In 1981, Michitaka Sawada earned his master’s degree in the Process Engineering program (first half of the doctoral course) at the Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering. His focus was on applied science. He joined Kao Soap Co., Ltd. (present-day Kao Corporation) that same year. He was assigned to the Wakayama Plant, where he worked for the next 23 years. He was involved consistently in the company’s research and development department. After serving as a manager at the Materials Development Laboratory, he became the director of the Sanitary Research Institute in 2003. He contributed to the rejuvenation of the Merries brand of baby diapers. In 2006, he became an operating officer. As the second-in-charge of the company’s research and development department, he helped manage its activities. In 2007, he assumed the additional position as director of the Human Healthcare Research Center. In 2008, he became a director. On June 28, 2012, he became the president and CEO.