Kurokawa graduated in 1951 from the Tokyo University of Literature & Science, which later became the
University of Tsukuba. He earned his
Doctor of Science degree with a thesis titled "The species of
Anaptychia, with a new sub generic classification". This work was later published as "A monograph of the genus
Anaptychia" in 1962, which became a seminal paper in the field. Throughout his career, Kurokawa made significant contributions to lichenology. He collaborated with
Mason Hale on "Studies on
Parmelia subgenus
Parmelia" (1964), which revolutionized the understanding of
rhizine characteristics in
Parmelia classification. His research encompassed various lichen genera in Japan, including
Anzia,
Cetraria,
Parmelia,
Peltigera,
Pilophorus, and
Xanthoparmelia. ==Contributions to lichenology==