Mr. Shibata was born in Ihara on January 11, 1905. His father taught Chinese and he developed a strong interest in poetry, painting, and flower arranging as a youth. After graduating from Shizuoka Jr. High School, he worked for Ihara village and taught Chinese poetry (kanshi) and flower arranging (ikebana). During WW II he served as an ass't. village chief in Ihara and in 1959 he was appointed director of the Ihara Community Hall. He also served as chairman of the Board of Education for Ihara.

After retiring in 1965, he studied zen painting (nanga) under Koda Mitsuo. Soon he began teaching nanga at many local community centers. "I really learned how to paint" he said, "when teaching others". Over the next twenty years Shibata taught over a thousand people in Shizuoka prefecture. He also painted many panels for temples and private residences. In 1981, for example, he completed eight panels for Annonji Temple in Isabu. In 1986 he finished a set of sliding panels for Zuiunin Temple. A book with many of his works was published in 1993.

Most of Shibata's paintings involve short Chinese verses with images of plants and natural scenery. Favorite themes include bamboo, pine, plum blossoms, and peonies. "The purpose of the painting", he added, "is to illuminate the meaning of each poem".

Shibata doesn't regard his paintings as "art" in the strict sense of the word, but rather as "exercises in brush technique". All of his works are created rapidly and he stresses the importance of brush mechanics.