I was born in Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture and joined the faculty members of Ritsumeikan University in April 2009. After graduating from the Faculty of Business and Commerce of Keio University, I worked for an ad agency for five years, where I was in charge of public relations for food product companies, airlines, computer companies and theme parks. After quitting the ad agency, I moved to the U.S. to study at the Graduate School of Economics, Virginia Tech, . After returning to Japan in 1997, I worked at the Institute of Developing Economies from 1997 to March 2009, and also served as a visiting professor of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies from 2006 to March 2009. I was also a visiting researcher at the South Asian Studies Program of the National University of Singapore from 2003 to 2004 and at the Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan from 2004 to 2005. Since 2021, I have been a visiting professor at the International Institute for Migration and Development in India. My hobby is traveling and I admire Mother Teresa.

I am engaged in research, analysis and policy recommendations on development issues in South Asian countries. My research interest lies in labor migration and rural development.
Currently I am working with overseas researchers on research projects on the following themes.

1. International labor migration of Indian nurses
2. Impact of the remittances sent by international migrant workers on the finances of their families in rural Pakistan
3. Development issues in rural areas in South Asia (e.g., limited access to electric power, poor sewage systems, shortages of doctors and nurses)

I have also authored papers on the development issues of Indonesia and Bangladesh.

I was a lazy student at university, in both study and play. Looking back, I regret not having spent that time in a more meaningful way. If I could choose a period in my life to redo, I would definitely pick my university days. I encourage you both to play and study hard, and to grow as a person so that you will not regret your university days later. I hope you will find something you excel at while at university.

South Asia, India, Pakistan, development economics, poverty, labor migration, economic growth, overseas remittance