- Working in the investment banking division at Lehman Brothers Securities, Yozo Kaneko gained invaluable experiences in fund procurement and mergers and acquisitions. Thereafter he was involved with the startup of a Japanese venture capital company in Singapore to conduct investment activities and fund procurement. Next Yozo became the only Japanese working at Draper Fischer Jurvetson in Silicon Valley, where was responsible for investments in the Asia Pacific region. In 2002 he established Upstairs Inc. and became its representative director and began providing incubation office services. In December 2004 Upstairs was sold to NETAGE Capital Partners, at which point Yozo became a director of the company. He now serves as a director of NETAGE Group. Yozo is also a graduate of Strategic Studies at the Fujisawa campus of Keio University.
- After working at KDD Corporation （Currently known as KDDI Corporation）, Kiyoshi Nishikawa next went to work at Arthur D. Little Inc. in the United States, where he became inspired to start his own company. After returning to Japan, he established a Japanese corporation of the world’s largest Internet company, America On Line, LLC. Later and based on this experience and the relationships he developed, he founded the first Internet business incubator, NETAGE, Inc. After serving as the President and CEO of NETAGE Group, he later became and still serves as the Chairman of ngi group, inc. Kiyoshi was one of the main entrepreneurs responsible for proposing and realization of “Shibuya Bit Valley Concept” and is well known for his various speeches and writings. He is a graduate of the Department of Education at Tokyo University.
- Satoshi Koike began working as an expatriate for a joint venture formed between Dentsu and General Electric in the early 1990’s, and worked in various job positions in the realm of IT, multimedia, and Internet projects in the United States. There he gained exposure to business investment in various Internet businesses as well as gaining experience in incubation and consulting services. Thereafter Satoshi took on the role of Vice President of iSi Dentsu of America Inc., before becoming CFO of the same company and CEO of Netyear Group, Inc. In 1998, Netyear Group, Inc. became an independent group through an MBO, and during the same year Satoshi was appointed as an external director. In 1999 the Netyear Group, Inc. was established as a corporation in Japan. In his career he has served in advisory committees of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Cabinet Office, and he currently serves as a Tokyo Chamber of Commerce International Economics Committee Member and the Chairman of the Information Services Subcommittee （Shibuya Division）. In fiscal year 2007 Satoshi served as the Representative of the Japanese Group participating in the Japan, China, Korea Young Economist Summit. As his work experience demonstrates, Satoshi can leverage his vast experiences in the IT and investment industries in Japan, the United States and China to help our Group achieve even bigger successes in its various businesses.
- Shinichiro Nishino has various professional experiences including his stint at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, venture capital investments in Silicon Valley and his participation in the creation of the search engine site “goo.” In 1998 he was one of the founding members of NETAGE and has served as a director of our Company since then. He was also the founder of Amazon Japan. He also serves as the Representative Director of Fujisan Magainze Co., Ltd., which is one of our investment companies and which operates the magazine subscription specialized site “Fujisan.co.jp.” Shinichiro is a graduate of Meiji University and holds an MBA from New York University.
- After completing his Masters Degree from Keio University, Yoshiaki Sakito entered Sony Corporation. Thereafter he worked at various companies including Bain and Company, Walt Disney Japan, and AOL Japan, before becoming President and CEO of livedoor Co., Ltd. He also served as Vice President and Representative Director at Apple Computer, Inc. In December 2006 he became an external director of our Company.
- Katsuo Nakayama worked as a CPA at Ota Showa Corporate Auditors （Currently known as New Japan Corporate Auditors） and is now the representative director of Nakayama Certified Public Accounting Office. In addition to being external director and auditor at various publicly traded companies, he also provides various listing support services to companies that are preparing to go public. In addition, Katsuo provides fund procurement and M&A consulting services to mid to small sized companies. He also leverages his knowledge and experiences in venture capital to organize a group of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. Katsuo currently serves as an auditor at ITFOR, Inc., Nippon Computer Dynamics Co., Ltd., Sogo Clinical Pharmacology Co., Ltd., and Fractalist inc.
- In 1967 he entered IBM Japan, where he worked as a system engineer working on various projects including the creation of systems for electric power companies. In 1993 he became the President and CEO of IBM Japan, and in 1999 he assumed the role of Chairman, and President of IBM Asia Pacific, being responsible for overseeing 19 different countries. In 2007 he became our supreme advisor. Also between 2003 and 2007 he was the representative of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. Currently Kakutaro also serves as an external director to Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
- In 1987 Mamoru joined Salomon Brothers Asia Securities （Currently called Nikko Citi Group Securities）, where he became managing director and was responsible for running the company’s trading book in Tokyo. In 1999 he joined the United States investment company Tudor Investment Corporation to help establish the Tokyo office and was responsible for establishing the private equity business. Thereafter he participated in the MBO of Tudor Capital Japan to create Asuka Corporate Advisory Co., Ltd. where he is currently the CEO. Mamoru is a graduate of the Law Department of Tokyo University.
- After working at KDD Corporation （Currently known as KDDI Corporation）, Kiyoshi Nishikawa next went to work at Arthur D. Little Inc. in the United States, where he became inspired to start his own company. After returning to Japan, he established a Japanese corporation of the world’s largest Internet company, America On Line, LLC. Later and based on this experience and the relationships he developed, he founded the first Internet business incubator, NETAGE, Inc. After serving as the President and CEO of NETAGE Group, he later became and still serves as the Chairman of ngi group, inc. Kiyoshi was one of the main entrepreneurs responsible for proposing and realization of “Shibuya Bit Valley Concept” and is well known for his various speeches and writings. He is a graduate of the Department of Education at Tokyo University.
- Katsuo Nakayama worked as a CPA at Ota Showa Corporate Auditors （Currently known as New Japan Corporate Auditors） and is now the representative director of Nakayama Certified Public Accounting Office. In addition to being external director and auditor at various publicly traded companies, he also provides various listing support services to companies that are preparing to go public. In addition, Katsuo provides fund procurement and M&A consulting services to mid to small sized companies. He also leverages his knowledge and experiences in venture capital to organize a group of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. Katsuo currently serves as an auditor at ITFOR, Inc., Nippon Computer Dynamics Co., Ltd., Sogo Clinical Pharmacology Co., Ltd., and Fractalist inc.
- In 1967 he entered IBM Japan, where he worked as a system engineer working on various projects including the creation of systems for electric power companies. In 1993 he became the President and CEO of IBM Japan, and in 1999 he assumed the role of Chairman, and President of IBM Asia Pacific, being responsible for overseeing 19 different countries. In 2007 he became our supreme advisor. Also between 2003 and 2007 he was the representative of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. Currently Kakutaro also serves as an external director to Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.
- In 1987 Mamoru joined Salomon Brothers Asia Securities （Currently called Nikko Citi Group Securities）, where he became managing director and was responsible for running the company’s trading book in Tokyo. In 1999 he joined the United States investment company Tudor Investment Corporation to help establish the Tokyo office and was responsible for establishing the private equity business. Thereafter he participated in the MBO of Tudor Capital Japan to create Asuka Corporate Advisory Co., Ltd. where he is currently the CEO. Mamoru is a graduate of the Law Department of Tokyo University.
