A native of Noshiro, Akita and graduate of Chuo University he joined the Ministry of Construction in 1953.

Leaving the ministry, he was elected to the House of Councillors in the Diet for the first time in 1977.

From 1995 to 1996 he served as the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Tomiichi Murayama's cabinet.

In 2001, Norota received the civilian honor Padma Vibhushan from the President of India.

Norota died of bladder cancer on 23 May 2019 at a Tokyo hospital, aged 89.