NIKKEI Catalonia-Japan
Economic and Cultural Forum 2026
“Envisioning the Future of Catalonia-Japan Economic & Cultural Exchange”

Salvador Illa i Roca

President of the Government of Catalonia

Hiroshi Yamauchi

Ambassador of Japan to Spain

March 1987　Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Kyoto University
April 1987　Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
August 2003　First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Peru
January 2004　Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Peru
August 2005　Senior Coordinator, First North American
Division, Policy Evaluation and Administrative Review Division
April 2006　Director, Terrorism Prevention Division
August 2008　Director, Second Division, Intelligence and Analysis Service
September 2011　Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Mexico
January 2013　Minister, Embassy of Japan in Mexico
August 2014　Minister, Embassy of Japan in Italy
July 2018　Deputy Director-General, Foreign Policy Bureau
September 2021　Director-General,Intelligence and Analysis Service
September 2022　Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Argentine Republic
October 2025　Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Spain

Cristian Canton

Associate Director, Barcelona Supercomputing Center

Dr. Cristian Canton is the Associate Director of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), one of Europe’s premier research institutions in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies. At BSC, he oversees strategic initiatives focused on high-performance computing (HPC) applications, the deployment of the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, and the center’s transformation into an AI-driven scientific hub.
Prior to joining BSC, Dr. Canton spent over a decade in the United States holding senior leadership roles within the tech industry, notably serving as the Head of Responsible AI at Meta (Facebook) and leading applied AI research teams at Microsoft. He holds a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering, Computer Vision, and Machine Learning from the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).

Roser Roca-Tohà

Managing Director & CEO, Airbus GeoTech

Ms. Roser Roca-Tohà is the Managing Director and CEO of Airbus GeoTech, the specialized hub of Airbus Defence and Space delivering advanced geospatial intelligence and satellite analysis. An international aerospace executive with two decades of experience, she spearheads the company’s strategic initiatives in deep tech and earth observation.
Throughout her distinguished 18-year career with Airbus, she has led high-stakes engineering, sales, and product programs across Europe and North America, working on flagship aircraft like the A380 and Unmanned Aerial Systems. Named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Catalonia by Forbes, she holds a Master's degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the UPC.

Miyuki Ide

Senior Executive, Head of Business Development & Transformation NTT DATA Europe & IBIOL

Miyuki Ide is a Senior Executive at NTT DATA Europe & LATAM, where she is responsible for regional transformation. She also serves as Chairwoman of NTT DATA Spain.
She joined NTT DATA Europe & LATAM in April 2022 as Head of Business Support & Advisory and was appointed Chief Operating Officer from 2023 to 2024, where she oversaw operational excellence and organizational transformation across the region.
Prior to this, Miyuki spent over two decades at NTT DATA Corporation in Japan until March 2022. As Head of the Operations Management Office, she led a three-year integration program involving a €2.5B consolidation. In parallel, she held responsibility for strategy and controlling across four global subsidiaries with combined revenues of $8B.
Between 2018 and 2021, she served at NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION (NTT), where she led the Global Account Program, managing a portfolio of 23 global accounts.
She earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2008 and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tokyo in 2000.

Maria Galindo

Secretary of Digital Policies of the Government of Catalonia

Secretary of Digital Policies of the Government of Catalonia. She holds a Degree in Economics from the University of Barcelona, with advanced training from the London School of Economics, ESADE, and Wharton. She brings over two decades of experience dedicated to public innovation, smart cities, digital transformation, and tech policy.
Throughout her distinguished career, she has held key leadership roles within the Government of Catalonia, the i2CAT Technology Center, and various European institutions. As a founding member of Women in Tech, she is actively involved in initiatives that champion digital talent and promote female leadership in the technology sector.

Ingrid Boqué

Institutional Relations, Port Barcelona

Ms. Ingrid Boqué is the Director of Institutional Relations at the Port of Barcelona, where she leads strategic partnerships and institutional affairs under the Office of the Presidency. A recognised professional in international maritime strategy and digital transformation, she also serves as the Chair of the Data Collaboration Technical Committee for the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)—making history as the youngest committee chair in the association's recent history.
Prior to her role in Barcelona, Ms. Boqué developed an extensive career at the Hamburg Port Authority as the Global Strategic Networks Officer, where she managed the prestigious chainPORT initiative to drive digitalization among the world’s leading ports. She holds a degree in Tourism Management from CETT-UB and an MBA specializing in international strategy for port authorities.

Keigo Nakao

Senior General Manager, Automotive Business (RHQ), NYK Group Europe Ltd

Joined NYK Line in 2009 and took role in container sales in Nagoya, Japan.
2012-2014: NYK Group South Asia (Singapore) Container Division PL Management / Alliance Coordination
2014-2017: NYK Group Europe (London) Container Division Marketing
2017-2019: Ocean Network Express (London) Marketing
2019-2023: NYK Tokyo Autologistics Division
2023-2024: NYK Tokyo RORO Division
2024-2025: NYK Group Europe (London) RORO Division
2025-2026: NYK Group Europe (London) RORO / Autologistics Division

Marc López i Ribes

Director, Catalunya Media City Program

Mr. Marc López i Ribes is the Director of the Catalunya Media City programme, a landmark public-private initiative driving the region’s evolution into a premier European hub for the audiovisual, digital content, and gaming sectors. An expert spanning both Audiovisual Communication and Economics, he is responsible for proposing, aligning, and supervising the content and strategic development of this multi-site digital hub.
Prior to steering this flagship project, Mr. López i Ribes built an accomplished career in academic and creative management, serving as the Director of Services at the ESCAC (Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia). His background bridges financial acumen with creative industry insights, allowing him to successfully manage the cross-sector convergence of technology, media, and digital talent.

Mayuko Fujiki

NGSC High Performance Advisor

Bronze medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Following her competitive career, she held coaching and leadership roles with the national teams of Japan, Spain, the United States, and China across five Olympic Games. In 2017, she was appointed to lead the rebuilding of Spain’s artistic swimming program, guiding the team to a top-eight finish at the Tokyo Olympics, its first-ever team gold medal at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, and an Olympic medal at the Paris 2024 Games. She currently serves as an artistic advisor to artistic swimming national teams in seven countries.

Amadeo Jensana

Director for Economic Programs, Casa Asia

Mr. Amadeo Jensana Tanehashi is the Director of the Economics and Business Department at Casa Asia, Spain's premier public diplomacy institution dedicated to fostering relations with the Asia-Pacific region. Backed by over two decades of experience at the foundation, he steers Spain’s economic diplomacy efforts, advising companies and public administrations on cross-border investment, market expansion, and strategic positioning across Asian markets.
Prior to his leadership role at Casa Asia, Mr. Jensana spent eight years working for the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) under the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness, where he championed technological innovation and bilateral industrial partnerships. He holds degrees in Law from the Abat Oliba CEU University and the University of Barcelona, alongside an MBA, and regularly serves as an EU project expert on sustainable urban development and innovation ecosystems.

Hideki Matsuhisa

Owner-Chef of Koy Shunka; CEO of Grupo Koy; Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador

The first restaurant, ‘Shunka’, opened in Barcelona in 2001, followed by ‘Koy Shunka’ in 2008; in 2013, ‘Koy Shunka’ became the first Japanese restaurant in the region to be awarded a Michelin star. This served as a catalyst for traditional Japanese culinary culture to take root in the region; the number of Japanese restaurants in Catalonia, which stood at around 20 in 2001, has now expanded to over 320. Several renowned local chefs became fans of Mr Matsuhisa’s Japanese cuisine, and their endorsements also contributed to raising the profile of Japanese food. In 2017, he was appointed ‘Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador’. In addition to actively appearing on television programmes and in newspaper features, he has contributed to the popularisation of Japanese cuisine in the home by supervising products such as sushi in supermarkets. He also cooperates with projects related to the registration of ‘Washoku’ and ‘Nihonshu’ as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as initiatives by JETRO and diplomatic missions abroad, providing advice on public relations. He focuses on nurturing the next generation of chefs, training Spanish chefs at his own restaurants and local culinary schools to develop ‘craftsmen’ of Japanese cuisine, whilst also serving as a judge at European Japanese cuisine competitions. An increasing number of his apprentices are going on to open their own restaurants, and there are now over 800 Japanese restaurants across Spain, with a growing number of establishments offering high-quality Japanese cuisine. In 2025, he received the Consul General's Commendation from the Consulate General of Japan in Barcelona.

Arantxa Calvera

Managing Director, Catalan Tourist Board

Arantxa Calvera is the Managing Director of the Catalan Tourist Board (Agència Catalana de Turisme), the official body responsible for promoting Catalonia as a world-class travel destination. A respected jurist and public manager, she leads the region's strategic tourism policies, focusing on sustainable destination management, public-private collaboration, and international positioning.
Prior to her appointment by the Government of Catalonia, Ms. Calvera served as the General Manager of the Barcelona Tourism Consortium, where she was instrumental in fostering dialogue between economic and social stakeholders. Recognized by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Catalonia, her extensive career in public administration includes serving as Chief of Staff for the First Deputy Mayor of Barcelona and as an advisor to the Foreign Affairs Committee at the European Parliament.

Akiko Shikata

Consul-General of Japan in Barcelona

Her overseas assignments included posts at Embassy of Japan in Mexico (1989–1991, 2002–2005), Permanent Delegation of Japan to the OECD (1999–2002), and Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom (2013–2015). At the headquarters, as Senior Specialist for Latin American issues, she participated in the decision-making and implementation processes of diplomatic policies toward Central and South America. She was Chief Negotiator for GPA-WTO negotiations and subsequently was Senior Coordinator for Public Diplomacy Strategy Division, as well as Director of Coordination Office with local municipalities in the Minister’s Secretariat. She also served as Director of International Affairs Division of the House of Representatives Secretariat.
Assumed her current position in 2024.
Graduated from Sophia University (Tokyo), Faculty of Foreign Studies, majoring in Spanish, with sub-major in international relations. After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she completed two years of diplomatic training at the Escuela Diplomática (International Relations) in Madrid, and later enrolled in Master’s course on the European Union at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, studying alongside with Spanish professionals.

Jaume Duch

Minister of European Union and Foreign Action