©David Vintiner
Sou Fujimoto was born in Hokkaido in 1971.
Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering at Tokyo University, he established Sou Fujimoto Architects in 2000.
Among his recent renowned projects is the 1st prize for the 2014 International Competition for the Second Folly of Montpellier, France (“L’Arbre Blanc”). Additionally in 2015, 2017 and 2018, he won several international competitions with 1st prize in various European countries. In Japan, he was selected as the designer of the Oita Airport Marine Access Passenger Terminal and the Co-Innovation University (Tentative) in Hida Takayama city in 2021.
His notable works include; “House of Music” (2021), “MARUHON makiart terrace (Ishinomaki Cultural Center)” (2021), “SHIROIYA HOTEL” (2020), “L’Arbre Blanc” (2019), “Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2013” (2013), “House NA” (2011), “Musashino Art University Museum & Library” (2010), “House N” (2008) and many more.
Born in Osaka in 1966. Managing Director of E-DESIGN Inc. He aims to create new open and attractive public spaces by environmental design of parks, plazas, roads and rivers and making full use of space. He will do so by simultaneously planning and implementing sustainable management and mechanism creation. His main awarded projects are the following:
・ “Aqua Metropolis Osaka of the city development”,
awarded the Ishikawa Award from the City Planning Institute of Japan (2016),
・ “Kusatsugawa-Atochi Park”,
Awarded the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award, the 33rd City Park Competition Specific Theme Department (2017), and more.
He sets “LIGHT is LIFE” as the concept of urban / architectural lighting design. Lighting is an important environmental factor that is related to the basis of life, and is regarded as an important element that heals the mind and evokes courage in human life. Since 1990, he has been covering the natural light such as the northern lights of Alaska, the moonlit night of the Sahara Desert, and the firefly trees of Papua New Guinea. As those impressive encounters are the source of his creation, from skyscrapers to NICUs, he has been designing by reading the essential relationship between human and light. He received many awards including the IALD Lighting Design Award Special Citation, and the Award of Excellence. Representative of LIGHTDESIGN INC.
CEO of Think Communications, Co., Ltd.
Born in Sapporo, 1963. As a planner, he has ample experiences in the fields of event promotion, cultural and commercial facility development, and communication designs, and established Think Communications Co., Ltd. in 2004.
He has worked on many expositions and exhibitions, and was involved in the basic planning of the EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN as assistant chief producer, producing the Robot Project, the Aichi Earth Plaza, and the micro IC entrance ticket.
With expertise in the fields of robotics and content technology, he was the Project Manager and Head of the IRT Content Division of the IRT Research Organization at the University of Tokyo for 10 years from 2006 to 2016.
He promoted industry-academia collaborative projects such as the “Innovation Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Areas Program (Creation of IRT Infrastructure to Support an Aging Society with Low Fertility and People).
Executive Director of “Robot Award of the Year,” Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2006-2008); Committee Member of “Technology Strategy Map (Content Field)” (2008-2015); Chairman of the Executive Committee of “Robot Exhibition Project of Japan Government Pavilion in Expo 2010 Shanghai,” (2010); Executive Producer of “Digital Content EXPO” (2008-2017); Producer of “Aichi Robot Showcase” (2019-2020).
Born in 1963, after graduating from university, he got a job at an expo management company.
In addition to the International Garden and Greenery Exposition (1990) in Osaka, Japan, he has formulated many business plans and operational plans for various Expos, as well as operational plans for many pavilions that represent the Expos. In 2005, he was commissioned to be assistant business management business producer of the Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan and supervised the overall management. He also has conducted a wide range of consulting services in line with public policy, focusing on regional development such as PPP, regional revitalization, PFI projects, and designated manager systems in national and local governments.
Born in 1962, he became a civil servant after graduating from university.
He was in charge of the regional expo held in the 90’s from the planning stage, and while being involved in the formulation of the basic plan and financial plan, overall project management, etc., he established a state-of-the-art ICT environment at that time, such as opening a website and building a LAN within the Association. After that, he was in charge of system construction accompanying the reforms of budget and personnel systems in the finance department and administrative reform department and retired from civil services after working in charge of the information department.
He changed his career to become an ICT consultant and has been supporting ICT governance, business reform, information security, educational ICT, etc. mainly in prefectures, government-designated cities, and core cities.
He has been Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Regional Informatization Advisor since 2016 and Information Processing Security Supporter since 2018.
Biologist Born in Tokyo in 1959. Graduated from Kyoto University. Former postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and associate professor at Kyoto University. Currently serves as professor at Aoyama Gakuin University and visiting professor at Rockefeller University. Winner of the Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities, he has published many works revisiting the question, “What is life?” from a dynamic equilibrium perspective, including Seibutsu to museibutsu no aida [Between organic and inorganic matter] (Kodansha’s new library of knowledge), a hit that has sold over 880,000 copies, and Doteki heiko [Dynamic equilibrium] (Kirakusha, Inc.).
Known as a great fan of Vermeer, he has published Ferumeru hikarino okoku [Vermeer: realm of light] (Kirakusha, Inc.) that documents his journey around the world to see all the painter’s works, as well as his latest work titled Ferumeru kakusareta jigen [Vermeer: the hidden dimension] (Kirakusha). Supervised and served as director of Vermeer Center Ginza, which displays all of the painter’s works that have been recreated using the latest digital printing technology.
Vision creator who is an animation director, planner, original developer, screenwriter, film/stage producer, and mechanical designer.
Was one of the original creators of the TV animation series Super Dimension Fortress Macross during his years at Keio University, also designing the three-stage transforming mecha called Valkyrie that appears in the series. Chosen as director of the opera film Macross: Do You Remember Love? at the age of only 23. Other than the Macross series, he is the original creator and director of works such as Earth Maiden Arjuna as well as the Aquarion series. As a mechanical designer, he has participated in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Ghost in the Shell, Cyber Formula and Armored Core as well as designing Sony’s entertainment robot “AIBO ERS-220”, the powered suit “DUALIS” in Nissan’s Dualis commercial and the Sony smartwatch “wena”.
©LESLIE KEE
Creating films from her hometown in Nara Her constant pursuit of reality transcends the domain of docufiction, earning her numerous awards at the Cannes International Film Festival and other film festivals around the world. Major works include “Suzaku”, “The Mourning Forest”, “Still the Water”, “Sweet Bean”, and “Radiance”. While expanding her expressive activities to the world, launched the Nara International Film Festival in 2010 to nurture the next generation of creators. Appointed as director of the official movie for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her latest work, “True Mothers”, was included in the Cannes 2020 Official Selection, selected as the Japanese entry for the 93rd Academy Awards for Best International Film, and earned her the 45th Hochi Film Best Director Award. In addition to directing films, her expressive activities include commercial production and essay writing across various genre. As a mother of one, she likes to grow vegetables and rice.
Official Instagram @naomi.kawase
First started as a broadcast writer during his years at Nihon University College of Art. Has been involved in developing novel TV shows such as Iron Chef, Kanossa no kutsujoku [Road to Canossa], and Sekai isan [World Heritage]. Won the Screenplay of the Year Award at the 32nd Japan Academy Film Prize and the Best Foreign Language Film Award at the 81st Academy Awards for the film Okuribito [Departures]. Has served as a planning committee member for the Agency of Cultural Affairs’ Japan Cultural Expo, panel judge for Japan Heritage, panel judge for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s chef award program “Cooking Masters,” and general producer for RED U-35, one of Japan’s largest competitions for young chefs, among others. Has also participated in numerous regional revitalisation projects, including producing Kumamoto Prefecture’s mascot Kumamon and serving as director of Kyotokan in Kyoto.
Completed the Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University in 1991. Doctor of Engineering. Appointed as professor at the Department of Systems Innovation , Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University in 2009. Director (Visiting) at ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories (ATR fellow). Appointed as Osaka University Honorary Professor in 2017.
His research focuses on human-interactive robots and android science. Has published and presented many papers in major science journals and international conferences. Has developed human-interactive humanoids and androids such as Robovie, Repliee, Geminoid, Telenoid, and Elfoid. These robots have been featured in numerous media outlets around the world, including the Discovery Channel, NHK, BBC, and others.
In 2009 he was invited as a featured artist to the Ars Electronica Festival, one of the world’s largest media art events. Winner of the Osaka Culture Prize in 2011. Winner of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award in 2015. Winner of the Tateisi Prize in 2020.
Jazz pianist, mathematician, STEAM educator and media artist CEO of steAm, Inc., director at STEAM Sports Laboratory Inc.
Engages in a variety of activities in fields such as music, mathematics, *STEAM education, and media art in and outside Japan.
Author of Jinsei wo kaeru “sugaku” soshite “ongaku” [Mathematics and music that change your life], Ongaku kara kikoeru sugaku [Mathematics you hear from music] (Kodansha), and the picture book Taisho seijin no fushigina e [Mysterious pictures of the Taishonians] (Bunken Publishing; illustrations by Junko Kusuhara), and has released CDs such as Rejoice, Kibo no hana [Flower of hope], and Myoshinji taizoin kara kikoeru oto [Sounds you hear from Myoshin-ji Taizo-in].
Gold medalist in the International Mathematical Olympiad (the only Japanese female gold medalist)
STEM Girls Ambassador of the Cabinet Office Researcher at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Study Group for Learning Innovation, “Future Classrooms” and EdTech US-Japan Leadership Program fellow and Fulbrighter
New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) M.P.S.
*STEAM fields are the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. STEAM programmes aim to promote creative, practical, and playful learning methods and study, as well as creating a cycle of creating and knowing centred around students’ interests.
©mika ninagawa
Media artist born in 1987. Completed the Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo in 2015 (first ever early completion in the department’s history). Doctor of Interdisciplinary Information Studies. Appointed as associate professor at the Faculty of Library, Information and Media Science, University of Tsukuba in 2017 and director of the R&D Center for Digital Nature in 2020. Served as advisor to the president at the University of Tsukuba from 2017 to 2019, and has served as a member of the Cabinet Office Special Committee on the Intellectual Property Strategy Vision and the Moonshot Research and Development Program Visionary Council since 2018.
Considering media art as a vernacular folk art of Digital Nature, he crosses the boundaries of research and artistic activity and continues to explore and express his philosophy based on the statement, “Confront the transformation of Digital Nature and ruminate the yearning and passion lying in between matter and image.” Specializes in media art, human-computer interaction, and application fields involving intelligence technology and visual-auditory-tactile technology. Aims to develop a new vision of nature called Digital Nature through conducting research, exploring expression, and achieving social implementation in various areas.
Winner of the World Technology Award in 2015 and the Prix Ars Electronica and STARTS Prize from the EU in 2016. Won the Laval Virtual Award five times for four consecutive years up to 2017. Chosen by the St. Gallen Symposium (Switzerland) in 2017 for the Leaders of Tomorrow / 40 Knowledge Pool. Won the SXSW Creative Experience ARROW Awards in 2019, among many other research and expression awards for his papers and works.
Solo exhibitions include “Image and Matter” (Malaysia, 2016), “Sehnsucht nach Masse” (Tokyo, 2019), and “Ruminating with the Spirituality” (Leica Store Tokyo Ginza, 2019). He has done many other exhibitions, such as “AI: More Than Human” (Barbican Centre, London, 2019) and “Digitally Natural – Naturally Digital” (The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, 2020). Works include the photo-book Shitsuryo eno Shokei [Yearning for mass] (amana), Maho no Seiki [The Century of Enchantment] (PLANETS), Digital Nature (PLANETS), and many other bestsellers. His research and works have been featured in reports and programmes by the BBC, CNN, CNBC, Discovery, AP, Reuters, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, Russia 1, and France 2, as well as covered by more than 100 famous newspapers, magazines, TV programmes, and web media outlets around the world.
Born in 1978. Professor, School of Medicine, Keio University.
Completed the Master’s Program at the Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo in 2003. Doctor (by dissertation only) of Health Sciences in the same field Served as assistant at the Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University and assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, Healthcare Quality Assessment. Appointed as associate professor at the University of Tokyo, Healthcare Quality Assessment in April 2009 and professor at the same in April 2014 (part-time from May 2015). Has served as professor at Health Policy and Management, Keio University School of Medicine since May 2015. Appointed as visiting professor at Osaka University in December 2020.
< Social activities >
Member of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Basic Plan Review Committee
Advisor, Umekita 2nd project
Member of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare Health Care 2035 Advisory Panel
Member of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Data-based Health Management Initiatives Advisory Board
Health Information Supervisor (Niigata Prefecture)
Value Co-Creation Officer (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Director, International House of Japan
Global Trustee and the Japan Chair, The Commons Project
Specialises in data science, scientific methodology, and value co-creation
His research revolves around promoting social reform through utilising data science and other scientific methods to change society for the better. Is involved in a range of projects in and outside the field of medicine, such as the National Clinical Database involving 5,000 hospitals around Japan in collaboration with the medical specialist system and the nationwide COVID-related LINE surveys led by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Also works with the Keidanren and World Economic Forum to develop a new vision of society. One of the visions of society that Miyata has co-created is a “resonant society” characterised by vibrancy and diversity where each individual shines through experiencing that world with others.
Born in Tokyo in 1979.
Made his debut as a child actor at the age of eight, appearing in many drama shows, movies, and plays. Suspended his acting career in 2007.
After traveling around the world, he launched his own business and helped organise “ULTRA JAPAN” and other large overseas events in Japan. “STAR ISLAND”, a new type of fireworks entertainment event in which he served as general producer, was awarded the Special Recognition Award in the Cabinet Office’s Cool Japan Matching Forum 2017.
Organised Saudi Arabia’s National Foundation Day event, as well as one of Singapore’s major countdown events attended by 800,000 people. Served as general producer in “CONTACT”, a night sky spectacle featuring 500 drones held in Tokyo Motor Show 2019, winning grand prize for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (Japan Event Award) at the 6th JACE Event Awards.
Served as show director of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games closing ceremony.
As a planning advisor, he is also involved in various urban development and regional revitalisation projects, including the launch of the facility Hi-NODE at Hinode Pier.