Kazan Watanabe, who was very active as a scholar, an artist and a statesman, was born in the Edo (Tokyo) Kamiyashiki residence of the Tahara clan in the 5th year of the Kansei Era (1793). At the age of 8, he served as a companion to the young prince, and from age 13, he studied Neo-Confucianism and the teachings of the Wang Yang-ming school with Seiko Takami, Issai Sato and Kodo Matsuzaki. He began his art work from childhood. Based on the outstanding power he exhibited in his sketches, he drew pictures with lines that were uniquely his and incorporated the perspective presentation of Western paintings in the many works completed during his prolific career as an artist. At the age of 40, he was promoted to the position of councilor. As such, he contributed to the prosperity of the Tahara Clan. He is famous for his work during the Tenpo famine when there was mass starvation. He built a "Houminsou,"hostel and made sure that not a single person was allowed to die of starvation or become homeless. On the other hand, he also studied Western affairs with Choei Takano and others, and penned the book "Shinkiron,"which advocated the abolishment of Japan's isolationism. The book was judged to be critical of the Shogunate, however, and in consequence, he was confined to his residence in Tahara. Fearing that he might bring disaster upon his Clan, he committed suicide at age 49.