While serving as director of the Army's Aviation Technology Research Institute during World War II, he was a key figure in scientific and technological development for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and also most notably for his involvement in the early development of a Japanese atom bomb during the early stages of the war.

After attending military cadet schools in Osaka as a youth, he graduated from the 21st class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1909.

On his graduation, Yasuda returned to regular military service as a chief Signals Officer in the Japanese China Garrison Army, and as an instructor at the Artillery School.

The team put together by Suzuki included a number of scientists who had worked previously with Niels Bohr or Ernest Lawrence.

[3] Receiving a favorable report in December, Yasuda passed on this information to the Japan Physical and Chemical Research Institute who in turn assigned the project to nuclear physicist Yoshio Nishina.