Tsukui was born in Kichijoji, Tokyo, and graduated from Chuo University's Faculty of Economics with honors in 1956.[a].
[1] During his time as a visiting research associate at Harvard University (Harvard Economic Research Project directed by Wassily Leontief) from 1962 to 1964, he and David Simpson used an algorithm he developed to identify block triangularity (decomposability of input-output matrices) in the input-output tables of Japan, the United States, and Europe.
For example, it has been applied to methods for estimating the composition of products used in the field of industrial ecology, particularly in material flow analysis.
[4] In the field of economic growth theory, Tsukui is widely recognized for his contributions to the Turnpike theorem.
Tsukui loved sailing and, in 1951, even co-authored an article on the design of a sailboat with a naval architect before entering university.