Masahiro Noda was born in Japan’s Nara Prefecture and attended Haibara High School. While studying at Kansai University, at the faculty of economics, he worked at Kintetsu Department Store as well as an office machine company. In 1968, along with his wife and largely funded by her savings, Noda founded the Osaka Business Company.

The company, which specialises in computer system integration, customized software and is most well known for its accounting software was later renamed as Obi and floated on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Masahiro Noda is very active in Japanese horse racing, owning many horses and being a prominent role in the Japan Central Horse Racing Association.