at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. In 1996, he was designated a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government.