Takeda was born in 1935 in Seto, Japan and trained at the University of Fine Arts of Tokyo. In 1978 he moved to Oaxaca, where he became a professor of art at the University of Oaxaca. His students include notable artists, such as Fulgencio Lazo and Alejandro Santiago. He previously worked as a painter and graphic artist for the Museo Nacional de las Culturas. Since 1980 Takeda has been chair of the Department of Art at the Universidad Autónoma «Benito Juárez» de Oaxaca. The Bienal Nacional de Artes Gráficas Shinzaburo Takeda (National Biennale of Graphic Arts Shinzaburo Takeda) is held in his honor.