Born in 1584 as the eldest son and heir of Kanamori Arishige, lord of Hida-Takayama Domain. As conflicts with his father deepened, he lost his succession rights and was disinherited, retreating to Kyoto to immerse himself in tea. Drawing on his studies under Sen Doan and Furuta Oribe, he developed a distinctive tea style that incorporated the elegance and refinement of court culture. The polished beauty of his tea practice earned him the affectionate nickname "Hime Sowa" (Princess Sowa). He cultivated deep relationships with Kyoto nobility including the Kujo and Konoe families as well as cultural figures, and served tea even to ex-Emperor Go-Mizunoo. It is also noteworthy that he discovered Nonomura Ninsei and participated in guiding his ceramics, contributing to the development of Kyoto ware. He died in 1657 at age 74 and is recognized as an innovative figure who introduced a graceful aesthetic into the way of tea.

Delicate with excellent aesthetic judgment, he cultivated courtly elegance despite his warrior origins. His pursuit of pure beauty without seeking power attracted many cultural figures.

Sōwa-ryū holds a unique position as a court-style tea lineage, greatly influencing Kyoto tea culture. He discovered Nonomura Ninsei, contributing to the development of Kyoto ceramics.