Masaki Nomura, MPA, MPhil
Researcher integrating philosophy with design/architecture/urbanism at Harvard


WHAT’S NEW
My life story is featured on the official website of Harvard Kennedy School. This article introduces my career trajectory as a first-generation college student, an official in Japan’s national government, CCO at a leading AI startup that won the Grand Prix at Startup World Cup 2023, and a researcher in philosophy. It also outlines my future aspirations, including my roles as Executive Advisor to both Kyoto Institute of Philosophy initiated by NTT’s chairman and Yamauchi No.10 Family Office (Nintendo’s family office), as well as my role as Chief Strategist for the former.

BIO
Masaki Nomura is a researcher integrating philosophy with design/architecture/urbanism at Harvard GSD. Prior to Harvard GSD and HKS, Masaki served as a national government official at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and the Cabinet Office, engaging in the drafting of mission-critical cabinet decisions. He then held a C-Suite position at a leading AI startup that garnered the Grand Prix at the Startup World Cup 2023, collaborating with political and business leaders including ministers. During this time, he authored a philosophy paper that bridges Japanese Zen philosophy with the concept of mindfulness and co-authored a Harvard Business School case study on Japanese management philosophy.
Drawing upon these professional experiences, he has served as an Executive Advisor for Nintendo’s Family Office and the Kyoto Institute of Philosophy, where the board members include CEOs of Japan’s premier global companies such as NTT, Hitachi, Hakuhodo, and others. Currently, as a philosophy researcher, he is the author of “Kyoto Grand Vision 2050,” a comprehensive future plan for Kyoto city, which boasts 1,200 years of history and projects into the forthcoming quarter-century, commissioned directly by the mayor.
Masaki earned an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, an MPhil from Kyoto University majoring in philosophy, and a BA from the University of Tokyo. He was selected as a World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper and has been the recipient of many other awards and honors. Additionally, he is an adept player of Kendo, a traditional Japanese martial art of swordsmanship, with 28 years of experience, and regularly practices it in Boston and Kyoto to pursue the state of the aforementioned non-dichotomies.
Beyond his professional and academic commitments, Masaki is a passionate dog lover, sharing his life with his beloved Shiba Inu.

EDUCATION
Master in Public Administration | Harvard University
Master of Philosophy | Kyoto University
Bachelor of Arts | The University of Tokyo

AFFILIATIONS
Doctoral Researcher | Harvard Graduate School of Design
Affiliated Research Fellow | Kyoto University
Executive Advisor and Chief Strategist | Kyoto Institute of Philosophy
Executive Advisor | Yamauchi No.10 Family Office (Nintendo’s founding family office)
Special Council Member | Kyoto City Government