Speakers
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Michael Silvers
the Los Angeles Tribune
Michael Silvers
Vice President, Los Angeles Tribune
Michael Silvers, Vice President of The Los Angeles Tribune, is a prominent leader in technology, AI, and media. Renowned as a speaker and panel moderator, he has shared stages with figures like Tony Robbins and President George Bush. At the Tribune, Michael has led major tech-driven events, including LA Tech Week 2024 and the AI Symposium, reaching nearly 2 million viewers. He also founded The Podcast Network, fostering a collaborative community for podcasters. Known for his dedication to service, Michael empowers individuals and teams to harness technology for personal and professional growth, guided by his values of loyalty, integrity, and teamwork.
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Michiko Kato
Woven Capital
Michiko Kato
Woven Capital Partner
Michiko Kato is a partner at Woven Capital, the growth stage fund of Toyota, where she led Woven Capital’s investments globally in Nuro, Ridecell, WHILL, Enecoat Technologies. She also serves as an independent director at HENNGE and Excite Holdings.Prior to joining Woven Capital, Michiko was CFO at ABEJA. She also worked on various investment and financing deals at leading investment firms such as Unison Capital, International Finance Corporation and Morgan Stanley.
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Midori Mizote
CIC Institute
Midori Mizote
CIC Institute Senior Manager
After graduating a university in the US, she worked on strategy projects in the technology field at a consulting firm. Later, she led product planning and launches in the US as a Project Manager at SoftBank Robotics. She then worked as a Biz dev lead of a Silicon Valley startup's Japan base, and from July 2023, she joined CIC and been involved in designing and operating startup support programs in the smart city and climate tech fields at CIC Institute.
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Miho Akitsu
Salesforce Japan Co.,Ltd.
Miho Akitsu
Salesforce Japan Co.,Ltd. Director, Campaign, Demand Generation, Japan Marketing
Miho began her career in 2011 at Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co., Ltd., where she was responsible for projects deolying wireless LAN network devices to elementary and junior high schools in the education sector. In 2015, she joined Salesforce as an inside sales representative, excelling in both inbound and outbound sales and achieving targets for 15 consecutive months. In 2016, she transitioned to product marketing, specializing in SFA, CRM, and MA products. Since 2024, she has been leading the demand generation team for small and growing businesses. Miho is also a co-author of the book The Textbook for Strengthening Sales Power in the Non-Visitation Era (published by Shoeisha).
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Miho Kagei
Sharp Corporation
Miho Kagei
Sharp Corporation Deputy General Manager, Mobile Solutions Business Unit, Mobile Communication BU
Joined Sharp Corporation in 2001. After launching many products as a product planner for mobile phones and smartphones, he became the planning and development leader for the communication robot 'RoBoHoN' and established the business, which started in 2016. Currently, in addition to the communication robot business, he is responsible for various projects, including a digital health business that features smart hearing aids that adjust hearing in conjunction with smartphones, as well as solution services for accommodation facilities.
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Miho Muramatsu
EdGift Inc.
Miho Muramatsu
EdGift Inc. CEO
Born in Nagoya City, Japan. She holds a master's degree from the Graduate School of Engineering at Nagoya University. While still in graduate school, She founded EdGift Inc., driven by the mission to "Unleashing the gift in every child." She developed and marketed the educational toy "TEGUMII" and organized events at commercial facilities like AEON Mall. In 2024, EdGift joined forces with Kouyu Co., Ltd., which operates over 300 "Hanamaru Learning Centers," early childhood education schools nationwide.
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Miki Oikawa
Dialogue Japan Society
Miki Oikawa
Dialogue Japan Society director
Born in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Graduated fromTokyo Woman's Christian University, Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Department of English and American Literature.In 1991, she joined POLA Cosmetics Honpo Co.While raising her children, she became Area Manager in Saitama in her 30s. 2009: General Manager of Product Planning Department. 2012: Executive Officer, 2014: Director. Experienced the value chain, including product planning, marketing, and sales, and served as the company's president and representative director from 2020 to 2024. She had been leading Purpose Management and Diversity Management with the mission of realizing rebranding and creating a society where everyone can open up their own potential.She has been a member of the board of directors of Dialogue Japan Society since 2021. She supports the management of the Dialogue Forest Museum, which operates Dialogue in the Dark and other programs.
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Minako Takajitsuko
Healthcare Systems
Minako Takajitsuko
Healthcare Systems public relations
Joined the company in 2014. Began working in PR from scratch when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Built relationships with local media from zero. Currently serving as the project leader for an internal project related to the Osaka-Kansai Expo.
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Mitsuaki Aoyagi
Japan Social Innovation and Investment Foundation
Mitsuaki Aoyagi
Japan Social Innovation and Investment Foundation Vice-chair of Executive Committee
For many years, he has been involved in supporting the development of the social sector. This involvement has included measures to eliminate the mobility difficulties of people with disabilities and strengthening measures for NPO support centers at the Nippon Foundation. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he spearheaded the planning and implementation of numerous reconstruction support projects in collaboration with companies and government agencies.He then took the helm of measures to combat child poverty and announced the inaugural estimate of social losses in Japan. Concurrently, he initiated research and studies to promote impact investment, and in 2017 he established the Social Investment Promotion Foundation (SIIF), where he continues to be actively involved. In addition to practicing and promoting impact investment, he has also served as a member of various committees at the Cabinet Office and other government agencies.Partner Faculty, Graduate School of Management, Globis University
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Mizuki Oka
University of Tsukuba / ConnectSphere Inc.
Mizuki Oka
Researcher. Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba / CEO of ConnectSphere Inc.
She graduated from the College of Information Science, University of Tsukuba in 2003, and completed her doctoral program there in 2008, earning a Ph.D. in Engineering. That same year, she served as a specially appointed researcher at the University of Tokyo. After working as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems, University of Tsukuba in 2013, she assumed her current position. Her areas of expertise include artificial life and web science. Her publications include ALIFE: Toward AI More Life-like than Artificial Life (BNN Inc.) and Creating and Running ALife: An Introduction to Artificial Life Model Theory Through Implementation (O’Reilly Japan).
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Momo Inagaki
Keio University / Contemporary Artist
Momo Inagaki
Keio University, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies / Contemporary Artist
She was born in 2006. After graduating from Aichi Prefectural Asuhiya High School, she is now a freshman at Keio University's Faculty of Environment and Information Studies. Since high school, she has been recognized with multiple awards as a contemporary artist. She is currently creating artwork focused on the barriers women face in advancing their careers, with a solo exhibition planned for this summer.
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Na Kyumin
VCAT AI Corp.
Na Kyumin
VCAT AI Corp. Director
・State University of New York - Binghamton・2015: Established BlackRoom Inc.As CEO, led business strategy and service planning.In collaboration with major partner companies,managed mobile game development and live services.・2020: Held positions as head of live services and product management at Smilegate, Kakao Games, etc.・2024: Engaged in expanding the Japanese market as the business director of VCAT AI, Corp.・Has extensive experience in strategy, technology, and global business,and is currently focusing on business development in the APAC market.
