Until 2012, Akira Kawamoto worked in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and held a number of government posts, including head of Research Office of the Trade Policy Bureau, head of Electricity Market Division, Cabinet Office Counsellor (science and technology policy), and Cabinet Secretariat Counsellor (responsible for the National Commission on Social Security). He also worked in the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation in Japan, as well as OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). In addition, he has published a number of books, including “Why Japan cannot carry out reform?” and “Regulatory Reform.”