Ushijima Noriyuki was born in Nihongi, Kumamoto. In 1922 he enrolled in the Western painting department, the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, and studied under Okada Saburosuke. His class included Ogisu Takanori, Koiso Ryohei, Inokuma Genichiro, Yamaguchi Takeo and Okada Kenzo amongst others. He graduated in 1927, and formed Jotokai with his classmates. From the first exhibition until his death he continued to submit works to its shows. In 1946 his submission, Enchu (“Glaring Daylight”), won the highest honor. In 1949 he founded Ryukikai, which became his most important field of work, with Suda Hisashi, Yamamoto Daigoro and others. In 1955 he became a lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts, and in 1959 an assistant professor. He became a professor in 1965. He was involved in art education for a long time, and nurtured many talents. Although not as numerous as his oil paintings, he also produced some woodblock prints. In 1969 he received the Ministry of EducationAward for Fine Arts, and in 1983 the Cultural Medal.