Speakers
-
Junichi Saito
AGRIST Inc.
Junichi Saito
AGRIST Inc. CEO
Worked as a manager of service and product development at an IT venture company in Silicon Valley, USA. After returning to Japan, activities began with the mission of "solving local issues through business" in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. In 2017, became the representative director of the local trading company "Koyu Foundation". Raised a total of over 10 billion yen in donations through lychees that cost 1,000 yen each and hometown tax donations, and was selected as a national example of excellence. In 2019, founded AGRIST Co., Ltd. to solve agricultural issues. Received numerous awards both domestically and internationally, and was selected as one of the Forbes Asia 100.
-
Junichi Ushiba
LIFESCAPES Inc. Keio University, Faculty of Science and Technology
Junichi Ushiba
Professor, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University / President and CEO, LIFESCAPES Inc.
Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1978, he graduated from the Graduate School of Science and Technology at Keio University in 2004 with a doctorate in engineering. In the same year, he joined the Department of Bioinformatics as a research associate. Since then, he has served as a full-time lecturer ('07-), associate professor ('12-), and principal investigator ('14-'18) at the Keio Institute for Pure and Applied Sciences (KiPAS) before becoming a professor in 2022. He also serves as CEO of LIFESCAPES Inc. ('19-), a company that utilizes research results. He has received the “Young Scientist Award 2015 (Neuromedical Research by Brain-Machine Interface)” from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, as well as other awards. Focusing on the inherent “flexibility” of the brain, he aims to create technology that enables each individual to live a rich and humane life, and is involved in everything from basic research on brain-machine interface technology (BMI), which connects the brain and machines to assist physical movement, to applied research and the development of medical devices. The company is engaged in a full range of activities from basic research to applied research and the development of medical devices.
-
Kana Ito
Japan Nighttime Economy Association/Mori Building
Kana Ito
Japan Nighttime Economy Association/Mori Building
Kana currently does event planning and place making at the Town Management Department at Mori Building and does research and advocation of nighttime at the Japan Nighttime Economy Association. She used to be a city researcher at the Mori Memorial Foundation Urban Strategy Institute, and of consultations and policy proposals related to the nighttime economy at the Urban Policy Planning Office.
-
Kaname Hayashi
GROOVE X
Kaname Hayashi
GROOVE X CEO
1Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1973, he was involved in aerodynamic development for Formula 1 at Toyota Motor Corporation and participated in the "Pepper" project, an emotion-recognition personal robot, at SoftBank. In 2015, he founded GROOVE X and became its CEO. He develops and sells the family-type robot "LOVOT." He is also the author of the book Warm Technology: Stories of the Future.
-
Katsura Ito
National Personnel Authority
Katsura Ito
Commissioner of the National Personnel Authority
Katsura Ito is an accomplished strategic business leader in the software industry, with over 30 years of experience in various roles including Systems Engineering, Marketing, and Business Management. She is passionate about transforming traditional Japanese companies and organizations through digital transformation and fostering diverse talent. Katsura began her career at IBM Japan, then moved to Adobe Systems, and later joined Microsoft. At Microsoft, she held several leadership positions, including roles in Technology Evangelism, Startup eco-system, Sales, Customer Success, and ultimately served as Chief Learning Officer. In this capacity, she led digital skilling programs across Japan, supporting the digital transformation and modernization of numerous organizations and companies. In 2022, Katsura was appointed as a Commissioner of the National Personnel Authority (NPA), where she focuses on transforming government officials through digital skilling, promoting diversity, and innovating work styles.
-
Kazuo Wakamiya
Metaverse Creators Inc. / uni'que/ Fukuoka Women University
Kazuo Wakamiya
Metaverse Creators Inc. CEO / uni'que CEO / Fukuoka Women University Guest Prof.
After a career as an architect and art researcher, transitioned into the IT industry, launching numerous new business ventures at NTT Docomo and DeNA. Founded uni'que in 2017, a startup focused on creating women-led businesses through "everyone's side hustle" approach, which was recognized by Toyo Keizai's "100 Amazing Ventures." Established Metaverse Creators in April 2023. Serves as an external consultant for companies like Shiseido and is actively involved in art and diversity fields beyond business. Published works include How to Art Thinking and Art Thinking Drill. Visiting Professor at Fukuoka Women’s University and Associate Visiting Professor at Nagano Prefectural University.
-
Keiichiro Hirano
Author
Keiichiro Hirano
Author
Born in 1975 in Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture, and raised in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University. While still a student, he won the 120th Akutagawa Prize in 1999 for his novel Nisshoku (Eclipse), submitted to the literary magazine Shincho. Since then, he has published numerous works in a variety of styles that change with each piece and have been translated and introduced in various countries.His major works include novels such as Funeral, Takase River, Collapse, Dawn, Fill in the Blanks, Transparent Labyrinth, At the End of the Matinee, A Man, and True Intentions. His essays include How to Read Books: The Practice of Slow Reading, How to Read Novels, What Am I? From "Individual" to "Dividual", Thinking Reed, What Does It Mean to Be "Cool"?, On the Death Penalty, and On Yukio Mishima. In 2024, he published his latest work, Mount Fuji, marking his first short story collection in ten years.
-
Keisuke Fujii
Nagoya University
Keisuke Fujii
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University
He is born in Osaka City in 1986. After obtaining his PhD degree from the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies at Kyoto University in 2014, he worked such as a researcher at the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, and became an associate professor at the Graduate School of Informatics at Nagoya University in 2021. He received the Nagoya University Akasaki Prize in 2023. He is conducting research on the integration of machine learning and sports analytics, and has recently been working on the social implementation of this technology in collaboration with various organizations.
-
Kensuke Nishiji
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.
Kensuke Nishiji
Deputy General Manager, Business Co-Creation Investment Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Ltd.
Joined the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in 1999. After the long career in project finance, has engaged in various projects related to the transformation of bank’s business, including establishment of an infrastructure investment company and launch of ESG-related businesses. At present, engaged in equity investment in fields such as space, semiconductors, and GX. Serves as a director for two startups (SDS and DMP Axyz). As the leader of cross-division open innovation team in the bank, leading a number of innitiatives, including the creation of a startup ecosystem at Takanawa Gateway City.
-
Kota Machida
fabula Inc.
Kota Machida
fabula Inc. CEO
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, at the University of Tokyo. Spent childhood in the Netherlands and developed an interest in solving social issues faced by humanity, including environmental problems. Traveled to over 60 countries, with Venice being the favorite city. In the concrete research lab, worked on developing a new material made from food waste, aiming to make construction materials more sustainable and add value to food waste. In October 2021, co-founded fabula Inc. with Takuma Oishi and Daiki Matsuda, with the statement "Creating inspiration from waste," seeking to add value to all types of waste.
-
Kristina Yasuda
SPRIN-D
Kristina Yasuda
SPRIN-D
Graduated at the top of the class from the School of Political Science and Law at Sciences Po, Paris. In 2016, became the Director of the U.S. NGO InternetBar.org, where a new digital identity project was established to develop identification infrastructure in developing countries.Joined Microsoft in 2019 and worked on the international standardization of identification protocols, including decentralized ID. In the same year, was selected for Forbes Japan's 30 Under 30. In 2020, was also chosen for MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35 Japan.Since March this year, has been working as an Identity System Architect at Germany's Federal Office for Digital Innovation. The aim is to provide identification means to everyone by building infrastructure for decentralized ID services.
-
Lisa Mandemaker
Speculative Designer
Lisa Mandemaker
Speculative Designer
Lisa Mandemaker is a speculative designer with a strategic, contextually aware and critical approach to research and design. She considers speculative design as a tool for debate in the public domain. In collaboration with scientists, ethicists and researchers she crafts future narratives through designed prototypes, creating invitations to reflect on possible futures. Making impactful, topical work and creating strong interventions and conversation starters are key elements to her practice. The focus is on the socio-cultural and ethical impact of emerging technologies in the fields of reproduction, health and politics. Through the lens of Reproductive Futures, her projects are a call to action and a pursuit of understanding and shaping the impact of technology on our most fundamental aspects of life. Known for her contribution to the design of the prototype of an artificial womb, she received a spot on the annual BBC 100 Women List, listing the 100 most inspiring women of the world.
