1756, 26 years old: Changes his name to Motoori Norinaga and became a doctor. The following year, he purchases the Kojiki at a shop and begins to research ancient literature. 1764, 35 years old: Begins writing the Kojiki-den. It would take over 30 years for the whole series to be finished. 1791, 61 years old: The first part of the Kojiki-den is published. 1801, 72 years old: Passes away before the entire series has been published.

Alongside his work as a doctor, Norinaga spent half a lifetime as a scholar, taking many pupils in that time. As the second floor of his library home was called Suzunoya, "the Bell Shop", his students would affectionately call him the "Great Man of Suzunoya". (The reason for the name were the characteristic bells he hung on the walls. Norinaga was also a collector of bells.) Throughout his life, he loved to travel, almost as if he was looking for some place he should be.