Born in Ehime Prefecture, Japan in 1911.

Graduated from Tokyo Denki Senmon Gakkō (Tokyo Institute of Electricity).

In 1935, Kiyoshi Niiyama joined Rikagaku Kenkyusho (RIKEN), and in 1936, he started to take photographs using Pearlette with F6.3 lens, and became a member of the Pearlette Dōjinkai (Pearlette Camera Coterie).
His works were accepted for photographic magazines several tens of times. Selected for Dai Nippon Salon, Ashiya Salon, Koku-ten (Kokugakai Exhibition) and the International Photographic Salon.

Received the Grand Prize and the Runner-Up Prize at the Pearlette Dōjinkai (Pearlette Camera Coterie).

Awarded the Bronze Prize twice and accepted several times at the Kenten (annual exhibitions of the Tokyo Photographic Research Society).

Won the Grand Prize at the exhibition hosted by the Tokyo Bijutsu Kyōkai (Tokyo Arts Association).

Received the Grand Prize four times at the All-Kansai Salon.

Received the Grand Prize twice, Runner-Up Prize twice and accepted four times by the Ars Photographic Annual.

Accepted for the Popular Photography (Vol.55 No.3 September 1964) of the U.S.A. Several of his works were accepted at photographic salons in London and Paris.

Accepted four times for the Nika-kai Exhibition (familiarly known as Nika-ten). Organized a solo exhibition on one occasion.
A board member of the All-Japan Association of Photographic Societies, and also a member of the Screening Committee at the Tokyo Photographic Research Society, he played an active role in providing advice and guidance to amateur photographers nationwide.

In 1958, he joined Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., where he assumed the post of Director of the Tokyo Service Center.

On May 13th, 1969, Kiyoshi Niiyama died a sudden death, falling victim to the knife of a mentally disturbed person.

The last picture of Kiyoshi Niiyama taken in Taiwan in May 1969. Photographed by Mr. I Shen Bo.