Sumio Goto was born in 1930 in Sekiyado Town, Chiba Prefecture (present-day Noda City), into the family of a Shingon Buddhist priest. During his childhood, he moved to Matsubushi Town in Saitama Prefecture, and at the age of sixteen he began studying under the Japanese painter Yamamoto Kyūjin. He later apprenticed with Tanaka Seihyo, at which point he fully committed himself to becoming a professional painter.

Goto became a master of the Japanese painting world, carrying on the traditions of Nihonga while powerfully expressing both the grandeur of nature and the spirituality of humankind.

His works are characterized by landscapes that fuse Buddhist solemnity with natural beauty. Using subjects such as Hōryū-ji Temple, the ancient temples of Yamato, and the gorges and waterfalls of Hokkaidō, he created compositions that evoke the immensity of nature, the weight of history, and the spirit of prayer. His paintings not only overwhelm viewers with their scale and intensity but also carry a profound sense of devotion that seems to speak directly to the depths of the heart.

Nihonga (Japanese painting) is a traditional painting style of Japan, typically executed on washi paper or silk with natural mineral pigments and ink. Originating in the Heian period with yamato-e, it developed through various schools such as the Kanō school, the Rimpa school, and ukiyo-e. Its primary themes include the changing seasons, landscapes, flowers and birds, and human figures, with a tendency to emphasize poetic expression and the beauty of empty space rather than strict realism. The elegance of line, serenity, and simplicity are particularly prominent, embodying an aesthetic distinct from Western painting. While rooted in tradition, contemporary Japanese painters continue to experiment with new techniques and forms of expression, ensuring the ongoing evolution of the art form.