At Niigata, he teaches international history and politics of modern Japan. He has a doctorate and MA in international relations, and BA in Japanese history from the University of Tokyo. He was a Fox International Fellow 2004-05 in the Center for International and Area Studies, Yale University, and a research associate in the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University. He has taught courses at the University of Tokyo, Tsukuba University, and the Open University of Japan.