Yuko started her career at Bank of Tokyo, and in 1988 joined McKinsey & Company in Tokyo. She became Senior Expert in 2001, after spending four years in Paris office. She has been Professor at Waseda since 2004.

She currently works as independent director to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (2013 - )where she is a chairperson of risk committee. She is also a Trustee Director of Thomson Reuters Founders Share Company (2011 - ).

She used to serve as independent director to Japan Exchange (2004-2014), Risona Bank (2006 - 2011), Monex Securities (2006 - 2013), Yamaha Motor (2009 - 2013) , Ito-chu trading company(2011-2013 ) and an independent audit & supervisory board member of Tokyo Marine Holdings (2006-2018). She also served as advisory board member of Car company, Food co. and a major airline company.

She has significant expertise in macro-economic and governance issues and has served on a number of Japanese government committees. In 2014, she was appointed as Member of Public Safety Commission, supervisor of National Police Agency. In the past, for the administration of Prime Minister Koizumi, she joined a committee mandated to lead its major privatization project. Other major appointments include a member of Prominent Persons Group on Lost Pension Record Issue in the first Abe Cabinet.

Yuko holds a BA degree in Social Psychology from University of Tokyo, and a Master degree in Development Economics from Oxford University (St.John’s College).