Tsukasa Ojima
Board Director,
AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd.
Board Director, AEON Bank, Ltd.
Masao Shimazaki
Deputy Director-General of the Strategy Development and Management Bureau,
Financial Services Agency
Takuya Yamazaki
Director-General Business Support Department,
Small and Medium Enterprises Agency (SMEA) Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry (METI)
Bruno Batavia
Director of Emerging Technologies,
Valor Capital Group
※The program and speakers might change without any notation, thank you for your understanding.
Shinsuke Waka
Executive Coordinator, Corporate Development Business Unit
Head of Digital Finance,
MITSUI & CO.,LTD.
Joined Mitsui & Co. in 1995. After serving as CFO of a commodity derivative subsidiary in New York, engaged in private equity, asset management, logistics, and corporate planning at the head office. Since 2022, leading the development of new digital financial businesses across the organization. Aiming to combine blockchain and AI technologies with financial services to expand Mitsui & Co.'s diverse businesses on a global stage.
Yoshio Hirako
Director, Executive Vice President, Executive Officer, COO
DeCurret DCP Inc.
Yoshio Hirako joined a Japanese mega bank after graduating from university. After an internet start-up, he led the launch of a bank for a major retail group and served as a director of its bank and card company. In 2013, he co-founded a fintech firm as Vice President. He later served as a director at an Indonesian commercial bank and led the turnaround of a crypto-asset exchange as President. He became President of MJS Finance & Technology in 2017 and MJS Executive Officer and CDO in 2021. Since May 2025, he has served as Executive Vice President, and COO of DeCurret DCP, driving new ecosystems with the tokenized deposit “DCJPY.”
Takashi Ueno
President,
Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management
He joined Mitsui & Co. in 2000. In 2005, he led Japan's first logistics REIT to an IPO and served as its inaugural CFO. From 2012, he was based in Silicon Valley, engaging in startup investments and gaining firsthand experience of technology-driven transformation. In 2016, he launched a second REIT as CFO and successfully took it public. Since 2020, he has held his current position. With a strong belief in making investment more accessible as Japan advances toward an asset-based economy, he founded ALTERNA, a digital securities–based asset management service, to redefine the relationship between individuals and finance.
Kentaro Imajo
Engineer,
Preferred Networks, Inc.
Completed the M.S. program in Intelligent Information Science at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University. Previously worked at Google. Has multiple papers accepted at top machine learning conferences, including AAAI, on modeling financial time series using deep learning. Represented Japan at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) and the ICPC World Finals, and founded AtCoder while in graduate school. Currently works on financial time-series forecasting and domain-specific LLMs, including PLaMo Translation and finance-specialized LLMs.
Tomoya Kitayama
Director and Head of the Solutions Division,
AlpacaTech Co., Ltd.
Joined Alpaca in 2015, serving as Head of R&D and CPO, where they led over 20 AI R&D projects for financial institutions. In 2020, they assumed leadership of the securities business, spearheading the development and launch of a U.S. fractional stock trading system and were appointed Representative Director (CEO). After the acquisition of Alpaca Japan in 2023, they oversaw the company’s Japan operations. Since returning to the AI business in 2024, they currently lead AlpacaTech’s solutions business, integrating financial data platforms with AI agents.
Lu Yin
Head of APAC,
Solana Foundation
Lu Yin - the Solana Foundation Head of APAC, focuses on partnerships, regulatory policy, and regional growth.
With over 20 years of experience within traditional finance firms in New York and technology startups in Silicon Valley, Lu has a unique and global perspective across finance and tech.
Go Makino
Sales Director,
Fireblocks Japan
Sales head of Japan at Fireblocks, leading initiatives with financial institutions on digital asset custody, tokenization, and stablecoin infrastructure, and driving strategic growth in the Japanese market.
Yuichi Ikemizu
Chief Director – precious metals specialist,
Japan Bullion Market Association
Born in 1962 in Hyogo prefecture. Graduated Sophia University in 1986.Ikemizu started his career in Sumitomo Corporation as a gold trader. 1990 he moved to Credit Suisse then 1992 Mitsui & Co., on to Standard Bank in 1996. He was the head of Tokyo Branch of ICBC Standard Bank until he left the bank in 2019. Ikemizu, known as Bruce in the market, will utilize his extended knowledge and relationships for the newly organized JBMA.
Tatsuya Yamada
Has been engaged in financial services, including securities, commodities, and FX, for approximately 30 years. Primarily involved in fund formation and domestic and international derivative transactions. Joined Newedge Group from Société Générale in 2008, where they were responsible for derivative transactions. From 2013, after joining Rakuten Securities, they promoted new service planning in corporate transactions, equity finance, and the FinTech division. In 2018, they were appointed President of Rakuten Wallet, Inc., where they spearheaded the launch of Rakuten Group's crypto asset exchange business and web3 initiatives. Serves as a Director of the Japan Crypto Asset Business Association.
Yoshinori Tatsumi
Director,
MITSUI ＆ CO. DIGITAL COMMODITIES, LTD.
Joined Mitsui & Co., Ltd. in 2015. Seconded to Mitsui & Co. Digital Commodities, Ltd. in 2022, and became a Director of the company in 2024.
Ryuya Nakamura
Executive Officer, General Manager of AI LLM Div.
LayerX Inc.
Ryuya Nakamura joined LayerX Inc. as a founding member and helped establish its R&D organization. He has promoted the social implementation of advanced technologies through contributions to Ethereum protocol development, proof‑of‑concept research on digital currencies and internet voting, and the commercialization of privacy‑enhancing technologies. He currently serves as CEO of the Ai Workforce business at LayerX, leading initiatives to drive enterprise adoption of generative AI. His recognitions include Forbes JAPAN “30 Under 30 2023,” certification as an IPA MITOU Super Creator in 2020, and the IEICE Internet Architecture Best Paper Award (co‑authored). He is also a Director of the Privacy Tech Association.
Tadd Yamamoto
Project Manager,Mitsui & Co.
MITSUI & CO.,LTD
Tadd Yamamoto joined Mitsui & Co. in 2007, primarily engaged in alternative asset management and venture capital businesses. He gained extensive international experience through assignments in Hong Kong, the US and the UK. Currently responsible for new business development in SaaS, AI and Fintech space. Also serves as a non-exective director at Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management and LayerX.
Yasufumi Fuke
Deputy General Manager of Sales Strategy Division
DeCurret DCP Inc.
Yasufumi Fuke joined a Japanese megabank after graduating from university, focusing on lending and business succession support for SMEs. He later worked in the head office credit risk management division, supporting internal policy development for market-based credit, credit management enhancement initiatives, and core system renewal projects. He then served as a coverage banker for regional financial institutions, providing consulting-driven sales. After around 12 years at the bank and experience at a Japanese consulting firm, he joined his current role, where he supports corporate adoption of digital currencies and develops business use cases.
Naohiko Ueno
Analyst,
TOYOTA Blockchain Lab
Naohiko Ueno
Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. He completed his graduate studies at Waseda University.
He is a member of the TOYOTA Blockchain Lab and serves as Representative CEO of AGICL.
In the mid-2010s, he encountered Ethereum and began researching smart contracts. He organized Japan's first “Token Economy” session at Keio University's Hiyoshi Campus. Subsequently, through his company AGICL and the TOYOTA Blockchain Lab, he has been engaged in research on DeFi, stablecoins, security tokens (ST), CBDCs, tokenized deposits (TD), and real-world assets (RWA).
He has continuously hosted the session “Cutting-Edge Technology and the Future of Payments” since the inaugural edition of “WebX,” Asia's largest blockchain event held every summer.
Masao Shimazaki
Deputy Director-General of the Strategy Development and Management Bureau,
Financial Services Agency
Mr. Masao SHIMAZAKI joined the Ministry of Finance in 1995. At the JFSA, he has held several key positions, including: Director of the Banking Business Division II (responsible for supervising regional banks), Director of the Corporate Accounting and Disclosure Division, Director of the Financial Markets Division (in charge of financial market regulation), and Director of the Resources Management Division (overseeing human resources). He assumed his current role in July 2025. His responsibilities include promoting fintech and supervising the fintech sector, including funds transfer services and crypto asset exchange businesses.
Abhinav Goel
Head of Client Solutions and Sales,
Partior Pte, Ltd.
Abhinav is currently based in Singapore and leads Client solutions and Sales for Partior. In this capacity, he oversees clients' journeys including commercial and central banks, from defining use cases to product integration. Before taking on this role, Abhinav gained extensive experience working with both global and local banks. He spearheaded transformative initiatives in Payments and Core Banking, requiring him to coordinate efforts across business units, technology teams, and regulatory bodies. Abhinav played a pivotal role in implementing Faster Payments projects throughout Asia, including notable projects like Singapore G3 Fast, Malaysia Duit Now, and Hong Kong FPS. Prior to his tenure in the banking sector, Abhinav served as a Payments Financial Services consultant to various banks and payment fintech companies such as ANZ, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of America. Originally from India, Abhinav holds an Engineering degree and a Postgraduate qualification in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. He is also a dedicated father of two, and he enjoys spending his weekends playing tennis and cherishing moments with his family.
Kunaal Patel
Head of Institutional BD – Asia Pacific & MENA,
Ondo Finance
Based in Singapore, Kunaal Patel currently leads institutional business development for Asia Pacific & MENA regions. Prior to that, Kunaal was leading Partior's global commercial business - a blockchain-based technology provider that is enabling the next generation of cross-border payments and value exchange. Partior was founded by J.P. Morgan, DBS and Temasek in 2021. Kunaal also held senior roles at R3, a blockchain enterprise software firm where he led the banking/fintech pillar for Asia-Pacific. The role involved helping central and commercial banks, exchanges, and Fintechs to leverage R3's technology for digital assets, trade finance, supply chain and healthcare. Before embarking on a career in Fintech, Kunaal was a seasoned investment banker for 12 years across tier one British, US and European banks such as Barclays, Lehman Brothers & Deutsche Bank.
Sakae Hamasaki
Deputy General Manager of Sales Strategy Division,
DeCurret DCP Inc.
Sakae Hamasaki joined Sanwa Bank (currently MUFG Bank) in April 1993 and worked in corporate banking across five domestic locations. From 2006 onward, he gained extensive experience in the planning, development, and sales of payment-related services for corporate clients in Japan and overseas.
He joined DeCurret DCP in 2022, where he has been leading initiatives to support banks in evaluating the adoption of tokenized deposits, as well as collaborating with overseas partners to build cross-border networks utilizing tokenized deposits.
Kazuma Hirai
CEO, BOOSTRY Co., Ltd.
He joined Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. in 2007, building approximately 15 years of experience in both sales and human resources. He was appointed Director of BOOSTRY Co., Ltd. in 2023 and became President & CEO in April 2025. He leads the development of next‑generation financial infrastructure powered by blockchain technology and drives innovation in capital markets through the advancement of security tokens and digital assets.
Takuya Yamazaki
Director-General
Business Support Department,
Small and Medium Enterprises Agency (SMEA)
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
After joining the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in 1996, he has been assigned to a wide range of policy matters including establishing National center of Incident readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) to enhance Japan’s cyber security, the Japan’s electricity market reform, and expanding RES introduction in Japan.
As Special Advisor to METI and the head of JETRO/JMC Brussels, he involved in the wide range of policy issues for facilitating Japan-EU relationship including trade, green and digital agendas from 2020 to 2023 stationed in Brussels.
After being dispatched to Chief Director of Digital Agency from 2023 to 2024, he served as Chief Director of METI from 2024 to 2025. In the current capacity from July 2025, he is in charge of developing business support policy for small and medium enterprises in Japan.
Bruno Batavia
Director of Emerging Technologies,
Valor Capital Group
Bruno Batavia is the Director of Emerging Technologies at Valor Capital Group, a venture capital firm based in New York focused on Latam and US-Brazil cross-border opportunities.
He also brings more than 13 years of experience working with innovation at Brazil’s Central Bank (BCB), where he led studies and initiatives with a particular focus on emerging technologies.
Most recently, he served as the Deputy Head for the Digital Real (Drex) Project, Brazil’s CBDC initiative, which earned the #1 global ranking in finance and #7 in the overall rank of Project Management Institute’s (PMI) “Top 50 Most Influential Projects of 2022”.
Bruno was also the coordinator of the Brazilian Tokenization Working Group, a joint task force between the Brazilian Central Bank and the Capital Markets Authority.
He served as the editor for workshops and publications focused on CBDCs, crypto assets, and tokenization. He is also the author of multiple articles and books on these topics, including the BCB’s first-ever working paper on digital currencies.
Bruno has been featured in the Global Government Fintech’s ’23 People to Watch in 2023’—a list that includes influential figures from government agencies, central banks, regulators, and multilateral organizations.
Takayoshi Otsuka
Executive Officer, Chief Innovation Officer.
Shizuoka Financial Group, Inc.
Takayoshi Otsuka joined Shizuoka Bank in 1989 and has since developed a distinguished career spanning strategic, operational, and international leadership roles. His experience includes domestic branch management and key responsibilities within the Corporate Planning Division, overseeing business planning and investor relations. He also served in the Bank’s overseas offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and New York, supporting clients’ global expansion and international financial operations. From 2016, he assumed several senior executive positions, including General Manager of Structured Finance, Treasury Department, and the Tokyo Office. In 2024, he was appointed Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) of the Shizuoka Financial Group.
Masashi Watanabe
Managing Director, Head of Digital Assets,
MUFG Bank
Masashi Watanabe is a Managing Director, Deputy Head of Digital Strategy Division and Head of Digital Asset in MUFG Bank, leading the Digital Asset Business Development team based in Tokyo, Japan.
He has been involved in the bank's business development for more than 25 years, including Transaction Banking, IT & Payments and Digitalization area, having worked abroad in London and Bangkok. He is also currently representing the bank in global projects such as BIS/IIF's Project Agora, GL1 and others.
Prior to his current role, he took part in developing a payment platform utilizing blockchain technology in Tokyo.
Tsukasa Ojima
Board Director,
AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd.
Board Director,
AEON Bank, Ltd.
In 1986, he started his career at Sanwa Bank. In 2005, Managing Director at Lehman Brothers. In 2012, he served as Senior Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division at Nomura Securities. In 2014, held the position of Senior Managing Director in the Wealth Management Division. Since 2022, serving as Executive Officer, the Head of Global Business Development and Branding at AEON. Currently, he is also serving as Board Director at both of AEON Financial Service and AEON Bank.
He graduated from Keio University, B.A. of Economics, and holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Takashi Tamaki
President and Representative Director,
Shinoken Group Co., Ltd.
Takashi Tamaki joined Shinoken Group Co., Ltd. in 2005 and has held a range of roles such as rental housing development and sales, planning, marketing, and property management. After being appointed to the Board of Directors in 2020, he oversaw the planning and administrative functions, including corporate governance. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2025.
Takashi Tagoshima
Sales Stratery Div Deputy General Manager,
Business Management Diz
Regional Community Project Manager,
DeCurret DCP Inc.
Takashi Tagoshima joined SMBC in 2003, where he worked on growth support for a wide range of companies, from startups to large enterprises. In 2018, he joined Japan M&A Center, engaging in the planning and sales of M&A advisory services for small and mid-sized companies.
He joined GMO Payment Gateway in 2023 and SBI Sumishin Net Bank in 2024, where he was involved in new business development in the payments domain, as well as alliances, investments, M&A, and subsidiary management. In 2025, he joined DeCurret DCP, where he works on supporting banks in the adoption of tokenized deposits, overseas new business initiatives, corporate planning, and product planning.
Akihiro Ishizuka
President and CEO,
Billing System Corporation
Akihiro Ishizuka is President and CEO of Billing System Corporation.
He has extensive experience in payments and financial IT, including cashless payments, billing and settlement services, and digital payment infrastructure. Before joining Billing System, he worked at NTT DATA Group, where he was engaged in payment systems, financial services, global business development, and strategy planning.
As CEO, he leads the expansion of “PayB,” a smartphone-based payment service, and promotes the digitalization of payments in public services, education, and healthcare, aiming to enhance Japan’s payment infrastructure and create sustainable growth.
Keitaro Mori
President and CEO,
Fast Accounting Co., Ltd.
Keitaro Mori worked at SoftBank Corp. before joining the establishment of Akamai Technologies Japan, where he later served as Head of Sales. In June 2016, he founded First Accounting, focusing on transforming corporate accounting through advanced technologies.
He believes that AI has evolved beyond being a simple tool and is becoming an “accounting worker” capable of performing at a level comparable to, or even exceeding, human accounting professionals. With this vision, he is committed to driving innovation in corporate operations and supporting the future competitiveness of Japanese companies through AI-powered accounting solutions.
Hiroyuki Murabayashi
Managing Executive Officer, Head of Marketing and Business Division,
GAMBA OSAKA Co., Ltd
Hiroyuki Murabayashi joined Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Group) in 2002. After working in overseas marketing for the consumer electronics business, he moved to the Olympic-related division in 2015, where he was responsible for business development. He subsequently engaged in sports business promotion, leading collaborative projects with Gamba Osaka that included digital marketing, branding initiatives, mascot development, and overseas strategy.In 2022, he was involved in the establishment of Panasonic Sports Co., Ltd., where he served in a business development role. Since 2023, he has been responsible for business and marketing at Gamba Osaka Co., Ltd., and has been in his current position as Managing Executive Officer, Head of Marketing and Business Division since 2024.
Takehito Matsuba
Chief Operating Officer,
Citadel AI Inc.
Previously, Takehito led the launch of Google Health’s Japan business. Prior to Google, he worked with Mitsubishi Corporation where he led investments, M&A, and new business development in the healthcare industry, and served as Director of North American Healthcare Business. He obtained an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Daisei Isomura
Head of e-Business Division
Third Financial Sector,
NTT DATA JAPAN
Daisei Isomura joined NTT DATA Corporation in 2000.
He has led numerous large scale system development projects for government affiliated financial institutions, building extensive experience as a project manager. From January 2018, he was responsible for mid term business planning and global strategy development across the financial services domain.
In August 2020, he was appointed General Manager of the Government Financial Systems Division in the Postal and Policy Finance Sector. From July 2021, he oversaw strategic planning for insurance related businesses.
Since July 2023, he has served as General Manager of the e Business Division, Third Financial Services Sector.
Yamasaki Takahiro
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR・GENERAL
HEAD OF PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS DIVISION
PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT,
BANK OF JAPAN
Mr. Yamasaki oversees planning and research activities in the Payment and Settlement Systems Department. In the area of cross-border payments, he is a member of the Targets Data Group under the G20/FSB, which is responsible for analyzing relevant initiatives for improvement. He assumed his current role in September 2025 after serving as Deputy Head of Japan's FATF delegation at the Ministry of Finance.
His professional experience also includes secondments at Mitsubishi Corporation and the European Central Bank. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.
Misao Watanabe
General Manager for Settlement Institutions,
Transaction Banking Coordination Department,
Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank
He has been engaged in the international transaction banking business for nearly 20 years. In the Americas, he oversaw the strategic planning and management of cash management businesses, achieving innovative product development and service expansion for local subsidiaries and multinational corporations. In Asia and Oceania, he promoted the establishment of business foundations in various countries, strengthened collaboration with local banks, and led organizational expansion. Since 2023, in his current position, he has taken on a variety of representative roles both in Japan and internationally, including Chair of the SWIFT Japan User Group, member of the Payments Subcommittee of the JBA, committee member of BIS Project Agora, and member of the CPMI-PIE Task Force. He leads public-private partnerships and industry initiatives aimed at achieving the G20 cross-border payments improvement targets.
Michinobu Kishi
General Manager
Transaction Business Planning Dept. Transaction Business Division,
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION
Michinobu Kishi is General Manager of the Transaction Business Planning Dept at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and as SWIFT National Member Group Chairperson. He also serves as Member of the Board of the Global Legal Entity Identifier (GLEIF).
He joined the Bank of Japan in 1991. His career included positions as Associate Director-General in the Payment and Settlement Systems Department, and Associate Director-General in the Financial System and Bank Examination Department. He left the Bank in 2022.
Mitsuru Kayahana
Head of East Asia, Swift
Mitsuru leads customer engagement and business development for Swift across Japan and South Korea. With 20 years of fintech experience—including 15 years at Swift in Japan and Hong Kong—he has held various technical and management roles, most recently as Head of Business Solution Architect for Asia Pacific.
Mitsuru is dedicated to advancing global interoperability and enhancing end-user experiences. He actively drives industry innovation by promoting global standards like ISO 20022 and fostering harmonization within the financial community to strengthen the region’s connection to the global ecosystem.
Shinji Kayakabe
Director, Swift
As a Director at Swift, Shinji has experience serving as the Account Director for Japan’s mega-banks and key government agencies. With over 20 years of experience in the Japanese financial technology sector, he specializes in guiding major institutions through critical transitions, including messaging interface transitions and the global migration to ISO 20022.
Shinichi Maegawa
Director, Swift
Shinichi began his career at a bank, where he worked overseas and was engaged in FX trading operations. Shinichi later gained experience at a Treasury Management System vendor before assuming his current role.
Today, he serves as the account lead for major Japanese megabanks and leading securities firms, supporting member financial institutions in their transformation initiatives.
Tadao Nagasaki
President, OpenAI Japan, Ltd.
Anna Mutoh
Head of APAC and Japan Strategy at OpenAI,
OpenAI Japan
Anna Mutoh is Head of APAC and Japan Strategy at OpenAI.
She spent 15 years at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo and New York, specializing in Japanese and Asian equity markets across program trading, sales trading, and institutional equity sales. She later led Prime Brokerage international sales at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York and was responsible for business development at pan-Asia hedge fund Indus Capital.
She subsequently became a business and investigative journalist for the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Anna holds an MS from Columbia University School of Journalism, and a BA from Duke University.
Kyosuke Tomoda
Representative Director and CEO,
Trust Co., Ltd.
He earned a master's degree from the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo and was honored with the Dean's Award for distinguished research in machine learning.
He previously led enterprise-wide data and AI initiatives for financial subsidiaries across a domestic major e-commerce group.
In 2023, he founded Trust Co., Ltd., where he leads the AI & Data Business Division, driving data- and AI-driven transformation through consulting and product development. He is also committed to establishing and scaling industry best practices.
In parallel, he contributes to the standardization of financial AI through his work with international and industry bodies, including ISO and Financial Data Utilization Association.
Shuya Suzuki
CEO & Founder,
Ippu Senkin Co., Ltd.
I hold a master’s degree from the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University.
I led numerous AI and data-driven projects for financial institutions at Nomura Research Institute, where I also worked as an AI engineer on model development and implementation.
In May 2024, I founded Ippu Senkin Co., Ltd., focusing on the development of on-premises, locally deployed generative AI environments and AI agents tailored for financial institutions.
I also contributed to the authorship of generative AI guidelines at the Financial Data Utilization Promotion Association (FDUA) and serve as a council member of the Generative AI Utilization Promotion Association (GUGA).
Haruo Narimoto
Partner,
TMI Associates
Haruo Narimoto has extensive experience in finance-related matters, including real estate and other asset finance, investment funds, and securitization. He has been deeply involved in Fintech matters such as crowdfunding and security tokens since their early stages. Based in both Tokyo and Singapore, he currently advises on a wide range of Web3-related projects, including real-world assets (RWA), crypto-assets, stablecoins, tokenized deposits, NFTs, DePIN, and token finance. He serves as a board member of the Japan Security Token Association and as legal advisor to the NFT Subcommittee of the Japan Cryptoasset Business Association.
Yuta Takanashi
Director for International Digital Strategy,
Financial Services Agency Japan
Yuta Takanashi is Director for International Digital Strategy at the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan. He leads policy work on crypto‑assets and stablecoins and contributes to the FSA’s engagement in the G20’s cross‑border payments initiatives. Previously, he served as a member of the Secretariat at the Financial Stability Board (FSB), where he led analytical and policy work on financial innovation, including crypto‑assets, decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
Noritoshi Murakami
Managing Director
Head of Transaction Banking Division,
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Noritoshi Murakami is the Head of the Transaction Banking Division at MUFG Bank, where he steers the strategic direction of global transaction banking products, including cash and liquidity management as well as trade and supply chain finance.
With over 30 years of experience in corporate banking and more than 15 years focused on global transaction banking, he brings a wealth of industry expertise to his role. Before his current position, he served as the Regional Head of Transaction Banking for Asia Oceania, spending three years based in Singapore.
Since 2021, he has represented Japan as a member of the Board of Directors at SWIFT.
Jonathan Greenstein
Deputy Under Secretary of the US Treasury
Yu Ozaki
Vice Commissioner for International Affairs,
Financial Services Agency
Nobuyasu Sugimoto
Deputy Division Chief,
International Monetary Fund
Nobuyasu Sugimoto is a Deputy Division Chief of the Financial Supervision and Regulation Division, Monetary & Capital Markets Department of the IMF. He joined the Fund from the Japan Financial Services Agency in October 2012, where his experience covers banks, insurance and securities. At the IMF, he has been involved in Financial Sector Assessment Programs and Technical Assistance. He also contributed to a number of Global Financial Stability Reports and is one of the authors of Fintech Notes (Regulating the Crypto Ecosystem and BigTech in Financial Services). He holds a Master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University (MBA).
Rosemary Lim
Executive Director of Payments Department,
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
Rosemary Lim is Executive Director of the Payments Department at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The department is responsible for the authorisation, ongoing supervision and policymaking in relation to payment systems and payment service providers, such as e-money issuers, remittance providers and digital payment token (more commonly known as cryptocurrency) service providers under the Payments Services Act.
Prior to her current appointment, Rosemary served as Executive Director for Southeast Asia at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board, which is responsible for the conduct of daily business and management of the IMF.
Rosemary studied Economics at the London School of Economics, and Finance at Imperial College, London.
Kohei Yano
Account Executive General Manager,
Helpfeel Inc.
Building on a background in banking and advertising sales, he joined Helpfeel Inc. in 2024 as a founding member of the cross-functional unit “The PODs.” He currently serves as General Manager, leading the acquisition of mega-scale projects and aligning business development with the core management strategies of major financial institutions. He focuses on driving sustainable growth through sophisticated operational design and process standardization.
Kazuya Okubo
Head, Policy and Partnership,
OpenAI Japan, Ltd.
2003–2020 – Served as a national government official in Japan.
2020 – Joined the World Economic Forum’s Japan office, responsible for Japan strategy and government relations.
2020–2024 – Joined Google Japan, leading work on cybersecurity, AI policy, privacy, and startup policy.
2024 – Joined Salesforce Japan, leading digital transformation initiatives in the public sector.
2025 – Joined OpenAI Japan, working with diverse stakeholders to advance the safe and trusted use of AI in Japan.
Yoshio Sakai
Unit Leader,
Innovative Communities Department,
Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Senior Assistant Professor,
Institute of Science Tokyo
Kenji Bansho
President, Representative Director,
Sony Financial Ventures
Executive Officers, In charge of Mid-to Long-Term Investment & AI Strategy
Since April 2025, he has served as an Executive Officer of Sony Financial Group, In charge of Mid-to Long-Term Investment & AI Strategy. He also serves as President and Representative Director of Sony Financial Ventures, driving startup investments and new business development in collaboration with the Group.
Shota Matsuzawa
Co-founder, Decima Fund
Web3.0 Business Expert,
Digital Agency Japan Government
After graduating from Waseda University in 2008, he joined Goldman Sachs as a new graduate and worked at the Tokyo and Hong Kong offices. He then worked in Hong Kong for Mitsubishi UFJ Bank and a family office of a conglomerate. He also participated in the launch of Everest Ventures Group, a venture studio specializing in fintech, and moved back to Japan in 2020, where he was in charge of fintech promotion at the Financial Services Agency. He is a co-founder of early stage VC called Decima Fund and also work at Digital Agency.
Keita Sekiguchi
Deputy Editor, Nikkei Financial
Editorial Division, Nikkei Inc.
Panel: The Future of Digital Finance Pioneered by Mitsui & Co. in Collaboration with Partners
~Building the Digital Financial Ecosystem: The Financial Business x AI x Blockchain Formula~
By fusing our long-standing financial expertise with advanced technologies such as AI and blockchain, we, Mitsui & Co. have pioneered new digital finance businesses, including gold-linked crypto assets ""Zipangcoin"", digital securities backed by Japanese real estate ""ALTERNA"", and commodity trading AI.
The first half of this session will feature Mitsui & Co. alongside our partners, Preferred Networks and AlpacaTech, to retrace the trajectory of these business creations. In the second half, we will welcome Solana Foundation and Fireblocks to deep dive into strategic insights and the path forward for Japanese enterprises.
Panel: Structural Change in Retail and Finance Driven by Tokenized Deposits
This symposium explores how tokenized deposits can reshape the structural relationship between the retail and finance industries. The discussion examines the tokenization of commercial transaction data, along with receivables and payables, as well as the programmable automation of payments and settlement.Through on-chain integration, the session highlights how tokenized deposits can drive operational digital transformation, enhance liquidity management, and enable new forms of capital circulation, while also addressing key practical and regulatory considerations.
Panel: Driving Local Economic Development with Tokenized Municipal Bonds and Tokenized Deposits
This session explores how tokenized municipal bonds and tokenized deposits can support local economic development by modernizing public financing and regional capital circulation. As regulatory discussions around the tokenization of municipal bonds progress, the panel examines key legal and implementation considerations, as well as the potential impact on local economies. From the perspectives of regulation, infrastructure, and payments, the discussion highlights the role of tokenized deposits in enabling the adoption and scaling of tokenized municipal bonds.
Lightning Pitch: Toward an AI-Native Future How OpenAI Japan Supports the Structural Transformation of Japanese
This session introduces how OpenAI Japan supports Japanese enterprises in becoming AI-native organizations. Drawing on global adoption trends and real-world enterprise deployments, it highlights the importance of building scalable, governance-ready AI foundations that enable company-wide transformation. The talk will outline how AI is shifting from isolated use cases to structural integration across organizations, while remaining aligned with regulatory and compliance requirements. It serves as an introduction to the deeper discussion in the following workshop, where the structural transformation toward AI-native operations will be explored in detail.
Lightning Pitch: Reinventing Development Processes in Financial Institutions with Trust TLanP
Lightning Pitch: Pioneering GenAI Governance: Citadel AI Joins Forces with a Leading Financial Institution
Lightning Pitch: Beyond FAQ Mastery: The Future Envisioned by Helpfeel
Helpfeel has been prividing an FAQ search tool since 2020, which is now utilized by over 800 sites. Amidst the rapid evolution of generative AI, the fundamental nature and value of knowledge are undergoing a significant transformation. This session explores Helpfeel’s vision for the future and the strategy for making it a reality.
Lightning Pitch: Protecting Data Sovereignty and Reducing the Digital Trade Deficit A New Option: On-Premises × Local Generative AI — AI Is Entering an Era of Hybrid Cloud and On-Premises —
Impact Pitch Final
A gathering of young startups demonstrating how their fintech products/services can solve such societal challenges. Eight startups selected from over 40 applicants delivered three-minute pitches vying for the top prize, the Nikkei Award. After facing rigorous questioning from the judges, which company will claim the crown?
Part 1：The Future of AI and Digital Finance Pioneered by Mitsui & Co. in Collaboration with Partners
By fusing our long-standing financial expertise with advanced technologies such as AI and blockchain, we, Mitsui & Co. have pioneered new digital finance businesses, including gold-linked crypto assets "Zipangcoin", digital securities backed by Japanese real estate "ALTERNA", and commodity trading AI. In this workshop, representatives from Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management and its joint-venture partner, LayerX, will discuss their recent initiatives and future outlook for Security Tokens and AI.
Part 2：The Future of Digital Assets: Lessons from the History of Precious Metals
This workshop will look back at the history of precious metals and discuss the future of digital assets with panelists who have deep industry knowledge.
Startup Showcase
Startups that unfortunately were not selected as impact pitch finalists, but are particularly ambitious and have high expectations for growth, will present their presentations.
Part 1：Transforming Corporate Treasury: Cross-Border Payments and Tokenized Money Market Funds（MMFs）
This session explores how blockchain-based infrastructure can transform corporate treasury for Japanese enterprises. Industry leaders discuss the evolution of cross-border payments through tokenized deposits, practical perspectives from a global bank, and the potential of tokenized money market funds to generate yield on idle liquidity. By connecting payment and liquidity management, the panel examines how corporates can improve efficiency, safety, and capital utilization in international treasury operations.
Part 2：Redesigning Engagement with Customers and Fans
This session explores how embedding tokenized deposits into existing business models can transform payments into richer customer experiences. Using real estate and professional sports as case studies, the panel examines how adding narratives and programmability to payments can reshape relationships between businesses and their customers or fans. The discussion highlights how recurring payment touchpoints and tokenized interactions can foster deeper engagement and create more continuous, value-driven relationships.
Part 3： A New Standard for B2B Transactions: Integrating Transaction Data and Payments
This session explores a new model for B2B transactions in which contracts, invoicing, and payments are seamlessly integrated in real time through the use of tokenized deposits. Moving beyond fragmented processes and post-settlement workflows, the discussion highlights how tighter integration between transaction data and payments can improve capital efficiency, operational efficiency, and risk management across B2B operations.
