Takahashi Shin'ichi was born on Sado Island, Niigata prefecture. He worked as an art teacher on Sado Island. In 1959 he got the Nihon Hanga Kyokai (Japan Print Association) Award, and in 1960 the Onchi Award. In 1964 he joined the Nihon Hanga Kyokai and the Kokugakai. He was represented in numerous international competitions. Apart from his international career he also founded a hanga society on Sado, where he encouraged local people to make their own prints.
