Kawashima Tatsuo was born in Kyoto. He graduated from ÅŒki High School where he had studied with Professor Nakamura. After his studies he worked for the Uchida Art Company as a carver. In 1980 he began to make his own woodblock prints on a professional basis. In 1984 he went to New York to teach woodblock carving and printing techniques. As far as is known he is now retired.