Sekka was born in Kyoto to a former samurai family and from age 16 began to study Shijo-style painting with Suzuki Zuigen. In 1888, he transferred to the atelier of Kishi Koike, an Artist of the Imperial Household, who himself collected art by Rinpa artists, Hon'ami Kōetsu and Ogata Kōrin. Sekka would settle on working in Rinpa style based on his exposure to Kishi's collection. Sekka came to know Shinagawa Yajirō, Home Minister of Japan, who had been educated in Paris, and told Sekka of the European modernist approach to decorative art. The Japanese government also sent Sekka abroad to Glasgow, where he was exposed to the modern style of Art Nouveau. He recognized the Rinpa roots of Art Nouveau, but disliked the style, preferring to practice an modernized version of the Rinpa style. Sekka went on to encourage painters and designers of kimono and decorative arts to push the boundaries of design, but to always start from nature, not by copying or extending designs made by others.