After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1978, Faculty of Economics, Yasuyuki Sugiura began his career with Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) in the Steel Export Department managing the markets in India and South Eastern Asian countries. After studying for two years at the International University of Japan in Niigata, he joined the Steel International Investment Department where he concentrated on the development of various steel operations facilities. Additionally, he was one of the core members who assisted in establishing the joint venture with STELCO, the then Canadian steel company, of coated sheets for automotives.

His first position at Mitsubishi International Corporation (MIC) was in 1991 when he was transferred to the New York Office to assist the Chairman. From 1992 until 1994, he served as executive assistant to the president of MC. In the two years between 1995 and 1997, he returned to the steel business as President of Coilplus-Ohio, Inc., a steel processing facility, in Springfield, Ohio, focusing on strengthening the foundation of the operation. He moved to Washington D.C. in 1997 and assumed the position of General Manager in 1998. During the course of almost six years in D.C. he collected and analyzed information of all genres ranging in geopolitics, economy, activities of International Institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

He went back to Tokyo in 2003 to serve as the General Manager of the Corporate Strategy and Research Department. He initiated various projects and among other things, conducted the analysis of change in Japan's Industrial Structure. In 2004, he served as the General Manager of the Regional Strategy and Coordination Department where he conducted regional strategy for the mid-term planning phase of Innovation 2007 and assisted in the implementation throughout MC global offices.

In 2006, he returned to MIC's New York Office as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Corporate Division. His return in 2008 to Tokyo as General Manager of the Corporate Communications Department where he managed media relations and also worked as Editor of the MC Group magazine RYOWA which currently distributes 40,000 copies to 500 group companies. Shortly thereafter, in 2009, he was promoted to Senior Vice President of MC. In April of 2011, he returned to MIC as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and in April of 2012 he was promoted to President & CEO of Mitsubishi International Corporation.