In 1973 he became Chief of the Budget Division, Financial Affairs Bureau, and General Secretariat of the Supreme Court.
He began serving as the Chief of the General Affairs Division in 1975, and although he quit being Chief of the Budget Division, he continued to perform in his other two positions until 1977, when he became Counsellor of the Cabinet Legislative Bureau.
From 1984 until 1991 he regained his position as General Secretariat of the Supreme Court; however, he also attained the status of Director of the Secretary and Public Information Division in 1984, which he kept until 1986 when he became Director of the Financial Affairs Bureau.
One notable case his court has presided over, but he himself did not participate in, was over whether Japanese nationals living in foreign countries had the constitutional right to vote for a specific candidate in parliamentary elections.
In addition, Chief Justice Machida voted with the majority to overturn a ruling from the Tokyo High Court that said the Tokyo Metropolitan Government could not bar a civil servant from her managerial exam due to her South Korean nationality.