Born in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Moves to Tokyo with his family the following year.
1924 (age 19)
Visits neighbour, the sculptor, painter, and poet Takamura Kotaro with his own poetry, and from then on receives guidance from Takamura on art and life.
1926 (age 21)
Enters Waseda University (leaves the following year). Shocked by death of a close friend in a mountaineering accident.
1927 (age 22)
Views works by Vincent van Gogh with Takamura. Takes up oil painting at the Taiheiyo Gakai Institute of Art’s studios, but leaves after being unable to accept the academism of the teaching.
1928 (age 23)
At Takamura’s recommendation, begins studying under Kawashima Riichiro a painter, who had recently returned from France, and gains a deep interest in the art of Ancient Greece. Becomes a fan of Odilon Redon.
1930 (age 25)
At about this time, decides to become a painter.
1932 (age 27)
Joins the group producing poetry magazine Kawa (River), led by poet and artist Miyazaki Joji. Contributes poetry and criticism for about five years.
1933 (age 28)
Becomes close friends with Matsumoto Shunsuke and Tsuruoka Masao.
1934 (age 29)
Begins his Greece series about this time
1937 (age 32)
Participates in the establishment of Jiyu Bijutsu Kyokai. (Remains a member until 1959.)
1943 (age 38)
During wartime, shifts away from Greek motifs, painting many Japanese Haniwa and Buddhist figures. After the war ends in 1945, returns to Greek motifs for a short period.
1951 (age 46)
Taking as his theme the new beauty he discovers in the recovering city, he digests ideas from Cubism and other styles as he gradually moves closer to abstract art.
1954 (age 49)
Produces abstract paintings with compositions of distinct lines.
1956 (age 51)
Publishes a collection of essays titled Abstraction.
1958 (age 53)
Inspired by Western art movements such as Art Informel and Abstract Expressionism, explores new forms of abstraction.
1974 (age 69)
Loses his second son Fumio suddenly at the age of 32, followed the next year by his first son Norio at 35. Both had been painters. From this period, develops his own distinctive form of abstract painting, characterised by the strong integration of color and line, with a tendency toward figurative elements.
1982 (age 77)
Solo exhibition at Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, Sapporo.
1987 (age 82)
Solo exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.
