Joined Japanese Government service in 1982. In 1992, took the position of Senior Disaster Relief Coordination Officer at UN-DHA where he coordinated international assistance to numerous disaster stricken countries. In 2001, was appointed the Executive Director of ADRC. After resuming Japanese government service in 2004, held senior positions in the Cabinet Office and MLIT. At the wake of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in December 2004, coordinated the Japanese Government technical assistance to the affected countries. Hosted and coordinated the 2005 UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction where HFA was adopted. Proposed the Japanese BCP guideline in 2005. Former Vice-President of Japan Water Agency. Former Member of the UN Advisory Group on the post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Chaired the WEF Global Agenda Council on Catastrophic Risk 2010-2011.
Since 2018, Professor, Disaster Mitigation Research Center, Nagoya University.
Member, Science Council of Japan,
Board Member, Institute of Social Safety Science,
Board Member, Business Continuity Advancement Organization,
Board Member, Save the Children Japan,
Adviser, Japan Bosai Platform,
Advisor, International Consortium on Landslides,
Board of Trustees Member, Asian Disaster Reduction Center