[2] Iijima had already begun publishing film criticism even before he graduated from the Department of French Literature at the University of Tokyo in 1929,[3] joining the editorial board of Kinema Junpo in 1922.

[2] He published his first book, Shinema no ABC, in 1928,[1] which included both his own theoretical writings and criticism as well as translations of French film theory.

In addition to film criticism, he also helped edit literary journals and published novels, poetry, and theatrical plays.

[2] He even wrote screenplays for television dramas in the early years of the medium.

[1] Iijima received the Minister of Culture award for criticism at the Geijutsu Senshō in 1970.