EXPERTS

JAIDAC's EXPERTS

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EXPERTS

Takashi Murakami, Director

<murakami@jaidac.jp>

Received MBA International marketing and finance from Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and an undergraduate degree of economics from Hitotsubashii University in Tokyo. Using his extensive experience in overseas marketing and management, he is actively involved in business consulting in various industries, especially for SME’s, of inbound and outbound cross border business development, as well as serving as an expert advisor with JETRO for exploring sales channel in overseas market for manufactured goods and parts. Prior to joining JAIDAC, he acted as a general manager at Mitsubishi International Corp San Francisco and EVP with Diamond Generating Corp in US. Currently, he is a part-time visiting professor with Hosei University graduate school of business.

Reiji Aoki, Director

<aoki@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Economics Major. He served as many major posts in the field of travel and tourism business at Japan Travel Bureau (JTB), the largest Japanese Travel Agent. He led its restructuring and business innovation as Manager, Managing Director and Senior Managing Director. Later, assumed Chairman of JTB International Cultural Academy, an educational foundation. He engineered corporate identity program of travel business at JTB in alliance with a foreign business consulting firm. Currently under the National policy of Tourism Promotion, he is promoting travel and tourism business at home and abroad.

Koretsugu Kodama, Executive Advisor

<kodama@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Law Major. He joined Bank of Tokyo (former Bank of Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ). He served as General Manager of London Branch, heading U.S. operation in New York, and later dates, assumed a position of an Executive Director of the bank. After his career with the bank, he became President of JAIDO, and then CEO of Yokohama Park Hotel and a Senior Advisor for Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd. He is leading and actively involved in social welfare and other national projects through his strong ties and personal acquaintances with powerful politicians and influential business leaders in various fields.

Hiroki Yoshimoto, Senior Partner

<yoshimoto@jaidac.jp>

Received M.S. of Electronics Engineering from Waseda University. He worked for Mitsubishi Corporation for 22 years in Machinery Division with main focus on developing power plant and energy project, implementing turn-key solution and exporting railway transportation. He spent total 10 years in Chile and Argentina. After retiring from Mitsubishi Corp at the age of 47, he established the consulting company dedicated to support SME’s and venture companies in marketing and exporting. Recently, he led the project in promoting investment from Japanese companies for foreign government. He also conducted the project planning and executed feasibility study for various new projects overseas. . He acted as an export specialist with JETRO for 4 years in the area of environmental technology and machinery.

Makoto Kobayashi, Senior Partner

<kobayashi@jaidac.jp>

Graduated from Waseda University, Political Economy major.
He served as General Manager of Dalian Office and Vice-President of Mitsubishi Corporation China in Beijing for total 10 years. In 2002, he participated in JAIDAC after having long experience of investment, risk management, merchant banking and pension fund management at MC Head Office. With in-depth knowledge of legal, tax and accounting, assisting China business for various clients in the field of general and processing trade, establishment of legal entity, business scheme restructuring, labor issues, domestic sales, online business, internal supervision, intellectual property right, credit investigation, withdrawal, seminar lecturer etc. He specializes in drafting legal documents in Chinese (both in simplified and traditional). He also maintains close relationship with major Chinese companies of credit investigation, trade mark registration and marketing. He acted as an advisor of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) coping with the issues of penetrating to China utilizing Hong Kong channel.

Tadahiko Akutagawa, Senior Partner

<akutagawa@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Mechanical Engineering Major. He joined Mitsubishi Corporation and after many years of overseas experience, New York, Detroit and Seoul, served as General Manager of Automobile Parts and Equipment Business Department. Later he assumed a position of President of Nippon Jarrel Co., Ltd. Currently aggressively involved in businesses, such as assisting small manufacturers to increase their sales network and set up business strategies, assisting foreign embassies to invite Japanese companies to the respective countries and assisting foreign companies to promote their sales in Japan. His expertise is to assess the characteristics of unique products and to explore appropriate market.

Takashi Takahashi, Senior Partner

<takahashi@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Wasewda Univ. Electrical Engineering Major and joined Mitsubishi Corp. Project and Development Dept. and experienced many years of overseas services such as Real Estate Investment and Development Projects in U.S.A., Overseas construction projects such as Baghdad, Iraq downtown redevelopment, Consulting services for corporate relocation to overseas, Organizing economic aid projects in Peru, Bolivia, Philippine, Thailand, India, China, etc. and Operation of Mitsubishi Corp. general office in Borneo Island in East Malaysia. After retirement of Mitsubishi Corp., he joined Kodensha, electrical contractor in charge of business development in China. After retirement of Kodensha, joined JAIDAC to present.

Shozo Murase, Senior Partner

<murase@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Economics Major. He joined Sumitomo Corporation and experienced General Manager of Detroit Office, General Manager of Automotive Department No. 4 at Tokyo Headquarters and then assumed a position of the CEO of Sumitomo Corporation, Taiwan Ltd. Besides Detroit and Taipei, he stationed at Tehran for two years. After thirty-two years with Sumitomo, he assumed a position of the Managing Director (Board member) of the Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd. (KDD) and deeply involved in business development, marketing and sales development as General Manager of Osaka Regional Office. Also he served as General Manager of Tokyo Regional Office and President of KDDI Telemarketing Inc. His expertises are logistics, automotive, telecommunications and IT. He is qualified as a Career Consultant and deeply involved in customer services and Taiwan related businesses.

Katsuhiko Kobayashi, Senior Partner　

<kobayashik@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Economics Major. He joined Mitsubishi Corporation. He served as Manager, Machinery Department at San Francisco Branch, Vice President, General Manager of Pittsburgh Office of Mitsubishi International Corporation and General Manager of Wakasa Office of Mitsubishi Corporation. Loaned to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) as Senior Advisor for the State of Florida. He has been deeply involved in Regional Industry Tie-up Program between the State of Ohio and Saitama Prefecture as a coordinator. Also currently helping U.S. companies to enter Japanese market and other various business developments. His expertise is machineries in general, especially power plant business such as nuclear, fossil, geothermal, wind, etc. He is also knowledgeable in related project finance and investment.

Shizuo Kigawa, Senior Partner

<kigawa@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Commercial Science Major. He joined Tokyo Marine and Insurance (Presently Tokyo Marine Holding) and served as Vice Counselor of Sales Promotion Department. After his career with Tokyo Marine, he assumed a position of Director at Industry-University Coop System Research Center. Then he assumed a position of Counselor of Pioneer. Currently he is a Representative Director of PAX, Director of Chiba-Get-Along Service Corporation, Director of JSBIC (Small Business Industry-University Cooperation Support Center) and a Director of NPO foundation for aiming reconstruction of Edo Castle. His expertise is developing new market by his broad personal network. His main interests are education, culture and health related businesses. He is looking forward to supporting venture businesses and cultural enterprises in these fields.

Yukio Fukuno, Partner

<fukuno@jaidac.jp>

Graduated from Kyoto University, Economics major. Capitalizing on his experience and management skill centered on steel and metal industry. He led electronics and automobile parts manufacturers, steel product sales company as a top management. He has been recognized as an expert to carry companies to overseas markets for almost 20 years especially to US and Brazilian market. Currently, he is active in small business development program in Otaku, Tokyo to incubate entrepreneurial companies.

Masakazu Murao, Partner

<murao@jaidac.jp>

Graduated from Waseda University, Electronics Engineering major. He joined Mitsubishi Corporation and worked in various overseas offices; Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte in Brazil, Amman in Jordan and a General Manager of Doha in Qatar. He served as a president of 3-R Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp. whose core business was environmental and recycling business. His in-depth know-how and rich experience in project management for industrial project is a great asset to JAIDAC. He is currently helping foreign companies to introduce their new technology to Japanese market. Also assisting small manufacturers to increase their sales network.

Akihiro Shiki, Partner

<shiki@jaidac.jp>

Graduated from Waseda University, Engineering major. He started his career with Nikon Corporation and he experienced various responsibilities in the area of planning, sales and export of medical instruments. He also stayed in the Netherlands for 6 years as a sales manager for Europe. He served as a Nikon representative for national project of Subaru Telescope on the top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. He served as a general manager for Semiconductor Division. After retirement from Nikon, he actively works as an independent consultant for local government and major Japanese bank. His expertise is management, international trade and physical product distribution.

Fuminori Shigehara, Partner

<shigehara@jaidac.jp>

Graduate of Keio University, Economics major. Joined Japan Travel Bureau (JTB) and experienced General Managers of various major locations in Japan. Joined board members of JTB as director and later managing executive director of the company. Also served as CEO of JTB Traveland, Inc. Throughout of his career, he has strengthened strong ties with hotel industries, transportation companies and other local influential persons which is an important asset of JAIDAC.

Tsutomu Kajita, Partner

<kajita@jaidac.jp>

For over 30 years, he managed investments in the energy, power, and transmission line businesses. Recently, he actively acted a director of numerous public and private companies, including NYSE, Bursa Malaysia public companies. He extended his capacity in management for apparel, accessary, entertainment businesses. His recently commitment is to improve global environmental situation by reducing CO2 gases. Mr. Kajita joined the firm SIM-Drive Corporation which is developing the most efficient Electric Vehicles in the world. He earned a B.A. in Laws from Keio University and M.B.A. from Babson College.

Tomoaki Kuroiwa, Partner

<kuroiwa@jaidac.jp>

Graduated from Hitotsubashi University, Economics major. He worked for Mitsubishi Corporation for 27 years including serving as a general manager at Mitsubishi Thai with primary focus on textile and fashion industry. His experience is extensive ranging from cross border transaction and brand licensing to direct business development with GMS and other major retailers He has proven ability to develop and execute supply chain management and logistics system in the area of retail business After retiring from Mitsubishi, he launched the consulting company in 2003 and since then, he has a variety of track record in manufacturing industry such as LED and solar power generation as well as life essential goods. Recently, he assumed an export specialist with JETRO for apparel and fashion.

Osamu Takemoto, Partner

<takemoto@jaidac.jp>

Graduate from the faculty of economics at Kyoto University. After joining the General Merchandise Div. of Mitsubishi Corp., he engaged in the export, import, and domestic tradings and projects of Ceramics and Construction Materials industries. During working for Mitsubishi International Corp. New York Head Office, he built the functional division for the sale of Japanese steel casting equipment and developed the business with major steel manufacturers around America. After returning Japan, he, as a team leader of planning and development, he led the activities such as spin-off, domestic investment, M&A (in USA), and J/V for building plant overseas ( South Africa). During the same period, he participated in establishing the Imported House Industries Organization for promoting the import business into Japan, and as the first chairman of the planning and publicity committee, executed the open house projects and others. After the president of the company for imported house business, he founded Alma Global to work for educational service field. In April of 2011, he assumed an expert adviser with JETRO for traditional product industries.