During secondary school days, he was interested in archaeology and found remains, possibly, Yayoi pottery.

He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Imperial University and studied in Germany between 1903 and 1906.

Nakayama's students included a Chinese physician Guo Moruo and Hakaru Hashimoto.

In the early years of the Showa era, upon hearing the criticism, he discontinued his studies and turned to angling near his home, along the Hakata Bay.

After the war, he taught archaeology to Dairoku Harada upon his return from military service.