Dr. Takayama trained in medicine at Nihon University School of Medicine in Tokyo. His postgraduate surgical training was undertaken primarily at the National Cancer Center Hospital, where he served as Head Surgeon from 1989 to 1995. In 2001, Professor Takayama was appointed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Digestive Surgery at the University Of Nihon School Of Medicine. He specializes in hapatobillary surgery, living donor liver transplantation and immunotherapy for tumor. Dr. Takayama is a prolific academic author with over 450 papers published in international scientific journals. He is the recipient of numerous academic prizes and awards, including, in 2001, the Hepatology Research Award of the Japan Society of Hepatology.