Born in Wakayama Prefecture in 1916. After graduating from Wakayama Normal School, he studied composition under Kan'ichi Shimofusa at the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts). After graduation, he devoted himself to composition while teaching music at Fukui Normal School.

In 1943, his Small Symphony was selected in a music competition. From 1946, he joined the composition group "Shinseikai" and began active creative work. In his early period, he published many academic chamber music works based on the German Classical style, but later he pioneered new expressions with groundbreaking Japanese instrument works such as Concerto in Three Movements for Koto (1951) and Suite for Koto (1952), as well as the twelve-tone song Karasu (The Crow) (1956) and the opera Sotoba Komachi (1957). His piano works include pieces that emphasize classical forms, such as Piano Sonata (1947) and Suite for children.

From 1946, he also dedicated himself to nurturing younger generations at his alma mater, Tokyo University of the Arts, playing a leading role in music education. His publications include Gakushikiron (Theory of Musical Forms), Gakuten: Riron to Jisshu (Music Theory: Theory and Practice) (co-authored), and Choon to Shisho no tame no Sogo Renshu (Comprehensive Exercises for Ear Training and Sight Singing) (co-authored). He passed away in 1996 at the age of 79. He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star (Second Class).