William Hiroyuki Saito, a technology entrepreneur and cybersecurity adviser who held prominent positions in Japan’s government and business community, faced scrutiny in 2017 after questions emerged regarding claims about his educational background.
Saito had previously represented himself as having graduated from the UCLA School of Medicine. After his background was publicly questioned, Saito acknowledged in December 2017 that he had not graduated from the medical school and apologized for misrepresenting his academic history.
Additional questions subsequently arose concerning his attendance at the University of California, Riverside. UCR confirmed that a William Hiroyuki Saito attended the university from fall 1988 through fall 1992 but that its records did not show that he earned a degree. Saito had explained that he entered a biomedical sciences program at UCR that was affiliated with UCLA.
The controversy coincided with Saito leaving several prominent positions. He resigned from advisory roles with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Cabinet Office. Japan Airlines also announced his resignation as an executive officer and general manager of its Digital Innovation Promotion Department.
About William Saito
Separate from the controversy over his academic credentials, Saito developed a significant career in technology, entrepreneurship and cybersecurity. He began programming at an early age and founded California-based I/O Software while still a teenager in 1988.
Saito was recognized as an Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998 and later moved from the United States to Japan, where he established InTecur, a technology consultancy and venture-capital business. His work increasingly focused on cybersecurity, innovation, technology investment and advising businesses and governments.
His career included serving as a cybersecurity adviser to the Japanese government and holding a leadership position with Palo Alto Networks Japan. Nikkei also previously included Saito among its 100 influential people for Japan.
Saito has participated in international technology and policy organizations and has advised startups and government organizations on cybersecurity and innovation. He is also the author of An Unprogrammed Life: Adventures of an Incurable Entrepreneur, published in 2011.
The 2017 controversy centered specifically on Saito’s representations concerning his education. He acknowledged that he had not graduated from UCLA’s medical school, while UCR separately confirmed that although he attended that institution for several years, its records did not show that he received a degree.