He focused on innovation policy around science, technology, innovation, and health. He has also served as a professor at UCLA from 1979 to 1984 and the University of Tokyo from 1989 to 1996, and served as Dean immediately thereafter until 2002. He has served on the Presidents of Science Council of Japan, the International Society of Nephrology, the Japan Society of Medicine, and the Japan Society of Nephrology. Kiyoshi was also a Science Advisor to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet from 2006 to 2008.