Born in Tokyo in 1942, Isao Hosoe graduated in Aerospace Engineering (1965) and as Master of Science (1967) at the Nihon University of Tokyo. He has lived in Milan since 1967.

He worked with Alberto Rosselli of the Ponti-Fornaroli-Rosselli Studio from 1967 to 1974. He is a member of ADI, of the Italian Society of Ergonomics, of the Japan Design Committee and the Japan Inter-Design Forum, and lecturer in Industrial Design at the Milan Polytechnic and at the Università degli Studi in Rome, La Sapienza.  He has taught in various establishments: the Domus Academy of Milan, The University of Siena, I.S.I.A. in Florence, Les Ateliers of Paris, Elisawa in Barcelona, RISD di Providence, University of Lisbon.

Amongst the many prizes and awards bestowed on him, Hoseo can boast of the Compasso d'Oro and the Good Design Award, and personal exhibitions and participation in collective shows in Italy and abroad. Some of his works may be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, at the Chicago Athenaeum, at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan, and at the Milan Triennale.