Professor at the University of Tokyo Center for Philosophy. His field of research is the history of modern western paintings, and the history of Franco-Japanese artistic interaction. His books include Kindaigeijutsuka no Hyosho (Representation of Modern Artists: Manet, Fantin-Latour and the French Paintings of the 1860s) (University of Tokyo Press, 2006), Manazashi no Ressun 1. Seiyodentokaiga / 2 . Seiyokingendaikaiga (Lessons in Looking I: Traditional Western Painting / 2: Modern and Contemporary Western Painting) (University of Tokyo Press, 2001/2015), and Meiga ni Kakusareta “Niju no Nazo” (Hidden Mysteries of Famous Paintings: When Impressionists Were the Scandal of the Day) (Shogakukan, 2012).