After graduating from the Faculty of Law, Kyoto University in 1980, he joined the Ministry of Transport. He then studied Public Management at Princeton University and earned master’s degree (M.P.A.). In 1986, he joined McKinsey & Company where he became a partner in 1992 and published two books on change management.
In 2000, he left McKinsey and joined GPPI at Georgetown University as a Research Professor of Public Management as well as a senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation. In 2003, he became a research professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University as well as a specially appointed professor at the Graduate School of Creative City, Osaka City University.
In 2007, he became a full-time professor at Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University until March 2023. He also serves as independent director, business consultant, advisors to governors and mayors, independent director, government committee member, at both central and local governments. He visited 117 countries.