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Building a Global Network from the Regions
By building a network of entrepreneurs and investors from both Japan and abroad,
we aim to create growth opportunities for startups.

What is IIC?

IIC is an international convention on startups
organized through a collaboration between Iwate Prefecture and industry, academia, government, and financial institutions within the prefecture,
as well as a Singapore-based venture capital firm,
Insignia Ventures Partners.

Insignia Venture Partners Website

Information

● September 8, 2026 — Speakers Announced!
● September 8, 2026 — We’ve added a banner to the Excursion website and started accepting registrations.
● September 16, 2026 — The program, session topics, and participating exhibitors have been announced!

- Program -

October 29 (THU) 15：00~20：00 JST

Promoting Iwate’s “Startup Ecosystem Open to the World” to the Global Community

ウエルカムプラザホール

オープニングセッション

ファイヤーサイドチャット

17:30～17:45

SPONSOR INTRODUCTION

18:00～20:00

RECEPTION

鳳凰

レセプション

18:00~20:00

オープニングレセプション

October 30 (FRI) 9：00~17：00 JST

Sharing information from Iwate on initiatives in global startup ecosystems and entrepreneurs with global ambitions

ウエルカムプラザホール

オープニングセッション

ファイヤーサイドチャット

12:00～13:00

LUNCH / NETWORKING

13:00～14:30

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

(Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries; Healthcare and Health Tech; AI (Artificial Intelligence))

16:30～17:00

NETWORKING

*Click to view an overview of each session and information about the speakers.
*Please note that the program schedule and topics are subject to change due to organizational circumstances.

鳳凰

レセプション

18:00~20:00

オープニングレセプション

- Co-organizer -

Yinglan Tan
The Founding Managing Partner
Insignia Ventures Partners

Allen Chng
Vice President for Operations
and Strategic Development
Insignia Ventures Partners

- Session -

KEYNOTE SPEECH ▶︎

By fostering collaboration with global markets, particularly in Southeast Asia; building a support infrastructure to nurture growing companies and guide them toward going public; and exploring the potential of Iwate and the Tohoku region in light of global startup trends, we envision the realization of locally driven innovation and sustainable growth through an ecosystem that connects diverse stakeholders.

[Breakout Session 1]
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

This article discusses agriculture, forestry, and fisheries—the backbone industries of Iwate Prefecture—focusing on how startups are creating new businesses by leveraging local resources and technology, and expanding from the region to the global stage.


[Breakout Session 2]
Medical and Health Tech

To address the medical and healthcare challenges facing rural areas, this session will discuss how startups are creating innovative new businesses using deep tech—such as health tech—and expanding into global markets.

[Breakout Session 3]
AI (Artificial Intelligence)

He will discuss the value and industrial transformation brought about by AI-driven innovation from startups, as well as how it addresses regional challenges.

Hiroyuki Takahashi
President & CEO Ame Kaze Taiyo Inc

Takeshi Ebihara
Founding General Partner
Rebright Partners Pte Ltd.

Greg Krasnov
Founder and CEO
Tonik

Trasy Lou Walsh
Co-founder and CEO
Fluid

Yanan Wu
Founder and CEO
Surfin

Hidekatsu Take
Chairman of the Board ofDirectors,
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

Koichi Iwami
President & CEO, Elecom Co., Ltd.

Gen Nakahara
Resona Bank, Ltd.Senior
Managing Executive Officer



【第1分科会：農林水産業】

■登壇者
株式会社東北医工 代表取締役　
大関　一陽 氏
株式会社フィジオスバイオテック 代表取締役ＣＥＯ
三木　一郎 氏
株式会社クオントディテクト 代表取締役社長　
西塚　哲 氏
株式会社ＫＯＥＤＡ 代表取締役　
奥薗　徹 氏

■モデレーター
株式会社地域経済活性化支援機構 ＲＥＶＩＣ マネージング・ディレクター　
田中　雅範 氏

【第２分科会：医療・ヘルステック】

株式会社東北医工 代表取締役　
大関　一陽 氏
株式会社クオントディテクト 代表取締役
西塚　哲 氏
株式会社フィジオスバイオテック 代表取締役ＣＥＯ　
三木　一郎 氏
株式会社ＫＯＥＤＡ 代表取締役　
奥薗　徹 氏

【第３分科会：ＡＩ（人工知能）】

Ｄｅｆｉｏｓ株式会社 代表取締役　
近藤　鯛貴 氏
株式会社サステナ 代表取締役　
三井　康平 氏
株式会社ＬＩＧＨＴｚ 代表取締役社長ＣＥＯ　
乙部　信吾 氏
株式会社AthenaTechnologies 代表取締役　
阿部 武 氏

[Breakout Session 1: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries]

《 Speakers 》
Mikiko Makka, Representative Director, Executive Vice President, Kita-sanriku Factory Inc.
Mai Takahashi, Representative Director, Sott Inc.
Yukio Kanesawa, Representative Director, MOMIJI Inc.
Ryosuke Himeno, President & CEO, WAKU Inc.

《 Moderator 》
Taizo Otsuka, Advisor, Amekaze Taiyo Inc.

[Breakout Session 2: Medical and Health Tech]

《 Speakers 》
Kazuaki Ozeki, Representative Director, Tohoku Medical Systems Co., Ltd.
Ichiro Miki, President & CEO, Physios Biotech,Inc.
Satoshi Nishizuka, CEO, Quantdetect Inc.
Toru Okuzono, Representative Director, KOEDA Co., Ltd.

《 Moderator 》
Masanori Tanaka, Managing Director, Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC)

[Breakout Session 3: AI (Artificial Intelligence)]

《 Speakers 》
Takeru Abe, President & CEO, Athena Technologies, Inc.
Kohei Mitsui, Representative Director, Sustinere Co., Ltd.
Taiki Kondo, President & CEO Defios Inc.
Shingo Otobe, President & CEO, LIGHTz Inc.

《 Moderator 》
Takeya Obara, Representative of the Fukuri Group / President & CEO of TOPOLOGY Inc. / Advisor to ORIX Corporation (Principal Investment Division)

[Breakout Session 1]
 Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

《 Speakers 》
Representative Director, Executive Vice President Kita-sanriku Factory  Inc.
Mikiko Makka

Representative Director, Sott Inc.
Mai Takahashi

Representative Director, MOMIJI Inc.
Yukio Kanezawa

President & CEO , WAKU Inc.
Ryosuke Himeno

《 Moderator 》
Advisor, Amekaze Taiyo Inc.
Taizo Otsuka

[Breakout Session 2]
Medical and Health Tech

《 Speakers 》
Tohoku Medical Systems Co., Ltd. President & CEO　
Kazuaki Ozeki

Physios Biotech Co., Ltd. President & CEO　
Ichiro Miki

CEO,Quantdetect, Inc.　　
Satoshi Nishizuka

KOEDA Co., Ltd. Representative Director　
Toru Okuzono

《 Moderator 》
Managing Director,Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC)
Masanori Tanaka

[Session 3]
AI (Artificial Intelligence)

《 Speakers 》
President & CEO, Athena Technologies, Inc.
Takeru Abe

Representative Director, Sustinere Co., Ltd.
Kohei Mitsui

President & CEO Defios Inc.
Taiki Kondo,

President & CEO, LIGHTz Inc.
Shingo Otobe

《 Moderator 》
Representative, Fukuri Group / President & CEO, TOPOLOGY Inc. /
Advisor, ORIX Corporation (Principal Investment Division)
Takeya Obara

- OPENING SESSION -

Booth

Sponsor

Coming Soon

- Members-

- Outline -

Name

Date and time

Venue

Participation fee

Organizer

Co-organizer

Sponsorship

Operation

Iwate International Innovation Convention (IWATE IIC)

DAY1 2026/10/29 (Thu) 15:00~20:00
DAY2 2026/10/30 (Fri) 9:00~17:00

Morioka Grand Hotel (1-10 Atagoshita, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture)

JPY100,000 / Registration required

Iwate Prefecture (IIC Executive Committee)

Insignia Venture Partners


Sendai-Tohoku Startup Ecosystem Consortium
EO North Japan, General Incorporated Association

JTB Morioka Branch

Click here for directions to the venue

Contact

Iwate International Innovation Convention Executive Committee
(Management Support Division, Department of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Tourism, Iwate Prefecture)

10-1 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture 020-8570

TEL 019-629-5544

[Business Hours] 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

Inquiries regarding registration

Iwate International Innovation Convention Secretariat
(within JTB Business Transform)


TEL 011-222-2213

[Business Hours] 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

DAISUKE TANAKA

Deputy General Manager, Overseas Business Planning Department, Orient Corporation
/Director, Honest Financial Technologies International PTE Ltd

Career History
Born in 1974
Joined Mizuho Bank (formerly Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank) in 1997

From 2007, spent over 10 years at Mizuho Financial Group and Mizuho Bank engaged in the planning and enhancement of internal audit operations. Well-versed in corporate governance frameworks.

Since 2019, has been engaged in overseas retail banking at Mizuho Bank. Structured multiple startup financing deals

Assumed current position in 2022 (on secondment from Mizuho Bank). While responsible for planning Orico’s overseas business and managing its overseas operations, he structured an investment deal with Honest. He is currently providing management support as an outside director of the company.

NAOYA TAKAHASHI

Executive Officer Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.

He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in 1994 and joined the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Following the establishment of Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (JPX) in 2013,
he served as a public relations officer for the media, a sales promotion manager for ETFs and REITs,
a planner for listing systems, and head of the Human Resources Department. Since 2022, he has served as an Executive Officer at JPX Research Institute, Inc., where he is responsible for the planning, promotion, and management of stock indices and information services.

He has held his current position since April 2026.
He is in charge of listings, listing promotion, and the Carbon Credit Market Development Office.

TARO KAWABE

Managing Executive Officer, Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, Finance, Leasing & Real Estate Division Head of Domestic Operations Marubeni Corporation

Born in November 1967 in Tokyo

Joined Marubeni in 1990. His career highlights include a 10-year stint in the Finance Department, which included a trainee assignment in London. Since 2001, he has been involved in business investments and corporate management in the finance and leasing sectors, primarily in the United States.

Since 2020, he has served as Executive Officer and Head of the Finance and Leasing Business Division, and starting in 2026,
as Head of Domestic Operations, he will drive the expansion of the Marubeni Group’s business scope and improve performance in the domestic market.

His hobbies include golf, shogi, and reading. His motto is “No pain, no gain.”

GEN NAKAHARA

Resona Bank, Ltd.Senior
Managing Executive Officer

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in 1990, he joined the Bank of Tokyo.
After earning an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, he worked in the fixed-income and capital markets and investment banking divisions at Tokyo Mitsubishi Securities and Merrill Lynch Japan Securities, where he gained extensive experience in corporate finance and advisory services for financial institutions.
He joined the Resona Group in 2016. After overseeing management strategy and group operations in the Group Strategy Department and the Management Control Department, he led the Solution Business Department, the Business Succession Solutions Sales Department, and the International Business Department, driving the strengthening of corporate solutions and business succession services.
Effective April 2025, he will serve as Senior Managing Executive Officer of Resona Bank, overseeing the International Business Division, while also serving as an Executive Officer of Resona Holdings, responsible for Group International Business Planning. With many years of experience in domestic and international financial and capital markets as well as corporate strategy, he possesses deep expertise in global business and corporate value enhancement.

KOICHI IWAMI

President & CEO ELECOM Co., Ltd.

Born in 1967.
After completing a master’s degree in agricultural economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he worked at Ajinomoto before joining Transcosmos in 2001.
He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2002 and became Executive Vice President in 2006, driving the company’s growth. He joined Elecom in 2023 as Executive Vice President and has held his current position since 2024.
Guided by the principles of “Staying on the Right Path” and “Management Is About Execution,” he is driving the company’s global business expansion, launching B2B solution businesses, and promoting strategic M&A to expand the company’s new growth areas.
While placing the improvement of customer and employee satisfaction at the core of management, he continues to take on new challenges to realize the company’s purpose, “Better Being.”

HIDEKATSU TAKE

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Nagoya University in 1988 and joined the Industrial Bank of Japan.
After joining the bank, he worked in international operations and planning, gaining extensive experience in overseas business through assignments in the Americas and the Asia-Oceania
regions.
At Mizuho Financial Group, he held positions including General Manager of Group Planning, General Manager of Strategic Planning,
Deputy Executive Officer in charge of the Americas, Head of the Asia-Oceania Regional Headquarters, Head of the Large Corporations,
Finance, and Public Sector Company, and Head of the Global Corporate Company,
among others. He assumed the position of Director and Executive Vice President (Representative Executive Officer) in 2024, and became
Chairman of the Board in 2026.
He has business experience with Japanese large corporations, medium-sized companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as with global companies in the Americas and the Asia-Oceania
regions. Through his experience in corporate planning and strategy formulation,
as well as in roles such as head of companies overseeing the overseas business operations of major domestic corporations,
he possesses deep insight into global business.


Yanan Wu

Founder and CEO Surfin

Dr Wu is CEO and Founder of Surfin Meta Digital Technology (SMDT) Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered financial technology solutions provider for the underserved.
He began his career as a research scientist in the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center and the Los Alamos National Lab, before moving into the financial sector. Dr Wu worked at TD Bank for 13 years as a senior portfolio manager, managing $30 billion in AUM for global asset allocation, before moving to Citic-Prudential as Head of Quantitative Investment Director in Asia, where he managed $4 billion in AUM. SMDT was founded in 2017.


Trasy Lou Walsh

Co-founder and CEO Fluid

Co-founder and CEO of Fluid, a B2B payment fintech company based in Singapore.

Prior to founding Fluid, he served as Regional General Manager at Atome, a BNPL (buy now, pay later) startup.

He also served as Head of Restaurant Operations for Uber Eats in the Asia-Pacific region. He holds an MBA from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School and has completed an executive education program at Harvard Business School.


Greg Krasnov

Founder and CEO Tonik

Greg Krasnov is the Founder and CEO of Tonik, the Philippines’ pioneering first digital bank and one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling fintech success stories. Drawing on more than two decades of founder experience in emerging markets consumer banking and fintech, Krasnov built Tonik around a clear conviction: digital banking in emerging markets can create significant value by solving the underserved consumer-credit problem.
Since launching in 2021, Tonik has scaled rapidly, surpassing three million customers onboarded so far. More importantly, Tonik has prioritized sustainable unit economics over vanity metrics, building the business on the basis of a credit-led financial inclusion model supported by data and AI-driven underwriting. This strategy has produced annualized revenue run-rate exceeding US$60 million as of Q1 2026, while registering a 5x loan portfolio growth in 2024-25 period.
In 2026, Tonik reached a defining milestone by becoming the first standalone digital bank in the Philippines to achieve cash flow profitability. With lending generating roughly 99% of revenue and a highly efficient balance sheet, Tonik demonstrated an ability to turn a bold thesis into a scalable, profitable financial institution well ahead of the typical neobank timeframes.

TAKESHI　EBIHARA

Founding General Partner Rebright Partners Pte Ltd.

Born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Currently resides in Singapore.

In 2008, he founded Libraite Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in investments in startups in Southeast Asia and India.

Notable portfolio companies include Bukalapak, Indonesia’s largest publicly traded company (sole lead investor in the initial funding round); Coins.Ph, which became the largest startup M&A deal in the Philippines (co-lead investor in the initial funding round); and a number of Indian unicorn companies.

After beginning his career in 1994 at JAFCO, a major Japanese VC/PE firm, he has been involved in startup investment and management for over 30 years.

YUKINORI SHITAUTSUBO

CEO Kita-Sanriku Factory INC.

Born in Iwate Prefecture in 1980.
In 2018, he founded the company and, in collaboration with Hokkaido University and other industry, government, and academic partners, established a “regenerative aquaculture technology” that uses proprietary methods to improve the quality of sea urchins—which typically have low meat content due to reef degradation—through a collaborative effort involving industry, government, and academia.

In 2025, he was selected as one of Forbes JAPAN’s “25 People Shining a Light on the Future of Food.”
In 2026, he launched “UNI-VERSE Site™ Hirono,” a land-based sea urchin aquaculture facility, in Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture.
Based in Japan and Australia, he serves as a standard-bearer for the “Blue Economy”—which balances environmental conservation with industrial development—
and is leading the way in building a global sea urchin supply network and restoring the oceans.

FUMITO　MATSUDA

Co-CEO Heralbony Co., Ltd.

He worked on reconstruction efforts in disaster-stricken areas at a general contractor before co-founding Heralbony with his twin brother, Takaya Matsuda.

Taking the name “Heralbony”—a mysterious word written by his older brother Shota, who is four years his senior, during elementary school—as the company name, he is taking on the challenge of creating a new culture rooted in social welfare.
He oversees Heralbony’s domestic operations, primarily in Iwate.
Resides in Iwate. He is the older twin brother.

Selected for Forbes JAPAN’s “CULTURE-PRENEURS 30” and recipient of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Newcomer Award in the Arts Promotion category at the 75th Arts Selection Awards.

Author of *Let Your Unique Radiance Shine: How “Heralbony” Is Changing the World Through Welfare and Art*.

HIROYUKI TAKAHASHI

President & CEO Ame Kaze Taiyo Inc

Born in 1974 in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University.

After working as a secretary to a member of the House of Representatives and in other roles, he was first elected to the Iwate Prefectural Assembly in 2006.
In the election the following year, he was elected with the highest number of votes for the second consecutive term.
After the earthquake, he ran for governor of Iwate Prefecture to be on the front lines of reconstruction, but lost by a narrow margin and retired from politics.
In 2013, he founded the NPO Tohoku Kaikon and launched “Tohoku Taberu Tsushin,” the world’s first information magazine featuring food that connects local producers with urban consumers, serving as its editor-in-chief.
In 2015, he established our company and assumed the position of Representative Director.
In December 2023, the company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market as an “impact IPO”—the first instance in Japan of a company founded as an NPO achieving a public listing.
In November 2024, he was appointed as an expert member of the “Council for the Creation of New Regional Economies and Living Environments” organized by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Headquarters for the Creation of New Regional Economies and Living Environments, and in June 2025, he became a director of the Japan Farm Stay Association, a general incorporated association.

[Breakout Session 3]
AI (Artificial Intelligence)

  • Speaker

    Takeru Abe
    President & CEO, Athena Technologies, Inc.

    After successfully completing the University of Tokyo GCI 2022 Winter program, he led research and development in the field of optimization as Chief AI Engineer at Matsuo Research Institute, Inc.
    In December 2023, he founded Athena Technologies, Inc., a company specializing in private AI for regulated industries.
    Focusing primarily on highly confidential sectors such as finance, electric power, and public services, the company has driven digital transformation (DX) projects for more than 50 companies within its first year and a half of operation.

  • Speaker

    Kohei Mitsui
    Representative Director, Sustinere Co., Ltd.

    Born in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture. Born in February 1983; age 43.
    With Takizawa City, Iwate Prefecture, as its primary R&D hub, the company provides ICT solutions—combining cloud, networking, AI, and IoT—as well as ICT services, including operational monitoring, to businesses and government agencies nationwide. In recent years, the company has focused on supporting the implementation of generative AI in business operations and has been working on AI applications rooted in local industries, such as the transition to smart factories in manufacturing and smart agriculture.
    As a Visiting Associate Professor at Iwate University, he teaches an AI course as part of the continuing education program and serves as an instructor for the Morioka City Project Manager Training Course.
    Director, EO North Japan *EO: Entrepreneurs’ Organization
    Steering Committee Member, Iwate Innovation Base (IIB)
    Director, Iwate Prefecture Small and Medium Enterprise Association

  • Speaker

    Taiki Kondo
    President & CEO Defios Inc.

    Born in 1977 in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
    Graduated from Iwate Prefectural Morioka First High School
    Graduated from Sophia University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering (Major in Control Engineering)
    2001: Joined Canon Inc.
    While working as a production engineering engineer (specializing in polishing technology),
    he served as the company-wide chief for 3D/CAD integration, deepening his expertise in IT infrastructure
    In 2011, while volunteering for one year in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, he resolved to start his own business, driven by a passion for regional revitalization
    That same year, he joined O2 Co., Ltd. Believing that “companies with solid technology are failing to succeed in business,” he developed various methodologies as a technical consultant to solve corporate challenges. He was involved in business reform efforts at over 300 companies
    Director and CTO (2016–2020), President and CEO (2020–2021)
    In 2014, he joined the management team at IBUKI Co., Ltd. (@Yamagata).
    As Group Representative,
    he turned around a small-to-medium-sized mold manufacturer that had posted losses for seven consecutive fiscal years ➡ achieving profits in six of the seven fiscal years and doubling sales.
    In 2016, he founded LIGHTz Co., Ltd. (an AI development venture) in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
    Developed proprietary AI technology (Brain Model Technology), dubbed “Hanchika®”
    Launched a business focused on supporting the transfer of technical expertise and building knowledge platforms
    Currently focusing on the “AI-Ready” field, which supplies tacit knowledge to generative AI
    Hobby: Attending live concerts by the electro-girl group “Perfume”
    [Awards]
    2017: Prime Minister’s Commendation, Japan Manufacturing Grand Prize
    Grand Prize in the “Manufacturing+ (Plus)” category (LIGHTz Co., Ltd.)
    2020: Encouragement Award, Mold Industry Technology Award (LIGHTz Shareholders’ Meeting)
    2022: Mold Technology Association Annual Awards: “Best Paper Award” (Individual)

  • Speaker

    Shingo Otobe
    President & CEO, LIGHTz Inc.

    Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Graduate School of Software and Information Science at Iwate Prefectural University.
    At the university, he conducts research on high-performance computing in edge computing.
    His research led to him joining Idein, Inc. as an R&D engineer in 2019.
    He later went independent and founded Defios, Inc. in 2021.
    Leveraging the company’s strengths in research and development, he provides AI technology to major convenience store chains, autonomous vehicles, factories, and other sectors, and is dedicated to the social implementation of cutting-edge technologies.
    I love seals and GPUs.

  • Moderator

    Takeya Obara
    Representative of the Fukuri Group / President & CEO of TOPOLOGY Inc. / Advisor to ORIX Corporation (Principal Investment Division)

    Born in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, he graduated from Iwate Prefectural Hanamaki North High School. After gaining practical experience in financial engineering, derivatives, and electronic trading systems at institutions such as the Industrial Bank of Japan (now Mizuho Financial Group), Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays, he expanded his professional scope to include business investment and corporate management.

    He currently serves as Representative Partner of Fukuri LLC, President and CEO of Topology Co., Ltd., and Advisor to ORIX Corporation (Business Investment Division). In addition to supporting corporate transformation and business growth as a director at listed companies and major corporations such as DHC and Mental Health Technologies, he also has experience co-founding and selling the business of Energy Grid.

    Drawing on his cross-disciplinary expertise in finance, AI and IT, business investment, and corporate management, he specializes in commercializing technology to create customer value, expand revenue, develop capital strategies, foster talent, and strengthen governance. He is also actively engaged in efforts to bring the knowledge and networks he has cultivated outside his home prefecture back to his hometown of Iwate.

[Breakout Session 2]
Medical and Health Tech

  • Speaker

    Kazuaki Ozeki
    Representative Director, Tohoku Medical Systems Co., Ltd.

    Born in 1962 in Yokohama Town, Kamikita District, Aomori Prefecture.

    After graduating from the Department of Electronic Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at Iwate University, he worked on hardware development for microcomputer-related products at an electronics manufacturer.
    In 2016, he became Representative Director of P&A Technologies Co., Ltd.
    He is leading the development of a rehabilitation robot for patients with hemiplegia through a medical-engineering collaboration with Iwate University and Tohoku University.
    In May 2022, he established Tohoku Medical Engineering Co., Ltd., based in Morioka City, and is working to advance technological development and the sophistication of local industries in the field of medical-engineering collaboration.
    This rehabilitation robot received approval from the national government as a medical device in 2025.

  • Speaker

    Ichiro Miki
    President & CEO, Physios Biotech,Inc.

    After completing a master’s program in the Department of Biochemistry at Kyoto University’s Faculty of Science, I spent 25 years conducting research on new drug discovery and development at Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. Subsequently, I supported universities, startups, and venture capital firms at JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency) and AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development), both national funding agencies. I also managed AI-based healthcare research at RIKEN (RIKEN, a national research and development corporation) and oversaw national projects at a deep-tech startup. At Ochanomizu University, I have served as an external member of the Research Ethics Committee for 10 years. In July 2024, she assumed the position of Representative Director and CEO of Physios Biotech Co., Ltd., a startup spun out of Kyoto University, where she is working to commercialize drug discovery tools utilizing MPS (Bio-Mimetic Systems). Separately, as the representative of Michiro Laboratory, a sole proprietorship, she provides consulting services in industry-academia collaboration.

  • Speaker

    Satoshi Nishizuka
    CEO, Quantdetect Inc.

    After graduating from medical school, he trained as a surgeon. He then worked on the development of new cancer treatments
    and biomarkers in both Japan and the United States. In 2021, he founded QuantDetect, Inc.,
    based on patented technology related to the ultra-high-sensitivity
    measurement method for cancer-derived circulating DNA (OTS-Assay) developed at Iwate Medical University. He is currently continuing research and development with the goal of bringing the OTS-Assay to market.

  • Speaker

    Toru Okuzono
    Representative Director, KOEDA Co., Ltd.

    After obtaining his medical license in 2005, he began practicing as a gastroenterologist specializing in endoscopic procedures. In particular, he specializes in minimally invasive treatments for biliary and pancreatic diseases using endoscopic ultrasound. To address the challenges he observed with medical devices in clinical practice, he founded KOEDA Co., Ltd. in 2022. Currently, the company is advancing the research, development, and commercialization of endoscopic treatment devices, with a focus on devices for endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis.

  • Moderator

    Masanori Tanaka
    Managing Director, Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan (REVIC)

    At Corporate Direction, he provided services ranging from strategic planning to hands-on support, primarily in the healthcare sector.
    After serving as an executive at the Institute of Applied Medicine (a non-clinical trial contract research organization) and A-Spine (a Taiwanese medical device startup), he joined the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan.
    Provided hands-on support at Meisei Shokai and Miyazaki Kotsu (as Executive Director in charge of restructuring operations).
    Following the dissolution of the organization, he co-founded IGPI (Management Co-creation Foundation Co., Ltd.) with Kazuhiko Tomiyama.
    At IGPI, he was involved in a wide range of activities, including business restructuring, strategies for renewed growth, technology-based business development, and support for the planning and execution of post-merger integration (PMI).
    In April 2013, he joined REVIC (Regional Economic Revitalization Support Organization Co., Ltd.) to support regional revitalization efforts.
    He currently serves as a full-time manager of a regional university fund, focusing on supporting the commercialization of science and technology. With numerous biotech ventures among his portfolio companies, he provides a wide range of support—from startup assistance to management guidance—for diverse university-spun-off ventures.

    Master of Science, University of Tokyo

[Breakout Session 1]
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

  • Speaker

    Mikiko Makka
    Representative Director, Executive Vice President, Kita-sanriku Factory Inc.

    Born in Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture.
    After gaining experience in store management at a major restaurant chain, he worked in human resources development and organizational building, including establishing an in-house corporate university education system and training managers.
    In 2016, he joined Hirono-ya Co., Ltd. (now the Kita-Sanriku Factory Group). He has been working to create new industries that utilize local resources, promoting regional brand strategies and overseas expansion in collaboration with local governments, domestic and international companies, and research institutions.
    In 2022, he established the General Incorporated Association moova and assumed the position of Representative Director. He is developing projects that balance environmental restoration—including seaweed bed restoration—with the revitalization of the local economy through food. Currently, at both Kita-Sanriku Factory and moova, he is working to realize “Regenerative Aquaculture”—a concept that utilizes underutilized sea urchins for regenerative aquaculture and promotes Japanese food culture and regional brands globally through collaborations with world-class chefs, airlines, and research institutions.

  • Speaker

    Mai Takahashi
    Representative Director, Sott Inc.

    Born in 1993 in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture. He grew up in Iwate for 22 years.
    After joining a major HR firm straight out of college, he served as COO at a consulting firm specializing in early-stage startups.
    Amid his days spent entirely devoted to work, he came to realize both the value of giving his all to the task at hand and
    the importance of “listening to his body,” leading him to found Sott, Inc. in August 2024.
    He holds a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Business Administration at Waseda University and is a certified Advanced Sleep Health Instructor.
    He was selected for the Reiwa 7 Morioka Accelerator Program.

  • Speaker

    Yukio Kanesawa
    Representative Director, MOMIJI Inc.

    I was born and raised in Ōtsuchi Town. My name is Yukio Kanezawa, and I am the CEO of MOMIJI Co., Ltd. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, I was working as a sailor, but I returned to Ōtsuchi Town after my mother went missing.
    My family ran a farm, and after suffering damage from deer one year, I decided to become a hunter and began culling harmful wildlife.
    While carrying out this “culling,” I began to wonder if there was a way to address the fact that we were taking these lives for our own convenience, which led me to start a game meat business.
    In addition to running my business with the desire to contribute to the community, I actively participate in local activities such as the volunteer fire department and the PTA.

  • Speaker

    Ryosuke Himeno
    President & CEO, WAKU Inc.

    He joined JXTG Energy Co., Ltd. (now ENEOS Corporation) as a new graduate. There, he was responsible for corporate sales of petrochemicals and the promotion of new business initiatives.
    He later joined SWAT Mobility Japan Co., Ltd., where he served as a project manager. In July 2022, he founded WAKU Co., Ltd. Drawing on his experience traveling to nearly 40 countries around the world, he has a strong interest in addressing social injustices and inequities occurring globally.

  • Moderator

    Taizo Otsuka
    Advisor, Amekaze Taiyo Inc.

    Born in Shiga Prefecture in 1977. He started his own business immediately after graduating from college and launched numerous web services. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, he met Hiroyuki Takahashi, and together they founded the NPO Tohoku Kaikon. To enhance the value of food by adding information and to build a sustainable food culture, they developed initiatives such as “Tohoku Taberu Tsushin” and “Pocket Marche.” In 2015, he established our company and assumed the position of Director. In 2024, he became a member of the Study Group on Social Impact in Agricultural, Mountainous, and Fishing Villages. In 2026, he became an advisor to our company.

▶︎16：00-16：30│ KEYNOTE SPEECH（30mins）

Ken Ebihara, CEO of Libraite Partners Co., Ltd., will give a presentation on the latest global startup trends and the potential of the Iwate and Tohoku regions.
Drawing on his experience supporting startups globally, he will explain the role startups play in fostering innovation and driving regional economic growth. Furthermore, while highlighting success stories from India and Southeast Asia and discussing the current state of Japan’s funding environment and ecosystem, he will explore the potential for locally driven innovation that leverages the strengths of Iwate and the Tohoku region, and outline the perspectives needed to foster companies capable of competing on the global stage.

    • Takeshi Ebihara
    Founding General Partner
    Rebright Partners Pte Ltd.

    Born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Currently resides in Singapore.
    In 2008, he founded Libraite Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in investments in startups in Southeast Asia and India.
    Notable portfolio companies include Bukalapak, Indonesia’s largest publicly traded company (sole lead investor in the initial funding round); Coins.Ph, which became the largest startup M&A deal in the Philippines (co-lead investor in the initial funding round); and a number of Indian unicorn companies.
    After beginning his career in 1994 at JAFCO, a major Japanese VC/PE firm, he has been involved in startup investment and management for over 30 years.

▶︎10.30(fri)15：30-16：00│
Japanese Capital and Know-How in Southeast Asia（30mins）

Focusing on the rapidly growing digital finance market in Southeast Asia, this event brings together leading figures from the fields of digital banking, fintech, financial institutions, and venture capital. Participants will engage in multifaceted discussions on the potential for overseas expansion leveraging Japanese capital and financial expertise, as well as growth strategies for the Southeast Asian market. This fireside chat will explore new forms of collaboration between Japan and Southeast Asia and the outlook for fostering next-generation innovation.

  • Speaker

    Greg Krasnov
    Founder and CEO Tonik

    Greg Krasnov is the Founder and CEO of Tonik, the Philippines’ pioneering first digital bank and one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling fintech success stories. Drawing on more than two decades of founder experience in emerging markets consumer banking and fintech, Krasnov built Tonik around a clear conviction: digital banking in emerging markets can create significant value by solving the underserved consumer-credit problem.
    Since launching in 2021, Tonik has scaled rapidly, surpassing three million customers onboarded so far. More importantly, Tonik has prioritized sustainable unit economics over vanity metrics, building the business on the basis of a credit-led financial inclusion model supported by data and AI-driven underwriting. This strategy has produced annualized revenue run-rate exceeding US$60 million as of Q1 2026, while registering a 5x loan portfolio growth in 2024-25 period.
    In 2026, Tonik reached a defining milestone by becoming the first standalone digital bank in the Philippines to achieve cash flow profitability. With lending generating roughly 99% of revenue and a highly efficient balance sheet, Tonik demonstrated an ability to turn a bold thesis into a scalable, profitable financial institution well ahead of the typical neobank timeframes.

  • Speaker

    Yanan Wu
    Founder and CEO
    Surfin

    Dr Wu is CEO and Founder of Surfin Meta Digital Technology (SMDT) Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered financial technology solutions provider for the underserved.
    He began his career as a research scientist in the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center and the Los Alamos National Lab, before moving into the financial sector. Dr Wu worked at TD Bank for 13 years as a senior portfolio manager, managing $30 billion in AUM for global asset allocation, before moving to Citic-Prudential as Head of Quantitative Investment Director in Asia, where he managed $4 billion in AUM. SMDT was founded in 2017.

  • Speaker

    Gen Nakahara
    Resona Bank, Ltd.Senior
    Managing Executive Officer

    After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in 1990, he joined the Bank of Tokyo.
    After earning an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, he worked in the fixed-income and capital markets and investment banking divisions at Tokyo Mitsubishi Securities and Merrill Lynch Japan Securities, where he gained extensive experience in corporate finance and advisory services for financial institutions.
    He joined the Resona Group in 2016. After overseeing management strategy and group operations in the Group Strategy Department and the Management Control Department, he led the Solution Business Department, the Business Succession Solutions Sales Department, and the International Business Department, driving the strengthening of corporate solutions and business succession services.
    Effective April 2025, he will serve as Senior Managing Executive Officer of Resona Bank, overseeing the International Business Division, while also serving as an Executive Officer of Resona Holdings, responsible for Group International Business Planning. With many years of experience in domestic and international financial and capital markets as well as corporate strategy, he possesses deep expertise in global business and corporate value enhancement.

  • Speaker

    DAISUKE TANAKA
    Deputy General Manager, Overseas Business Planning Department, Orient Corporation
    /Director, Honest Financial Technologies International PTE Ltd

    Career History
    Born in 1974
    Joined Mizuho Bank (formerly Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank) in 1997

    From 2007, spent over 10 years at Mizuho Financial Group and Mizuho Bank engaged in the planning and enhancement of internal audit operations. Well-versed in corporate governance frameworks.

    Since 2019, has been engaged in overseas retail banking at Mizuho Bank. Structured multiple startup financing deals

    Assumed current position in 2022 (on secondment from Mizuho Bank). While responsible for planning Orico’s overseas business and managing its overseas operations, he structured an investment deal with Honest. He is currently providing management support as an outside director of the company.

▶︎10.30(fri)15：00-15：30│ From Japan to Southeast Asia（30mins）

As advancements in generative AI significantly expand the possibilities for startups to expand globally, this session will feature Trasy Lou Walsh of Fluid, which operates an AI business in Southeast Asia; Ken Ebihara of Libraite Partners; and Ryotaro Tanaka of the Matsuo Research Institute.
They will discuss growth strategies for AI startups, the potential of the Southeast Asian market, and the challenges and approaches to collaboration needed to enhance global competitiveness.

  • Speaker

    Trasy Lou Walsh
    Co-founder and CEO
    Fluid

    Co-founder and CEO of Fluid, a B2B payment fintech company based in Singapore.

    Prior to founding Fluid, he served as Regional General Manager at Atome, a BNPL (buy now, pay later) startup.

    He also served as Head of Restaurant Operations for Uber Eats in the Asia-Pacific region. He holds an MBA from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School and has completed an executive education program at Harvard Business School.

  • Speaker

    Takeshi Ebihara
    Founding General Partner
    Rebright Partners Pte Ltd.

    Born in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Currently resides in Singapore.
    In 2008, he founded Libraite Partners, a venture capital firm specializing in investments in startups in Southeast Asia and India.
    Notable portfolio companies include Bukalapak, Indonesia’s largest publicly traded company (sole lead investor in the initial funding round); Coins.Ph, which became the largest startup M&A deal in the Philippines (co-lead investor in the initial funding round); and a number of Indian unicorn companies.
    After beginning his career in 1994 at JAFCO, a major Japanese VC/PE firm, he has been involved in startup investment and management for over 30 years.

  • Speaker

    Ryotaro Tanaka　Senior AI Consultant, AI Development Division, Matsuo Research Institute, Inc.

    He held positions as a management consultant at a foreign-affiliated consulting firm and as a business producer at a major advertising agency before assuming his current role.
    At the Matsuo Research Institute, he is engaged in AI consulting, coordinating joint research and proof-of-concept (POC) projects with corporations and local governments.
    He also serves as a speaker for input sessions and various lectures, delivering the latest AI trends and business insights.
    Major Projects at the Matsuo Research Institute (by Field)
    ・Finance: AI implementation, AX execution training
    ・Local Governments: AI implementation, AX execution training ・Chemicals: AI plant engineering development
    ・Finance: AI governance and control support
    ・Finance: App development support using generative AI
    ・NPOs: Lectures on business continuity in the AI era
    ・etc.

▶︎11：20-12：00│ KEYNOTE SPEECH（40mins）

Naoya Takahashi, Executive Officer of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc., will deliver a presentation on the development of a “comprehensive growth support platform” designed to assist startups and growing companies—from their early development through listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to enhancing their corporate value after going public. In addition to discussing the latest trends in capital markets and expectations for regional startups, he will explain the importance of a growth ecosystem in which companies, investors, financial institutions, universities, and local governments collaborate. He will also share his outlook on the growth and innovation of companies based in regions such as Iwate that are aiming to expand globally.

    • Naoya Takahashi
    Executive Officer Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.

    He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in 1994 and joined the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

    Following the establishment of Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (JPX) in 2013,
    he served as a public relations officer for the media, a sales promotion manager for ETFs and REITs,
    a planner for listing systems, and head of the Human Resources Department. Since 2022, he has served as an Executive Officer at JPX Research Institute, Inc., where he is responsible for the planning, promotion, and management of stock indices and information services.

    He has held his current position since April 2026.
    He is in charge of listings, listing promotion, and the Carbon Credit Market Development Office.

▶︎10：40-11：20│ KEYNOTE SPEECH（40mins）

Katsuhide Takehide, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., will deliver a lecture on the role of new financial institutions in supporting Japanese companies’ expansion into Southeast Asia.
He will highlight the value of Mizuho as an “ecosystem partner” that connects diverse stakeholders by leveraging the network and expertise the company has built globally. Furthermore, he will discuss the latest trends in the Southeast Asian market, the global strategies required of Japanese companies, and growth opportunities through co-creation with local companies and startups, offering insights for future business strategies.

    • Hidekatsu Take
    Chairman of the Board ofDirectors,
    Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

    He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Nagoya University in 1988 and joined the Industrial Bank of Japan.
    After joining the bank, he worked in international operations and planning, gaining extensive experience in overseas business through assignments in the Americas and the Asia-Oceania regions.
    At Mizuho Financial Group, he held positions including General Manager of Group Planning, General Manager of Strategic Planning, Deputy Executive Officer in charge of the Americas, Head of the Asia-Oceania Regional Headquarters, Head of the Large Corporations, Finance, and Public Sector Company, and Head of the Global Corporate Company, among others. He assumed the position of Director and Executive Vice President (Representative Executive Officer) in 2024, and became Chairman of the Board in 2026.
    He has business experience with Japanese large corporations, medium-sized companies, and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as with global companies in the Americas and the Asia-Oceania
    regions. Through his experience in corporate planning and strategy formulation, as well as in roles such as head of companies overseeing the overseas business operations of major domestic corporations, he possesses deep insight into global business.

▶︎10.30(fri)09：00-10：30│ Two Doors into Southeast Asia（90mins）

Set against the backdrop of Southeast Asia’s markets, which continue to experience population growth and economic expansion, leaders from Elecom and Marubeni will present their overseas expansion strategies, leveraging their respective business models. From the distinct perspectives of a manufacturer and a general trading company, they will explore strategies and new business opportunities for Japanese companies to achieve sustainable growth.

  • Speaker

    Koichi Iwami
    President & CEO, Elecom Co., Ltd.

    Born in 1967.
    After completing a master’s degree in agricultural economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he worked at Ajinomoto before joining Transcosmos in 2001.
    He was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2002 and became Executive Vice President in 2006, driving the company’s growth. He joined Elecom in 2023 as Executive Vice President and has held his current position since 2024.
    Guided by the principles of “Staying on the Right Path” and “Management Is About Execution,” he is driving the company’s global business expansion, launching B2B solution businesses, and promoting strategic M&A to expand the company’s new growth areas.
    While placing the improvement of customer and employee satisfaction at the core of management, he continues to take on new challenges to realize the company’s purpose, “Better Being.”

  • Speaker

    Taro Kawabe　Managing Executive Officer,Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer,Finance, Leasing & Real Estate Division Head of Domestic Operations Marubeni Corporation

    Born in November 1967 in Tokyo

    Joined Marubeni in 1990. His career highlights include a 10-year stint in the Finance Department, which included a trainee assignment in London. Since 2001, he has been involved in business investments and corporate management in the finance and leasing sectors, primarily in the United States.

    Since 2020, he has served as Executive Officer and Head of the Finance and Leasing Business Division, and starting in 2026,
    as Head of Domestic Operations, he will drive the expansion of the Marubeni Group’s business scope and improve performance in the domestic market.

    His hobbies include golf, shogi, and reading. His motto is “No pain, no gain.”

▶︎10.29(thu)16：30-17：30│ Iwate Social Innovation（60mins）

Leading entrepreneurs from Iwate will gather to discuss solutions to social issues, the growth stories of businesses that have expanded from Iwate to the rest of Japan and beyond, and their visions for the future, with Singaporean venture capitalist Allen Chun serving as moderator.

  • Speaker

    Hiroyuki Takahashi
    President & CEO Ame Kaze Taiyo Inc

    Born in 1974 in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University.
    After working as a secretary to a member of the House of Representatives and in other roles, he was first elected to the Iwate Prefectural Assembly in 2006.
    In the election the following year, he was elected with the highest number of votes for the second consecutive term.
    After the earthquake, he ran for governor of Iwate Prefecture to be on the front lines of reconstruction, but lost by a narrow margin and retired from politics.
    In 2013, he founded the NPO Tohoku Kaikon and launched “Tohoku Taberu Tsushin,” the world’s first information magazine featuring food that connects local producers with urban consumers, serving as its editor-in-chief.
    In 2015, he established our company and assumed the position of Representative Director.
    In December 2023, the company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market as an “impact IPO”—the first instance in Japan of a company founded as an NPO achieving a public listing.
    In November 2024, he was appointed as an expert member of the “Council for the Creation of New Regional Economies and Living Environments” organized by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Headquarters for the Creation of New Regional Economies and Living Environments, and in June 2025, he became a director of the Japan Farm Stay Association, a general incorporated association.

  • Speaker

    Fumito Matsuda
    Co-CEO Heralbony Co., Ltd.

    He worked on reconstruction efforts in disaster-stricken areas at a general contractor before co-founding Heralbony with his twin brother, Takaya Matsuda.

    Taking the name “Heralbony”—a mysterious word written by his older brother Shota, who is four years his senior, during elementary school—as the company name, he is taking on the challenge of creating a new culture rooted in social welfare.
    He oversees Heralbony’s domestic operations, primarily in Iwate.
    Resides in Iwate. He is the older twin brother.

    Selected for Forbes JAPAN’s “CULTURE-PRENEURS 30” and recipient of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Newcomer Award in the Arts Promotion category at the 75th Arts Selection Awards.

    Author of *Let Your Unique Radiance Shine: How “Heralbony” Is Changing the World Through Welfare and Art*.

  • Speaker

    Yukinori Shitautsubo
    CEO Kita-Sanriku Factory INC.

    Born in Iwate Prefecture in 1980.
    In 2018, he founded the company and, in collaboration with Hokkaido University and other industry, government, and academic partners, established a “regenerative aquaculture technology” that uses proprietary methods to improve the quality of sea urchins—which typically have low meat content due to reef degradation—through a collaborative effort involving industry, government, and academia.

    In 2025, he was selected as one of Forbes JAPAN’s “25 People Shining a Light on the Future of Food.”
    In 2026, he launched “UNI-VERSE Site™ Hirono,” a land-based sea urchin aquaculture facility, in Hirono Town, Iwate Prefecture.
    Based in Japan and Australia, he serves as a standard-bearer for the “Blue Economy”—which balances environmental conservation with industrial development—
    and is leading the way in building a global sea urchin supply network and restoring the oceans.

▶︎10.29(thu)15：00-16：10│ Opening Session（70mins）

  • Takuya Tasso　
    Governor of Iwate Prefecture

    March, Showa 63: Graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo
    April, Showa 63: Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    May, Heisei 3: Completed the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
    Subsequently, served as Second Secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Singapore;
    Science Division, United Nations Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
    Assistant Director, General Affairs Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and other positions
    October Heisei 8: Member of the House of Representatives (elected to four consecutive terms)
    Served as a member of the Budget Committee, the Constitutional Research Council, the Committee on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
    the Committee on Finance and Financial Services, the Committee on Economy, Trade and Industry (as an executive member), the Committee on Commerce and Industry (as an executive member),
    the Committee on National Security (as an executive member), the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Justice (as an executive member),
    and as an executive member of the Special Committee on Youth Issues and the Special Committee on Disaster Management, among other positions
    April Heisei 19: Assumed office as Governor of Iwate Prefecture; currently serving his fifth term
    October Reiwa 5: Vice President of the National Governors’ Association (until October Reiwa 7)

  • Yinglan Tan
    The Founding Managing Partner
    Insignia Ventures Partners

    Founded Insignia Ventures Partners in 2017
    Selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum from 2012 to 2017
    Venture capitalist named to Forbes China’s “100 Most Influential Chinese” list (2023)
    Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry
    ProEnterprise Panel Panelist (current position)