Painter and poet Takehisa Yumeji was born on September 16, 1884. His real name was Takehisa Shigejiro. He was from Oku District, Okayama Prefecture (now Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture). He passed away on September 1, 1934.
He was the second son of a family that had run a sake brewing business for generations. He ran away from home in 1901 and moved to Tokyo. The following year, he enrolled in the Advanced Course at Waseda Jitsugyo School. While at the school, he wrote sketches to newspapers such as the Yomiuri Shimbun. In 1905, thanks to the introduction of his friend, the writer Arahata Kanson, his frame illustrations were published in Heiminsha's Naogen. This was Yumeji's first print drawing. His caricatures and other illustrations continued to be published in the daily Heimin Shimbun and other publications, and in June of the same year, his work "Tsutsui Tsutsu" won the first prize in Chugaku Sekai. This inspired him to aspire to become a painter, and he first took the name Yumeji. In 1807, at the age of 23, Yumeji met Kishi Tamaki, who ran the postcard bookstore "Tsuruya" in Tsurumakicho, Waseda. Falling in love at first sight, Yumeji frequented the store daily and eventually married two months after they met. Their first son, Nijinosuke, was born the following year, but they divorced the year after. However, he and Tamaki continued to live together and apart. Yumeji is famous for his numerous portraits of beautiful women, and there are numerous critical biographies of his romantic journey. The words of love expressed in his diaries and letters have served as the subject of many later creative works. These lyrical works have been dubbed "Yumeji-style portraits of beautiful women." The three women most often mentioned in his life are Tamaki, who became his only legal wife; Hikono, a student at the Women's Art School and a fan of Yumeji's; and Oha, an art model at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. One theory suggests that Hikono or Oha was the model for Yumeji's signature painting, "Kurofuneya." His "Yumeji-style beauty paintings," inspired by his own unique aesthetic, are painted using traditional Japanese painting techniques while also incorporating Western painting techniques. Yumeji experimented with various forms of expression and constantly sought new forms of art, but these were only appreciated in later generations. At the time, his works were primarily seen on printed book covers and in advertising art, and he gained popularity through his popularity with the general public. Yumeji also illustrated children's magazines and poetry. His first book, "Yumeji Art Collection - Spring Volume," became a bestseller. He subsequently created over 270 works, including the card collection "Yumeji Postcards," illustrations for Fujinnotomosha's magazines "Kodomo no Tomo" and "Shinshojo," and cover art for Senoo Music's "Oedo Nihonbashi." He also wrote poetry, popular songs, and fairy tales. In 1912, he published the original poem "Yoimachigusa" (Evening Grass) in the magazine "Shojo" under the pen name "Samisengusa." Later, this poem was set to music by violinist Tadaki Tadanobu of the Imperial Household Ministry's Gagaku Department, and performed at the Geijutsuza Concert. It became a national hit when it was published by Senoo Music in 1918. It became a popular song beloved nationwide, and is famous for the erection of monuments across the country. Yumeji has held numerous solo exhibitions, including the first, "The First Yumeji Exhibition," at the Kyoto Prefectural Library in 2012. He subsequently held the "Yumeji Lyrical Pieces Exhibition" during a trip to Kanazawa, and in 2019, he held the "Exhibition Dedicated to Women and Children" at the Mitsukoshi Main Store in Nihonbashi. Around this time, he also produced the "Twelve Views of Nagasaki" and "Ten Subjects for Women" series. He subsequently sketched Tokyo after the Great Kanto Earthquake and contributed them to "Tokyo Disaster Paintings," and produced woodblock prints such as "Autumn Melody," a new style of print using ukiyo-e techniques. Yumeji, whose works are filled with Edo atmosphere and exotic taste, was also known as the "Taisho Ukiyo-e Artist." He also designed numerous book covers, advertising materials, everyday items, and yukata (summer kimonos), making him a pioneer of modern Japanese graphic design. His art books, poetry anthologies, and children's stories continue to be published in a variety of bindings, even in the 21st century.

In his later years, Yumeji aspired to travel abroad. In 1956, he held a "Farewell Exhibition to the United States" at Shinjuku Mitsukoshi (now the Bic Camera Shinjuku East Exit store), and then traveled to the United States and Europe. Over a period of approximately two and a half years, he traveled to the West Coast of the United States, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, and Switzerland, leaving behind numerous sketches. After returning to Japan on September 18, 1958, he contracted tuberculosis and became ill. He died early on the morning of September 1, his last words being "Thank you." He was buried by Arishima Ikuma and others at Zoshigaya Cemetery in Tokyo on September 19th, and his gravestone is inscribed with the words "Burying Takehisa Yumeji" in calligraphy by Arishima Ikuma.

In 1966, the Yumeji Local History Museum was established in Yumeji's hometown of Okayama Prefecture. The main building of the Yumeji Local History Museum was awarded one star in the 2007 Michelin Travel Guide.