Prof. Ichihashi Masaru is a Professor at the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Graduate School of Innovation and Practice for Smart Society, Hiroshima University. He is also the Director of the IDEC Institute, an international research institute at Hiroshima University. He completed his Ph.D. in International Economic Development from Kumamoto University and a Master's in Economics from Kyoto University. His research interests include economic development, economic statistical analysis based on input–output techniques, economic history and thought, and interdisciplinary social sciences.