Higashihata Shinsaku was born in Mie Prefecture and moved to Kyoto aged twelve to study under Oji Suetsugu and Inazuka Yoshira, maki-e lacquerers. He entered the Kyoto City School of Arts and Crafts and entered works in the Bunten and Teiten in 1935 and 1936. In 1955 he won the Mayor's Prize at the Kyoto City Exhibition. He received two major prizes at the Nitten in 1960 and 1965.