Speakers
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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.
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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.
Conferences
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Keiko Usami
bp Japan
Keiko Usami
bp Japan, Head of Hydrogen - Japan
Keiko has been taking the role as Head of Hydrogen Japan at Oil Major since Dec 2022 after her career in Mitsubishi Corporation. After joining Mitsubishi in 1993, she was assigned to automotive distribution business. Since 2000, has been dedicated to business development in various fields including lithium-ion battery manufacturing, sales of grid scale stationary battery energy system. During her role of being seconded in 2016 to Mitsubishi International GmbH in Germany as GM of Environmental Business and assigned as Head of Environmental R&D Office after coming back to Japan in 2019, she had a chance to cover Hydrogen and other environmental related businesses. A thought on The 100 Year-Life led her to a challenge to open a new chapter to work for an global oil measure.Inspired by her father as an engineer, she is a believer of technical innovation makes the world change and wish to promote Japanese technology to help change the world better.
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Keinosuke Takemori
Digital Asset Markets Inc
Keinosuke Takemori
Digital Asset Markets Inc Deputy General Manager of Corporate Planning Division
Currently responsible for business development in digital financial projects and cybersecurity resilience services utilizing blockchain infrastructure at Digital Asset Markets. Since 2021, I have been actively promoting Japan’s Web3 national strategy from the private sector’s perspective, working with JPYC, SBINFT, and SBI VC Trade. After graduating from Tokai High School and the Faculty of Engineering at Gifu University, I spent 15 years working in public sector roles at Juroku Bank and Ichinomiya City Hall in Aichi Prefecture. During this time, I became fascinated by technological innovation and moved to Tokyo to pursue new opportunities.
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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.
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Keizo Arinobu
QueryPie, Inc.
Keizo Arinobu
QueryPie, Inc. Japan Country Manager
I'm currently the country manager of QueryPie Japan.Having the experiences in thouse start up companies Bea(US), Plumtree(US), WingArc1st(Japan), SAP(Germany), Talend(France), MongoDB(US), ThoughtSpot(US).I have many and deep experiences of working for foreign-affiliated companies and Japanese IT startups. My hobby is cleaning, and he especially enjoys observing the growth (increase) process of the dust in the vacuum cleaner.
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Kengo Horiuchi
Carbide Ventures
Kengo Horiuchi
Carbide Ventures / General Partner
After working at a consulting firm and a securities company, I participated in the establishment of Treasure Data's Japan operations in 2013. As the Marketing Director, I was responsible for PR, Marketing and business development for the Customer Data Platform in the digital marketing field. In August 2021, I co-founded Carbide Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley and Tokyo, with fellow founding members of Treasure Data. We invest in startups, primarily in the U.S. and Japan, focusing on enterprise SaaS and are committed to enhancing the value of these startups.
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Kenji Nishitani
U-MAP Co., Ltd.,
Kenji Nishitani
CEO of U-MAP Co., Ltd.,
I completed his master’s degree in materials science and engineering at Nagoya University, where he researched quantum-structured solar cells under Professor Toru Ujihara.After graduation, he joined Valor Holdings Co., Ltd.In 2018, he joined U-MAP Co., Ltd., a startup from Nagoya University, and became its CEO.U-MAP developed the proprietary material “Thermalnite®” to address thermal issues in electronic devices.
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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.
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Kenta Takada
PLUS IMPACT Pte. Ltd.
Kenta Takada
PLUS IMPACT Pte. Ltd. CEO
Kenta Takada is a seasoned entrepreneur with a global perspective. His career began at Marubeni Corporation before venturing into the dynamic market of Myanmar, where he founded and scaled the food delivery startup "Hi-So." Navigating the challenges of the 2021 Myanmar coup, he made the difficult decision to withdraw the business, demonstrating his adaptability and strategic decision-making. Returning to Japan, Kenta has actively supported the startup ecosystem through organizations like 500 Global and STATION Ai. Currently, he leverages his international experience by connecting skilled IT talent from developing countries with companies in developed nations seeking remote engineering solutions through his Employer of Record (EOR) service.
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Kentaro Watanabe
SQUEEZE Inc.
Kentaro Watanabe
SQUEEZE Inc. VP , Head of Business Development ＆ Marketing
While studying at Chuo University in 2004, joined an advertising company within the GMO Internet Group. Became the youngest director in the group and later served as a representative director for 10 years. Successfully launched multiple businesses utilizing ad technology, expanding the organization to a scale of 100 employees. Joined SQUEEZE Inc. in January 2025 and assumed the role of Executive Officer, overseeing business development and marketing.
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Kim Byunghoon
K-Strartup Center Tokyo
Kim Byunghoon
K-Strartup Center Tokyo
My name is KIM byunghoon working in the Korea SMEsl and Startups Agency in Tokyo. I am currently supporting Korean startups entering Japan market as a director of K-Startup Center Tokyo. K-Startup Center Tokyo is a Korean government agency. And KSC Tokyo has selected 17 Korean startups and moved them into CIC Tokyo to provide office space and to support business expansion in Japan.
