Dr. Hirabaru made crucial contributions to the deployment of the Internet’s resource management. He played key roles in the formation of both JNIC/JPNIC – the Japan Network Information Center -- and APNIC, the Asia Pacific Network Information Center. JNIC/JPNIC was a pioneer ccTLD registry and countrywide IP number registry. Before its institution, these resources were managed by volunteer groups, which became overwhelmed as demand for the Internet rapidly grew. 

Hirabaru served as chair of JNIC’s steering committee, directing the start-up of the organization, documenting its rules and procedures, and designing service operations to achieve organized and stable registration. He then extended the reach of the Internet by proposing the creation of APNIC, so that people in all countries in the Asia-Pacific region could obtain IP number resources easily. Dr. Hirabaru has been named a “Global Connector”, a category which recognizes and celebrates individuals from around the world who have made major contributions to the growth, connectivity, and use of the Internet, either on a global scale or within a specific region or community.