In 1940, he entered the Tokyo Higher Normal School and studied literature and geography but then changed his interests to science.

He graduated from the Tokyo University of Literature and Science in 1945 with a BSc, having studied physical geography, geology and geophysics.

From 1954 to 1966, he was assistant and then full professor at Chuo University (Tokyo), teaching earth sciences and engineering geology.

In 1976, he left Canada to return to Japan and became professor at the Institute of Geosciences, University of Tsukuba, where he taught geomorphology and rock mechanics.

[6] Part 2 of this volume is a wide-ranging discussion of the philosophy and practice of geomorphology that includes Peirce's theory of abductive reasoning, Paul Feyerabend's 'anything goes' by way of 'Neurath's boat'.