originally desiring a career as a historical novelist, in university, morishima pursued social science, studying both economics and sociology under yasuma takada. at kyoto university, morishima was rigorously trained in both mainstream neoclassical economic theory and marxian economics. mathematically gifted, in 1946, he graduated from kyoto university and taught there in addition to osaka university. he started institute of social and economic research (iser) of osaka university with yasuma takada.