His artistic style merged traditional Nanga literati painting with Western techniques of light and shadow. While many contemporaries focused on stylised forms, Kazan sought realism. He used subtle washes to define the structure of a face or the weight of a coin. His Portrait of Kō Sūkoku and his sketches of Atsugi demonstrate this observational approach. He often worked from life, filling albums with quick studies of people and objects.

Modern collectors appreciate the technical precision found in his botanical and everyday subjects. His depictions of orchids or gold coins possess a clarity that works well in contemporary spaces. These prints offer a direct connection to the intellectual atmosphere of late Edo Japan. They represent a moment when Japanese art began to look outward, combining classical brushwork with a new interest in physical reality.