Born 1987 in Ishioka, Ibaraki. Joined the major bridal company Novarese in 2009 as a wedding planner and new-store developer, opening venues, restaurants and shops not only across Japan but also in Korea and China.

After leading corporate management at Vantage Management, he founded KAZAANA Inc. in 2017. Under the mottos “be an outsider who breaks conventions” and “solve the waste hidden across Japan,” he has built a portfolio spanning video branding, product development and the revival of historic buildings.

At its core is BECOS, a media-commerce platform devoted to Made-in-Japan brands — connecting craftspeople nationwide with innovative products and carrying them worldwide through cross-border e-commerce. He also leads the New York street-kimono brand VEDUTA and a partnership with JTB's U.S. arm.

A judge for Japan's national tourism-product awards. Since 2024, he has served as President of Itoguchi Inc., leading Atelier Gate.

Born 1971 in Fukuoka; graduated from Meiji University. After founding an HR consultancy, at 26 he took over his family's Hakata-ori weaving house — then near closure after 13 straight years of losses — determined to build “a model where economics and culture both stand.”

Declaring an end to subcontracting, he launched the OKANO brand and, through direct trade and directly-run stores, turned the house into a rare vertically-integrated (SPA) maker in traditional crafts. He leads the company, founded in 1897, as its fifth-generation head.

He has carried Hakata-ori to the world — stores in GINZA SIX and AMAN TOKYO, offerings to shrines and temples, works held in the British Museum, and Japan's first-ever Hakata-ori furisode. He also heads the artist-production company Fudo and advises the Arita-ware kiln Ri Sampei.

“My mission is to rediscover Japan's fading culture and share it with the world.”