Born in Tokyo. While studying at Tokyo Imperial University,his story "Hana" (鼻, The Nose) published in a coterie magazine was highly praised by Natsume Soseki. After graduation, while working as a teacher, he published his first short story collection "Rashoumon" (羅生門). He later resigned from teaching to focus solely on creative writing. He left behind many short stories, including "Haguruma" (歯車, Cogwheels) and "Kappa" (河童). He died by drug overdose after completing "Zoku Saihou no Hito" (続西方の人, The Man of the West, Continued). He was 35 years old.