Born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Ishikawa studied western-style painting with Asai Chu (1856-1907) and Kawamura Kiyo-o (1852-1934). He became a member of the Meiji Bijutsukai (Meiji Art Society), the artist's cultural organization founded by Asai and Kawamura in 1888. Following a trip to Europe in 1921, Ishikawa joined two other artists' groups, the Kofukai (for western-style artists), and the Nihon Suisaigakai (Japanese Watercolor Society). Ishikawa is recognized for his skillful use of watercolor.