After earning her bachelor’s degree from Keio University in 1982 and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business Administration, Keio University in 1984, Yuri Okina joined the Bank of Japan. In 1992, she became Deputy Senior Research Fellow, Research Department, The Japan Research Institute (JRI). She went on to become JRI Chairperson in 2018, after serving as Chief Senior Economist, Research Director and Vice Chairman.

Ms. Okina was a member of the Industrial Revitalization Committee and a non-executive director of the Industrial Revitalization Commission from 2003-2007, a member of the Science Council of Japan from 2005-2014, and a visiting professor at Waseda University from 2010-2015. She chaired the Working Group on Medical Care, Council for Regulatory Reform from 2013-2016.

Ms Okina has been a guest professor at Keio University since 2014. She also heads a medical care group within the Growth Strategy Council-Investing for the Future and Council for Advancing Structural Reform, is a member of the Research Commission on the Tax System, a member of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Industrial Structure Council, a member of the Financial Services Agency’s Financial System Council, and an NIRA director.

Ms. Okina also holds a PhD in Economics from Kyoto University.