Katayama was born in the Ehime Prefecture and graduated from Kyushu University. Katayama's first major book was Kehai (Sign). The book won the Bungakkai Newcomers award.

Katayama wrote the book Socrates in Love (also known as Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World). The book was adapted into a manga (illustrated by Kazumi Kazui),a film and a Japanese television drama. Socrates in Love was his first and, as of 2008, only book translated into English.