1983, MD in Physiology from Keio University; 1988, PhD, Keio University. 1988, postdoctoral position at Johns Hopkins University Medical School. 1994, Full Professor, Tsukuba University School of Medicine; 1997, Full Professor, Osaka University School of Medicine; 2001, Full Professor of Physiology, Keio University Medical School. Since 2007, Dean, Keio University Graduate School of Medicine. Since 2015, Dean, Keio University School of Medicine. Has been conducting basic research in the field of regenerative medicine including, neural stem cells and iPS cells, spinal cord injury, developmental genetics and RNA binding proteins. Recipient of numerous awards and honours, including: Medal with Purple Ribbon (2009).