Nat Sakimura, born on July 26, 1965, in Tokyo, Japan, is a visionary figure in the field of information technology. With decades of experience in digital identity management and privacy protection, Sakimura has left an indelible mark on the industry. His contributions have been pivotal in shaping the digital landscape we navigate today, particularly through the development of standards like OpenID Connect, OAuth PKCE, JSON Web Token (JWT), and JSON Web Signature (JWS).
His journey began with a solid academic foundation in economics. After completing his undergraduate studies at Hitotsubashi University, he earned a Master’s degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Although his background was rooted in economics, Sakimura’s career quickly pivoted toward the burgeoning world of digital identity and security, a field that would benefit greatly from his expertise.
Sakimura started his professional career at Nomura Research Institute, where he worked for over three decades. His work there laid the groundwork for his future achievements in digital identity management. In 2009, he became a founding board member of the Kantara Initiative, an organization dedicated to the advancement of digital identity and personal data protection. By 2011, he took on the role of Chairman at the OpenID Foundation, where his influence grew even further. Under his leadership, the foundation introduced and promoted OpenID Connect, a standard now adopted by major tech companies and governments worldwide, including giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Sakimura’s career is a testament to his ability to blend innovation with practical implementation. He has been instrumental in the creation of protocols that enhance security and protect user privacy, at a time when digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Not only did he contribute to the creation of OAuth PKCE, which has become an industry standard, but he also played a key role in developing JWT and JWS, both of which are now widely regarded as the de facto formats for secure token exchange in the digital world.
Beyond his technical achievements, Sakimura’s role in shaping policy and advising government agencies demonstrates his commitment to broader societal impacts. He has served on Japan’s Ministry of Interior and Communication’s study group on digital platforms and as a digital special advisor to the Japan Fair Trade Commission. His work continues to influence national and international standards for digital identity, open banking, and finance.
Throughout his career, Sakimura has authored numerous publications that have influenced the fields of digital security and identity management. His research and insights have been sought after by academic and corporate institutions alike. His book “Digital Identity” and his co-edited work “Blockchain Gaps” are just a few of his contributions that have shaped modern thought on these critical issues. Moreover, the Financial-grade API Security Profile (FAPI), which Sakimura co-authored, has been adopted as a national standard in countries like the UK, Australia, and Brazil, setting the benchmark for open banking and finance globally.
His contributions have not gone unrecognized. In 2012, Sakimura received the prestigious European Identity and Cloud Award for his work on OpenID Connect. Two years later, he was honored again for his work on JSON Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE). His influence is vast and far-reaching, impacting billions of people across the globe as the standards he helped create continue to be deployed by major entities.
Nat Sakimura is not just a researcher but a trailblazer whose work has been foundational in the creation of a more secure, privacy-conscious digital world. As digital identity becomes an even more crucial element of modern life, his contributions stand as milestones in the quest for a safer, more efficient online environment.
