Tsuyoshi Sugino graduated from the faculty of economics at Kyoto University and joined the ministry of education in 1984. At the ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology (MEXT), Sugino served as director of the technical education division, Higher Education Bureau (2003-2005); director of the scientific research aid division, Research Promotion Bureau (2005-2006); director of the private education institution administration division, private education institution department, Higher Education Bureau (2006-2008); director of the National University corporation support division, Higher Education Bureau (2010-2011); director-general of the private education institution department, Higher Education Bureau (2025-2016); and director-general of the Research Promotion Bureau (2020-2021). He has also held the positions of executive director of the National institutes for cultural heritage (2017-2020) and director-general of the National institute for educational policy research (2016-2017). Since 2022, Sugino has held the position of president of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).