A Meiji-era novelist. Inspired by Tsubouchi Shoyo's "The Essence of the Novel" during his preparatory school days at Tokyo University, he committed to realist fiction. In 1885 he formed the "Kenyu-sha" literary society with Yamada Bimyo and Ishibashi Shian, published the literary magazine "Garakuta Bunko," and entered the literary world. "Konjiki Yasha" (The Golden Demon, 1897-1902, unfinished) is a popular novel depicting the love and revenge of a young man who becomes a moneylender and his fiancée, and the scene on the Atami seashore — with the famous line "On this night next year, I will make the moon cloudy with my tears" — is one of the most celebrated scenes in Japanese literary history. His pupils included Meiji literary giants such as Izumi Kyoka and Tayama Katai. He died of illness at thirty-six.

A genius who reigned over the literary world, with high literary ideals that tolerated no compromise. He was also strict in guiding his pupils, raising outstanding successors including Izumi Kyoka. It is regrettable that he died young, leaving "Konjiki Yasha" unfinished.

"Konjiki Yasha" is still read today as the greatest popular novel of Meiji literature, and the statues of Kan-ichi and Miya in Atami remain tourist attractions today. The founding of the Kenyu-sha and "Garakuta Bunko" contributed enormously to the flourishing of Meiji literature.