RIKIYA KATAOKA
Representative Director of Saiken Consulting Inc.
After traveling around the world, he launched the YouTube channel “Crazy Honeymoon”, marking the beginning of his career as a content creator. He went on to successfully turn around and bring profitability to a hotel in Okinawa.
At the end of 2024, he founded “Buzz Juku,” a social media training program now with approximately 500 members. In 2026, he generated ¥60 million in sales in approximately one month through online content and social media.
As an expert in customer acquisition and monetization through social media, he now gives numerous talks and provides consulting services. He also currently runs the documentary channel “The Real Face of a CEO.”
HIDEKI KURIYAMA
Born in Tokyo in 1961.
After graduating from Soka High School and Tokyo Gakugei University, he joined the Yakult Swallows in 1984 as an undrafted player. He won the Gold Glove Award in 1989 and retired from professional baseball after the 1990 season.
Following his playing career, he worked as a sports broadcaster and served as a professor at Hakuoh University, among other roles. In 2012, he became manager of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, leading the team for 10 seasons through 2021 and winning the Pacific League championship twice. In 2016, he led the team to the Japan Series championship and received the Shoriki Matsutaro Award.
In 2022, he became manager of Samurai Japan, Japan's national baseball team. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he led Japan to its first championship in three tournaments.
In 2024, he was appointed Chief Baseball Officer (CBO) of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, overseeing the team's baseball operations and organizational management.
In 2026, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to baseball, he was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
RYOJUN SHIONUMA
1968 Born in Sendai-shi Miyagi, Japan.
1987 Entered the Buddhist priesthood at Kinpusenji in Yoshino, Nara.
1991 Started the Omine Sennichi Kaihogyo.
1999 Completed the Omine Sennichi Kaihogyo.
2000 Completed the Shimugyo (Fourfold Renouncing Practice).
2003 Built Jigenji Temple at Akiu, Sendai.
2006 Completed Hassenmai Daigomaku.
2021 Established RyoJun Shionuma Daiajari Fund.
IEHIRO TOKUGAWA
Born in Tokyo in 1965, he is the 19th head of the Tokugawa family, directly descended from Tokugawa Ieyasu.
After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University, he earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Michigan. He then worked at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome and at its Vietnam office, specializing in international economics and development policy. He later earned a master's degree in political science from Columbia University.
After returning to Japan in 2000, he worked as a translator and commentator on politics and economics, writing and translating extensively on economic thought, international politics, history, and institutional studies, while introducing major works from overseas to Japanese audiences.
In June 2021, he became Chairman of the Tokugawa Memorial Foundation, overseeing the preservation, research, and public presentation of historical documents, artworks, and other cultural assets passed down through the Tokugawa family.
In January 2023, he formally succeeded to the position of the 19th Head of the Tokugawa Family. Alongside protecting the family's historical heritage, he works to carry forward the spirit and culture cultivated during the Edo period into the modern era.
He also serves as an advisor to the Ryuuei Cultural Research Society, sharing the ideals and aesthetics of samurai culture developed at the heart of the Edo shogunate. As the founder of Edo Tokugawa Design (ETD), he is also involved in projects that connect historical heritage with contemporary design, continuing his work to bridge tradition and the future.
JIRO NISHIDA
Media Innovation Producer
Representative Director, Association for the Future of Television
CCIO, Shizuoka Shimbun and Shizuoka Broadcasting System
CCO, Eviry Inc.
Born in Osaka in 1965.
He joined Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation in 1989. After working as a director on the legendary late-night program “11PM,” he was involved in the launch and production of the long-running hit show “Downtown DX.”
After leaving Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation in 2025, he began expanding his activities beyond television, working across a wide range of fields.
At the age of 50, he made his major-label debut with Nippon Crown under the name “Nj.” He also hosts the popular FM Osaka radio program “Nj on the radio!”
SHO HAKUHO
The 69th Yokozuna in the history of sumo.
During his career, he set numerous historic records, including a record 45 makuuchi division championships, the most in the history of professional sumo, as well as the all-time record for wins in the makuuchi division. In 2021, five of his achievements were recognized as Guinness World Records.
He currently serves as an advisor to the International Sumo Federation and is President and CEO of Hakuho Dayan Sumo & Sports Inc.
Guided by the philosophy of “Bringing the world together through sumo, and delivering hope and happiness,” he is working to create new value through sumo. His initiatives include realizing the vision of a World Sumo Grand Slam, promoting international exchange through sumo, and nurturing the next generation.
FANTASTIC NEGRITO
FANTASTIC NEGRITO, whose real name is Xavier Dphrepaulezz, is a singer-songwriter from Oakland, California.
Despite living in an environment where he was constantly exposed to the risk of death, including being attacked with guns, he made his major-label debut. However, in 1999, he suffered life-threatening injuries in a traffic accident, forcing him to suspend his musical career.
In 2014, he made a comeback through street performances in Oakland, and in 2015, he won NPR's Tiny Desk Concert competition.
The following year, he released The Last Days of Oakland under the name FANTASTIC NEGRITO and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. He went on to win the same award for Please Don't Be Dead and Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?, making him a three-time consecutive Grammy Award winner.
Today, he is widely recognized as one of the leading artists of the contemporary blues scene.
YUJI MAEDA
President and CEO, SHOWROOM Inc.
Born in Tokyo in 1987. After graduating from Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics in 2010, he joined UBS Securities. In 2011, he moved to the company's New York office, where he worked in equity sales for institutional investors in North America.
In May 2013, he joined DeNA and launched the live-streaming platform SHOWROOM later that year. In August 2015, SHOWROOM Inc. was established as an independent company through a corporate spin-off.
In 2017, he published his first book, Jinsei no Shōsan, which sold more than 160,000 copies and became a bestseller. His more recent book, Memo no Maryoku, sold 170,000 copies within just two days of its release and has now surpassed 770,000 copies, including digital editions.
HIROAKI YAZAKI
Born in Tokyo in 1981.
After graduating from Keio University's Faculty of Economics, he joined Fuji Television in 2004. He directed the popular comedy program “Hitoshi Matsumoto no Suberanai Hanashi” and later served as chief producer of “IPPON Grand Prix.”
In 2024, he was involved in producing “FNS 27-Hour Television: Japan's Most Fun School Festival!”
He currently produces programs including “Atarashii Kagi,” “Nanika 'Omoshiroi Koto' Nai no?” and “Tsukkomi Star.”
“Atarashii Kagi” has gained tremendous popularity among children and teenagers, and he has been involved in some of the show's most popular segments, including “School Hide-and-Seek.”
KENICHI WATANABE
Value Designer and Narrativist
Representative Director of XPJP Inc., promoting value design projects.
Representative Director of Tatsumoto Inc., a company with 83 years of history.
He also serves as Planetary Design Director at Space Data Inc., Fellow at Red Cliff Inc., and Managing Member of Samurai Lacrosse LLC.
He is a Director of the Cool Japan Public-Private Partnership Platform (CJPF) and a Cool Japan Producer appointed by the Cabinet Office of Japan, as well as a Regional Revitalization Ambassador.
He holds academic positions at several universities, including Visiting Professor at Kyoto University of the Arts, Researcher at the Graduate School of System Design and Management at Keio University, Specially Appointed Professor at Nihon Pharmaceutical University, and Visiting Professor at Tohoku University of Art and Design.
He also works with local governments across Japan as a Future Co-Creation Ambassador, Policy Fellow, Regional Revitalization Advisor, and Digital Transformation Promotion Committee member.
His diverse projects include Table for Sustainability, the Islander Summit, EDO Green Economy, and BOZAI, an alternative meat product made from rice in collaboration with Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei. He is also the Executive Producer of SUSHI BLUE ELEVEN.