After graduating from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Fukuoka University, he joined the animation studio Shaft. There his first work as an in-betweener was on Hiatari Ryoukou!. Afterwards, he went freelance and worked on films such as Akira and Kiki's Delivery Service before debuting as a key animator on Lupin III: Bye Bye, Lady Liberty in 1989.
Him working on Studio Ghibli's films as an animator led to him being selected as a director for The Cat Returns. A movie which remains as one of his most noted works today. In 2007, he directed his first TV series, Bokurano.
