Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1889. Moved to Seattle in 1906. 1910, moved to New York and began studying art. 1914, began to study under the instruction of Homer Boss at the progressive Independent School. 1916, enrolled in the Art Students League and studied there until April 1920 (attended the last 3 years on a scholarship). Greatly influenced by the instruction of Kenneth Hayes Miller. 1922, held Yasuo Kuniyoshi Oil Sketch Exhibition at Daniel Gallery in New York. Traveled around Europe in 1925 and 1928, developing relationships with Jules Pascin and othe European artists. Around this time, fell into stone prints. 1929, chosen as an exhibitor for the MoMA exhibition, "19 Contemporary American Artists".

1931, traveled to Japan to see his father. First solo exhibition in Japan was held simultaneously at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tokyo and Osaka. 1932, returned to the United States. The following year, took a teaching position at the Art Students League (until 1953). 1937, joined the American Artists Conference and was active until 1940. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942, actively protested Japanese aggression such as on short wave radio. 1948, was the subject of a retrospective by the Whitney Museum. This was the Whitney's first solo retrospective of a living American artist. 1952, represented the United States at the Venice Bienalle. 1953, passed away in New York before he could obtain citizenship. He was 63 years old.