A painter from the early Edo period with the nickname Shume. Born in Kyoto as the second son of Kano Takanobu. Younger brother of Kano Tanyu. Granted an estate in Edo in 1630, he became an official painter for the shogunate and forefather of the Kano family in Kobikicho. The Kobikicho Kano household saw further growth through his son, Tsunenobu, and became one of the most prosperous schools of painting even among the Kano in Edo (which played a key role in the Kano school). With his brother Tanyu, he produced paintings on room partitions, such as those for Shojuraigo-ji’s reception hall and Nagoya Castle. Although Tanyu’s influence can be seen, Naonobu’s delicate and lyrical ink paintings are outstanding.