Graduated from the Faculty of Political Science & Economics of Waseda University in 1905. After studying at the Chicago University and Munchen University (Ludwig-Maximilians Universitat Munchen), he became a professor of Waseda University in 1915. He resigned over the reform movement at Waseda University and joined the Osaka Asahi Shimbun newspaper company in 1917. In wake of the trouble caused by what he wrote in opposition to sending troops to Siberia (Hakko jiken), he left the company in 1918. He launched the "Warera" together with Nyozekan Hasegawa and Hajime Kawakami in 1919. He returned to Waseda University in 1920, and endeavored to organize proletarian political parties and became the Chairman of the Rodo Nomin-to (Labor-Farmer Party) in 1926. He left Waseda University in 1927. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1930. He went to live in the US in 1932 and got temporary employment at the Northwestern University in 1933. After his return to Japan in 1947, he returned to Waseda University and was devoted to the peace movement. He was elected a member of the House of Councillor s in 1950.