Nikkei SDGs Festival in NY 2023

Norichika Kanie

Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University

Norichika Kanie is also a representative of xSDG Laboratory, Keio Research Institute at SFC.
Before joining Keio, he worked at the Graduate School of Decision Science And Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Department of Policy Studies, the University of Kitakyushu.
He serves various committees and steering groups, including: a member of the SDGs Promotion Roundtable Meeting, established by the Japanese government under the SDGs Promotion Headquarters; a member of the Expert Study Group for the Promotion of SDGs by Local Governments for Japanese Cabinet Office. His research focuses on International Relations, Sustainability Science and Earth System Governance. He has participated in the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the common goals adopted by the United Nations, from the conception stage. He is a leading authority on the SDGs, and is striving to balance research and practice. His recent publication is 「SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals)」(Chukoshinsho, 2020) Norichika Kanie was appointed 15 independent scientists to draft the second quadrennial Global Sustainable Development. He received his Ph.D. in Media and Governance from the Keio University.

Kunio Ito

Chair of the TCFD Consortium / Director of CFO Education and Research Center, Hitotsubashi University

Kunio Ito was graduated from Hitotsubashi University in 1975, graduated from the Graduate School of Commerce and Management, Hitotsubashi University. In 1987, he was a Fulbright Research Fellow at Stanford University. He was a Dean of the Graduate School of Commerce and Management, Hitotsubashi University in 2002 and a Senior Vice President at Hitotsubashi University in 2004. He is also a President of Japan Investor Relations Association, the former President of Japan Accounting Association, Chairman of the Award of Creation of Corporate Value at Tokyo Stock Exchange. His representative works: Ito Review “Competitiveness and Incentives for Sustainable Growth: Building Favorable Relationship between Companies and Investors” Project’s Chairman (METI), Ito Report 2.0 “Committee on Long-term Investment (ESG/Intangibles) for Sustainable Growth” Chairman (METI). He works as chairman of “Japanese Version of TCFD” (METI), “Committee on SDGs Management and ESG Investment” (METI) and “TCFD Consortium.” Professor Ito serves as Outside Director of Toray Industries, Inc., Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Hideharu Maro

President & Representative Director, Toppan Inc.

1979: Graduated from Yamagata University Faculty of Engineering and joined Toppan Inc. Assigned to Yamagata Sales Office.
Subsequently held positions in Development Department of Packaging Division, Production Technology at Gunma Plant, and Production Control.

2002: Plant Manager, Sagamihara Plant

2004: Senior General Manager, Manufacturing Technology Department, Packaging Division

2006: Senior General Manager, Sales Department and Overseas Department, Packaging Division

2009: Director, Deputy Head of Kansai Division and Head of Living Environment Subdivision

2012: Managing Director, International Division

2013: Managing Director, International Division and Head of Singapore Branch

2016: Senior Managing Director, Corporate Planning Division

2018: Executive Vice President & Representative Director

June 2019: President & Representative Director

Toshihiko Ota

Mayor of Toyota City

Toshihiko Ota is Mayor of Toyota City, where he was born and raised. After graduating from Waseda University in 1977, he has been with the City of Toyota since then as an administrator. Prior to being Mayor, he had served as Director General of several departments, including Planning Department and Administration Management & Policy Head Office. His inauguration as Mayor was in February 2012. As an “SDG Future City” selected by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, Toyota City is promoting future-oriented initiatives aimed at creating new values and solving various issues under the slogan "Achieving Tomorrow’s Standards." In addition, the city has established various platforms to promote public-private partnerships in various fields utilizing "citizen power," "community power," and "corporate power," and is actively developing the city toward the achievement of the SDGs.

Noriyuki Yanagawa

Professor, Faculty of Economics, the University of Tokyo

Noriyuki Yanagawa received his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Economics, University of Tokyo. After serving as Associate Professor at Keio University, joined the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo as Associate Professor in 1996. Has been Professor in 2011. He also serves as an expert member of Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, Japanese Government, Member of Council for the Realization of a New Form of Capitalism, Chief of Center for Real Estate Innovation(CREI), the University of Tokyo, Representative of Fintech Research Forum at the Center for Advanced Research in Finance(CARF), the University of Tokyo.

Kazushige Endo

Director, United Nations Centre for Regional Development

Kazushige Endo assumed the position of Director of UNCRD in August 2018. Prior to this joining UNCRD, he was Deputy Director General of the Great East Japan Earthquake (11 March 2011) reconstruction projects in the Iwate Office, Reconstruction Agency of Cabinet Secretariat. He joined the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 1990, following his graduation from Kyoto University (Master of Transport Engineering). His career in Japan covers more than ten engineering positions at government headquarters, the national highway management offices, and local authorities. He transferred to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank, as Senior Highway Engineer, Transport & ICT Global Practice (Africa Region), (2012-2015), and has had varied experience in international development projects. He is a certified Professional Engineer (Japan) and APEC Engineer.

Tokuya Takizawa

Chief Sustainability Officer, MP-Markets, APAC Sustainability Leader, Japan CSuO, EY Japan

Tokuya Takizawa led the Advisory Division (RISK) of Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC from 2015 to 2016.
He led the Japan Business Services group in Europe from July 2007 to 2012.
He was based in our New York office from 1993-1994 where he was involved in the financial audits of US investment banks.
He had worked primarily on audits of Japanese and US listed companies and has led numerous financial due diligence engagements in Japan and worked closely with other EY offices around the globe on cross-border transactions.
He was a member of Accounting Principles Committee of the Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants for “Financial Instruments” and “IFRS”.
He is a global client service partner for a e-commerce company, consumer product company and automotive company.
He became the leader of the Sustainability and Long-term Value Promotion office in 2020.

Yasunori Ogawa

President and CEO, Seiko Epson Corporation

Yasunori Ogawa was appointed global president of Epson in April 2020 after a long career focused on developing Epson technologies, products and businesses. Born in Aichi, Japan, he studied engineering at university, and joined Epson in 1988.

Ogawa’s first task was to design TFT-technology-based image sensors for fax machines, after which he was assigned to the projector business where he was part of the team responsible for successfully commercializing Epson’s first business projector in 1994. He then spent the next few years building up the visual products business before being appointed COO in 2017.

In 2018, Ogawa’s career took a new direction when he was appointed director, executive officer, and then CTO responsible for setting the direction of Epson’s R&D and manufacturing technology. Then followed a stint in charge of the Wearable Products & Industrial Solutions Operations Segment before being appointed to his current role.

As president, Ogawa is very much focused on creating a healthy and open-minded corporate culture in which employees are free to express their opinions and maximize their potential. He believes the company should seek to understand the issues being faced by its customers and society, and leverage its unique efficient, compact and precision technologies to help solve these issues and therefore make the world a better place.

Mariko Tokioka

Founder and CEO, East Meet East, Inc

CEO and Founder of EME Hive, North America’s largest dating / live-streaming app for Asians. Serial entrepreneur Mariko received the Forbes Japan Women Award (most influential women in business, 2019) and is listed in 55 Women in Global Leadership (2016) by Forbes Japan. Quipper, an e-learning mobile app company which Mariko co-founded, was sold for $40m in 2015. Mariko sits as non-executive Board Director in Digital Holdings and Asteria, each listed in Tokyo Prime exchange. Mariko holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science and an MBA from Oxford University.

Alissa Miky

Founder and CEO of Cashi Cake Inc

CEO & Founder of Cashi Cake Inc. (dba : Misaky.Tokyo/ OoMee): Marine plant-based foodtech innovations start-up based in LA. Japanese social entrepreneur, youngest awardee of Forbs Japan 100 women, a member of Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle (YLC). Alissa is active as an influencer in both Japan and the US as an individual. The first Japanese woman to be selected for the U40 Program of the Milken Institute, the largest economic conference in the US. Alissa is also a news commentator on the TV news “Bankisha” viewed by over 15M people annually .

With the theme of the world's most advanced blue carbon and longevity and marine plants processing technology, Cashi Cake inc. develops the luxury handmade marine plant-based Japanese confectionery brand, Misaky.Tokyo, alternative plastic containers, and medical capsules. Scheduled in February 2024, the first marine-plant based functional gut-healthy beverage, OoMee, will be launched.

Koichi Sakai

ESG Fellow, Nikkei BP Intelligence Group

April 2023-Present
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
ESG Fellow

April 2019- March 2023
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
Publisher
Nikkei ESG

April 2018- March 2019
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
General Manager
Management Media Group

April 2018- December 2018
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
Publisher
Nikkei Business

April 2016- March 2018
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
Assistant Group Publisher
Business Group

Koichiro Matsumoto

Director, Global Issues Cooperation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Koichiro Matsumoto joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997. Koichiro was assigned various positions: Counsellor at the Permanent Delegation of Japan to the OECD, Counsellor at the National Security Secretariat, Senior Foreign Policy Coordinator at the Foreign Policy Bureau Policy Coordination Division, Director of the International Nuclear Energy Cooperation Division at the Non-Proliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division, and Global Communications Director at the Prime Minister’s Office. Since July 2022, Koichiro is Director at the Global Issues Cooperation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Joshua W. Walker

President and CEO of the Japan Society

Joshua W. Walker, PhD became President & CEO of Japan Society in December 2019. Previously, he worked at Eurasia Group, the world’s leading political risk analysis firm, where he served as global head of strategic initiatives and Japan in the Office of the President. Prior to that, he was CEO and president of the USA Pavilion of the 2017 World Expo in Astana, Kazakhstan; founding dean of the APCO Institute; and senior vice president of global programs at APCO Worldwide, a leading global strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. Before joining the private sector, he worked in numerous roles at various U.S. government agencies, including the State Department and the Defense Department. He is Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, and professor of Leadership and the American presidency at George Mason University and the Reagan Foundation. He was also Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and co-founded the Yale Journal of International Affairs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree from Yale University, and a doctorate from Princeton University. Dr. Walker grew up in Japan where his parents still serve as missionaries, came to the United States when he was 18, and is bicultural and bilingual.

Gillian Tett

Chair of the editorial board and editor-at-large, US, Financial Times

Gillian Tett is chair of the editorial board and editor-at-large, US of the Financial Times. She writes weekly columns, covering a range of economic, financial, political and social issues.
In 2014, she was named Columnist of the Year in the British Press Awards and was the first recipient of the Royal Anthropological Institute Marsh Award. In June 2009 her book Fool’s Gold won Financial Book of the Year at the inaugural Spear’s Book Awards.
Tett’s past roles at the FT have included US managing editor, assistant editor, capital markets editor, deputy editor of the Lex column, Tokyo bureau chief, and a reporter in Russia and Brussels.

Minoru Takada

Team Leader on Energy and Climate, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations

Minoru Takada is Team Leader on Energy and Climate, and the Head of the UN-Energy Secretariat, at the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. He coordinates strategic orientation, policy analysis and substantive support for intergovernmental processes on energy, including as the secretariat for UN High-level Dialogue on Energy, UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, UN-Energy, and SDG7 Technical Advisory Group. He leads DESA’s engagement on climate action, with a focus on strengthening synergies between climate action and the SDGs. Prior to this position, he served as the senior policy advisor on energy at the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General, instrumental in the formulation and adoption of SDG7 in the 2030 Agenda. He also worked with UNDP in Africa and HQs in NY over 15 years.

Junichi Fujino

ProgrammeDirector, Integrated Sustainability Centre Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Junichi Fujino received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tokyo, focusing on analysing the world’s energy system in the year 2100 (SDG 7). In 2000, he began his work at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and engaged in “Low Carbon Society Scenarios Research Project towards 2050” in Japan and Asia. He has participated in the government’s committee for Japan’s greenhouse gas emission reduction toward the 2015 Paris Agreement (SDG 13). Since the autumn of 2010, he has been a committee member for promoting the "FutureCity” initiative and has supported local governments in sustainable city planning. He has also served as a member for the “Urban Planning and Sustainability Committee” under the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organizing Committee, as well as the Chair of the “Decarbonisation Working Group”. Nowadays he has served as the acting chair of “Decarbonizing Leading Areas” by MoEJ since Jan 2022 (SDG 11). Currently, his focus is on supporting Asian countries/local governments in efforts to decarbonise and achieve the SDGs (SDG 17).
He has continued to join Climate COP since COP11 in 2005, UN High Level Political Forum in 2018 when he launched the first batch of Voluntary Local Reviews for Shimokawa town, Toyama city, Kitakyushu city, Biodiversity COP15 in 2022, and UN climate and SDGs synergy conference in 2019. He has been an IGES full-time researcher since April 2019.

Anais-karenin

Artist, Writer, Researcher

Anais-karenin is a PhD Fellow in Visual Arts from University of São Paulo (Brazil), and a Visiting Researcher (Sandwich Fellowship) and Teaching Assistant at the Department of International Culture and Communication Studies from Waseda University (JP). With a cross-cultural and transdisciplinary approach, she connects art, ecology, science and animistic knowledge systems, with special interest in post-colonial practices and Japanese Studies. She has lectured in many institutions as Oxford University (JP), United Unions University (JP), Kanazawa University (JP), Ochanomizu University (JP), Salamanca University (Spain), among others, and has essays and articles published in academic journals, books and art catalogs. Her artworks were exhibited in many art institutions and festivals, such as Yebizo International Festival for Arts & Alternative Visions 2023, Kunstverein Göttingen (DE), Paço Imperial (Brazil), The 5th Floor (JP) and was granted by QOL Award Paradise Air (JP).

Yumi Otsuka

Chief Sustainability Officer, Toyota Motor Corporation

As Chief Sustainability Officer at Toyota Motor Corporation, Yumi Otsuka is leading Toyota’s corporate mission “Producing Happiness for All” and commitment to helping build a sustainable society.
She joined Toyota as one of the first female career-track administrative new recruits. Since then, she has consistently demonstrated leadership in promoting diversity and sustainability at the front line of transformation, including “Diversity Project,” “Mirai (future) Project,” and creation of motorsports business.
She graduated from School of Law, Osaka University (Japan), and earned an MBA degree from Dartmouth College (USA).

Csaba Kőrösi

77th President, United Nations General Assembly

Csaba Kőrösi is a Hungarian diplomat currently serving as President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly. He was previously Director of Environmental Sustainability in the Office of the President of Hungary. In various government service posts for his home country, he was Deputy State Secretary responsible for security policy, multilateral diplomacy and human rights before being appointed Director of Environmental Sustainability in the Office of the President of Hungary. He was also the Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations and served as vice-president of the General Assembly from 2011 to 2012. During his tenure in New York, he was the co-chair of the intergovernmental process (Open Working Group of the General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals) tasked with producing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals at its heart.

Jimena Leiva Roesch

Director of Global Initiatives and Head of Peace, Climate, and Sustainable Development, International Peace Institute

Jimena Leiva Roesch is the Director of Global Initiatives and Head of the Peace and Sustainable Development Program at the International Peace Institute (IPI). A diplomat with 15 years of experience that negotiated the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and multiple resolutions in the Security Council. She has over 15 years of experience in multilateral organizations and the policy world and has written two renowned books on international negotiations. She regularly offers advise on the role of the private sector in the 2030 Agenda. She grew up in Guatemala and works closely with youth on peace and climate to support the world transition towards a more sustainable path. She also serves as expert for the Climate Governance Commission and is conducting a mapping project on leading states and initiatives on climate governance.

Lynn Wagner

Senior Director, Tracking Progress Program, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Lynn M. Wagner is the Senior Director of the Tracking Progress program at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). In this role, she oversees projects that seek to increase the accountability of decision making for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enhance engagement in SDG implementation, develop SDG indicator and reporting tools, and support SDG implementation.

Wagner began working with IISD in 1994 as a writer for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, and she continues to observe and analyze multilateral environmental negotiations with IISD’s flagship publication. She also served as the Senior Manager of IISD Reporting Services’ Knowledge Management Projects from 2012-2016, and edited IISD Reporting Services' MEA Bulletin from 2006-2011.

She received her Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and has taught environmental negotiation courses and led negotiation simulations at SAIS and the University of Nevada, Reno.

Norihiko Ishihara

CEO and President, VLC Holdings Co., Ltd.

Norihiko Ishihara (“Nori”) has top-notch capabilities and a strong background in investment in global multi sectors, start-ups and in professional management.
Nori is a representative director and CEO of VLC Holdings Co., Ltd. (listing company in Nagoya Centrex stock exchange in Japan, code 2467.NG).
VLC is engaging in providing a cumulating and solution service for cyber security and marketing related businesses. VLC also has set up a joint venture with CyberGym, a world leading cyber security company from Israel.

He is the founder of Forbes in Japan. His private company named Sun Investment LLC has been providing investment and advisory services for international businesses and projects initiated by Japanese companies.
Additionally, being the founder of Miyako Capital, an investment management company and general partner of venture capital/incubation fund of Kyoto University.
He is an industry advisor of Catalys Pacific, which is a global biotech incubation fund.
Before starting the activities mentioned above, he has engaged in M&A advisory, financing and principal investment in Goldman Sachs Investment Banking Division Financial Institutions Group. Prior to that, he worked as project manager of the global fixed income and currency team in Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Guillaume Lafortune

Vice President and Head of Paris Office UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

Guillaume Lafortune is Vice President and Head of the Paris Office at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) – the largest global network of scientists and practitioners mobilized for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2017 he leads work on SDG data, policies, and financing including the preparation of the annual Sustainable Development Report (which includes the SDG Index and Dashboards). Between 2020 and 2022 Guillaume was a member of The Lancet Commission on COVID-19, where he coordinated the taskforces on “Fiscal Policy and Financial Markets” and “Green Recovery”, and co-authored the final report of the Commission. Previously, he served as an economist at the OECD in Paris and at the Ministry of Economic Development in the Government of Quebec (Canada). Guillaume is the author of 50+ scientific publications, book chapters, policy briefs and international reports on sustainable development, economic policy and good governance. He received several awards for his innovative contributions to public policy and sustainable development, notably in France and Canada.

Patrick Temple-West

Governance Reporter, Financial Times

Patrick Temple-West writes about corporate governance and securities regulations for the FT. Before he joined the FT, he was a reporter at Politico and Reuters.

Izumi Nakamitsu

High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), United Nations) (Video message; under negotiation

Izumi Nakamitsu assumed her position as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs on 1 May 2017. Prior to taking on this post, Ms. Nakamitsu served as Assistant Administrator of the Crisis Response Unit at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2014.
She has many years of experience within and outside the United Nations system, most recently as Special Adviser Ad Interim on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants between 2016 and 2017. She was previously Director of the Asia and the Middle East Division of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations between 2012 and 2014, and Director of the Department’s Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training, from 2008 to 2012.
Between 2005 and 2008, Ms. Nakamitsu was Professor of International Relations at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, where she also served as a member of the Foreign Exchange Council to Japan’s Foreign Minister, and as a visiting senior adviser on peacebuilding at the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Between 1998 and 2004, she was the Chef de Cabinet and Director of Planning and Coordination at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Nakamitsu was a member of the United Nations Reform Team of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. She also held positions with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including within the office of Assistant High Commissioner for Policy and Operations Sergio Vieira de Mello, and in UNHCR field operations in the former Yugoslavia, Turkey and northern Iraq.
Born in 1963, Ms. Nakamitsu holds a Master of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Law degree from Waseda University in Tokyo.
She is married and has two daughters.