Hiroaki Inatsugu is a Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics, where he has held a position since 2007. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at the Center for Spatial Information Science at The University of Tokyo and The Open University of Japan since 2024. His extensive academic career includes previous appointments at Osaka City University, Kwansei Gakuin University, Kobe University, University of Tokyo, and Kyoto University. Inatsugu completed his Doctor of Laws at Kyoto University and has established himself as a leading scholar in Japanese public administration. Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Professor (2007-Present) Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo, Visiting Professor (2024-Present) The Open University of Japan, Visiting Professor (2024-Present) Osaka City University, Graduate School of Law and Political Science, Professor (2001-2007) Himeji Dokkyo University, Faculty of Law, Associate Professor (1996-2000) Professor Inatsugu's research focuses on public policy, public administration, local autonomy theory, administrative organization theory, human resources administration, Civic Tech, and administrative business. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical governance challenges, particularly examining how digital technologies are transforming citizen engagement and public service delivery. His research has evolved to address contemporary challenges including digital transformation in government, public sector productivity measurement, and crisis management in local governance. His publication record shows a clear progression from traditional public administration topics to more contemporary issues of digital governance and public sector reform. Recent works (2022-2025) focus heavily on civil service performance evaluation systems, reflecting current government reform efforts in Japan. His research often employs comparative approaches, examining Japanese practices in relation to international models, particularly from the UK, US, Canada, and European countries. Professor Inatsugu serves on numerous governmental committees, including as Director of the Institute of Personnel Administration, Chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Customer Harassment Prevention Measures Promotion Council, and Chairman of the Local Government Management Study Group. His committee work demonstrates his influence on practical policy implementation in Japanese governance. In terms of academic contributions, Inatsugu has supervised numerous research projects funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, focusing on central-local relations, public sector productivity, and personnel systems. His work consistently addresses the evolving relationship between central and local governments in Japan, particularly examining how personnel and financial controls impact local autonomy. His current research agenda centers on resilient administrative organization structures using digital technology, central government involvement in local autonomy, and productivity measurement in government operations. This reflects his ongoing commitment to addressing contemporary governance challenges through both theoretical and practical lenses.
