Katsuyuki Nishijima was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1945. At the age of 19 he began studying woodblock printing with Mikumo publishing house in Kyoto. From 1968 to 1972, Nishijima experimented with stencil dyeing and various forms of printing before focusing on woodblock printmaking in the Sosaku Hanga or “creative print” style.

Katsuyuki Nishijima's prints are exceptionally popular, portraying a romantic, traditional vision of Japan: old buildings with umbrellas, rain, snow and wind, and even a contemporary take on the series Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido. His mastery of intriguing angles and the intricate play of light and color in his work distinguish Nishijima among other contemporary Japanese artists. Katsuyuki Nishijima has exhibited his work throughout Japan, as well as Europe and the United States.