Born in 1964. After graduating from the University of Kitakyushu, he joined a textile trading company.
In 1995, with the enactment of the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law, he became deeply involved in textile recycling.
In January 2007, he founded Japan Environment Planning (now JEPLAN).

Aiming to build a society where resources circulate, he not only develops recycling technologies but also works with companies across industries, including manufacturers and retailers, to standardize recycling. He was selected as an Ashoka Fellow in 2015.

Author of "A Future Without Throwing Away Will Be Born from This Business" (Diamond, Inc.).