°®ÍþÄÌapp

Could you tell us a bit more about your background and how you came to join LSHTM?

I was born and raised in the countryside of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. I was the first in my family to attend university. After earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics at Kyoto University, I received a scholarship to study health economics at the University of York, where I earned my PhD. Following that, I worked for several years each at the University of East Anglia and the University of York’s Centre for Health Economics before returning to Japan. Back home, I spent over eight years at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo where I got married and had children. Last summer, I applied for an open position at the °®ÍþÄÌapp of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine LSHTM. My wife and I had planned to settle permanently in Japan, but once they offered me the job, we decided to return to the UK.

What inspired you to choose your area of research?

My initial exposure to health economics came through my undergraduate advisor at Kyoto University. While I did not begin with strong passion for the field, continuing my studies led me to discover compelling research topics and meet mentors and colleagues who inspired me to pursue this path.

My research focuses on three interconnected areas:

1. health financing systems for universal coverage
2. resource allocation in public healthcare
3. policy interventions for health behaviour modification and disease prevention

Beginning with studies of behavioural interventions in UK settings, I became increasingly interested in their cost-effectiveness, which led to examining health benefit packages and broader financing reforms. My research now focus primarily on addressing these issues in low- and middle-income countries. Methodologically, I primarily apply quasi-experimental research designs for policy evaluation, later incorporating randomised trials and evidence synthesis.

Since health policy research is a team endeavour, I've recently dedicated significant efforts to managing and facilitating teams . At my previous position in Japan, this involved creating supportive environments for early-career researchers and professional members. At LSHTM, I'm making a fresh start to establish new research team and initiatives.

What are you currently working on at LSHTM?

At LSHTM, I am currently establishing my research program. Building on the collaborative relationships I developed with research institutions and government agencies - primarily in Asia, and to a lesser extent in Africa - during my time in Japan, I’m aiming to expand these into an international collaborative research initiative to advance both academic research and policy support. One example of this effort in action can be seen in my involvement with the SAPPHIRE consortium ().

Where do you see your research going in the future?

Much of my work involves demand-driven research conducted in partnership with government organisations, such as evaluating sin tax reforms for healthcare financing enhancement. I collect unbiased data, conduct rigorous analysis, and communicate findings to policymakers - presenting only what the evidence clearly supports. While I have avoided consulting and advisory roles in the past, I am now open to engaging more directly in such capacities.

In parallel, I aim to pursue curiosity-driven research exploring interventions not yet considered in mainstream policy debates. In particular, those that could complement or catalyse conventional approaches in resource-constrained settings. As preparation, I have developed an evidence synthesis program, particularly on behavioural public health policies, which I hope will create a foundation for these future innovations.

What other activities are you working on, and could you tell us a bit more about them? (examples: any committees, seminar series, teaching, organising regular meetings e.g. journal club, student lunches)

I’m still fairly new and looking to contribute to the LSHTM community once I’ve settled my research. But I am giving an internal seminar on 3 July, which is open to everyone at GHECO – please do come along and say hi!

What do you like doing outside of LSHTM?

Most weekends, we take the kids out around our neighbourhood - usually for picnics in Regent's Park.

How does being a GHECO member support your work?

As GHECO brings together researchers in closely related fields, I see it as both an immediate resource for advancing my health economics work and a long-term platform to develop collaborative partnerships. I’m looking forward to both advancing my own work through this network and supporting other members' projects.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in pursuing health economics research and career?

Develop at least one comparative advantage - a specialised skill that makes PIs want to keep working with you. For me, it was econometric skills to analyse large scale data. Use this to secure a fellowship that can stabilise your position where you can then focus on broadening  your skillset.