Issue:
Regular Member
Haejin Seo
The Financial News
Haejin Seo is a journalist with the Korean economic daily Financial News.
She joined Financial News in 2009 after graduating from Yonsei University with a bachelor's degree in Russian Language and Literature. She later earned an MBA in Venture Capital from Seoul School of Integrated Sciences & Technologies (aSSIST).
Over the course of her career, she has covered a broad range of economic, financial and public policy issues in Korea, reporting on government policymaking, financial markets, real estate and the construction industry.
From 2015 to 2017, she served as the Los Angeles correspondent for Financial News, covering business, economic, political and cultural developments in the United States.
Upon returning to Korea, she specialized in the financial sector, reporting on capital markets, banking, insurance, asset management and emerging industries including blockchain and digital assets.
Since September 2025, she has been serving as the Tokyo correspondent for Financial News. Based in Tokyo, she covers Japan's economy, politics, society and culture.
Regular Member
Kursad Agardan
Kei International Co., Ltd.
Kursad Agardan is an independent journalist, correspondent, and media producer based in Japan, covering Japanese society and regional affairs for Turkish audiences. Originally from Turkey, he studied Radio, Television and Cinema at Ankara University and later completed his master's degree in Digital Content Direction at Digital Hollywood University in Tokyo.
Having lived in Japan for more than twenty years, Agardan focuses on reporting and analysis related to Japanese society, history, politics, and international cultural exchange. His work frequently explores the historical and contemporary connections between Japan, Turkey, and the broader Eurasian region.
He is the founder and publisher of Yamatai, a forthcoming multilingual magazine to be published in Japan. The magazine will be produced in four languages and aims to reach readers across Turky, Japan, and Central Asian countries. It is expected to become the first continuous Turkish-language periodical published in Japan in the history of Japanese-Turkish media relations. The publication focuses on culture, history, economics, and contemporary affairs while strengthening intellectual dialogue among these regions.
In addition to his journalism work, Agardan produces programs focusing on the cultural and historical legacy of the Silk Road and organizes Silk Road-themed cultural events and initiatives in Japan promoting intercultural dialogue.
He has also completed two books that are ready for publication, with the first expected to be released in the near future as part of his ongoing research and media projects.
Regular Member
Shingo Ito
AFPBB News
Shingo Ito is a journalist and editor with more than three decades of experience in international news reporting, editing and media education. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of AFPBB News, where he oversees the selection, translation, and publication of global news content, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and relevance for a broad audience.
Prior to this role, Ito spent nearly 30 years at Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Tokyo, where he worked as a reporter. During his tenure, he covered major domestic and international events, including Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang in 2002 and U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Hiroshima in 2016. He also reported on major disasters, such as the 1995 Great Hanshin (Kobe) Earthquake and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. In sports journalism, he covered the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ito began his journalism career in 1991 as a reporter at the Tokyo bureau of United Press International (UPI).
He holds a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Mass Communications from Kansai University.
Born in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1964 and raised in Osaka, Ito currently resides in Tokyo.
Regular Member
Tadashi Sugiyama
The Asahi Shimbun
Tadashi Sugiyama started his career as a journalist with the Asahi Shimbun in 2000. After working as a staff writer in Akita, Yokohama and City News Section in Tokyo, he was dispatched as a foreign correspondent to Nairobi and Johannesburg in 2011 – 2014, and Washington D.C. in 2016 – 2019.
After returning to Tokyo, he became associate editor of the International News Section, until 2022. He worked in London and Brussels as European Editor in 2022 – 2025 and took over the current position in April 2026.
He studied law at Keio University in Tokyo. He resides in Tokyo with his spouse and three children.
Professional Associate Member
Manami Tominaga
Switch T K.K.
As a bilingual writer working in both Japanese and English, Manami Tominaga contributes to a range of domestic and international publications, including Japan's premier English-language newspaper The Japan Times, Swedish wine and spirits magazine Livets Goda, and CRUISE magazine, Japan's leading title devoted to luxury cruise travel.
An inveterate traveler who has visited all seven continents, she is passionate about sharing enriching experiences through these specialized media covering wine, travel, cruise, culture and lifestyle. She brings a distinctly global perspective to her editorial work, creating stories that resonate with both Japanese and international audiences.
Fluent in both Japanese and English, she gives voice - through Journalism - to the perspectives that emerge from an increasingly complex, fast-changing, and interconnected world.
Her insights as a certified Wine Expert with the Japan Sommelier Association underpin her work in the wine world. In December 2025, she was selected as a jury member and commentator for the Nikkei Plus1 wine rankings, one of Japan's most widely-read newspaper supplements.
She is also a founder and Representative Director of SWITCH T K.K., a writing and translation company. She brings extensive experience in translation publications, having supervised the bilingual editions of 15 books by world-renowned artists and designers.
Professional Associate Member
Kiyohiro Yamakawa
Toyo Keizai Inc.
Kiyohiro Yamakawa is Editor-in-Chief of Kabushiki Weekly at Toyo Keizai Inc. and a member of the editorial board of Kaisha Shikiho Online. He is a business journalist specializing in Japanese corporations, financial markets, and the travel and hospitality industries.
Born in Tokyo in 1967, he graduated from the School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University in 1991 and joined Toyo Keizai Inc. the same year. He has covered a wide range of industries, including broadcasting, construction, banking, convenience stores, and travel. From 1998 to 1999, he was a Reuters Fellow at the University of Oxford.
Throughout his career, he has served as Editor-in-Chief of Kaisha Shikiho Pro 500, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kaisha Shikiho (Japan Company Handbook), and Editor-in-Chief of Weekly Toyo Keizai Plus, among other editorial positions.
Yamakawa is a Certified Member Analyst (CMA) of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan and a Certified Technical Analyst (CMTA) of the Japan Association of Technical Analysts.
His published works include The Three Conglomerates as Liberal Arts: Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo (Asuka Shinsha), The Big Three Hotels: Imperial Hotel, Okura, and New Otani (Gentosha Shinsho), and The Mystery of Murdoch, the World's Media King (co-authored with Kiyoshi Imai, Toyo Keizai Inc.).
Reinstatement (Associate Member)
Hiroshi Alley
Palo Alto Networks K.K.
Hiroshi Alley is the Chairman and President of Palo Alto Networks K.K., overseeing regional business strategy and market development for Japan. Since taking the helm in July 2014, he has successfully guided the Japanese subsidiary through a massive growth era, establishing it as an essential cybersecurity partner for the nation's largest conglomerates.
With a career spanning global logistics, automotive manufacturing, and enterprise IT software, Hiroshi brings a unique cross-functional perspective to technology leadership. His extensive executive background includes serving as President of F5 Networks Japan (2011), where he drove enterprise, service provider, and public sector growth. Previously, he scaled enterprise IT services as Representative Director for Wipro Japan (2007) and served as President of BEA Systems Japan (now Oracle).
Earlier in his career, Hiroshi directed Asia-Pacific corporate strategy for P&O Nedlloyd (A.P. Moller-Maersk) out of Japan, and developed foundational expertise in engineering, quality control, and sales at American Honda in the USA.
Hiroshi holds a university degree from the United States and is widely recognized as a prominent leader within Japan’s enterprise technology ecosystem.
Associate Member
Tadaki Iijima
Aso Corporation
He joined Aso Corporation in 2011 after working at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), McKinsey & Company, and the Mode Gakuen educational group. He was primarily responsible for M&A activities, focusing on business due diligence for both domestic and international projects. Currently, he serves as an executive for publishing, entertainment, and card game companies, overseeing post-merger management.
He was also involved in bringing the Shogi Meijin-sen (Master Title Match) to Aso Ouraso (in 2019, 2021, and 2023) and holds the rank of 6-dan in Shogi.
During his tenure at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), he served as a research fellow at the Research Institute of International Trade and Industry and worked at the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy.
He graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law in 1993.
Associate Member
Kayo Inagawa
Having had opportunities to live in Vancouver, Honolulu, Tananarive, Paris, and Rome in my childhood and youth, I’ve always valued opportunities to meet people from diverse international backgrounds.
In my retirement years, I maintain this stance by taking part in multi-national groups that promote mutual understanding through cultural, artistic, and linguistic exchanges.
Associate Member
Yukiko Matsushima
Palo Alto Networks K.K.
Yukiko Matsushima is a seasoned communications professional with over 30 years of extensive experience in the B2B public relations and corporate communications landscape. Since 2022, she has served as the PR Lead for Japan at Palo Alto Networks, the world’s largest cybersecurity company, driving the firm's strategic communications and media relations in the region.
Prior to joining Palo Alto Networks, she spent 11 years as the Japan PR Lead at Thomson Reuters (now part of the London Stock Exchange Group), where she successfully elevated the company's brand presence and market influence. Earlier in her career, she specialized in the financial services sector, managing comprehensive public relations for major financial institutions, including the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), a prominent U.S. post-trade financial services company.
With a proven track record spanning three decades, she continues to leverage deep industry insights and robust media networks to position leading global organizations for success in the Japanese market.
Associate Member
Akio Yamasaki
Aso Corporation
Akio Yamasaki is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in sourcing, developing, and managing strategic initiatives including M&A transactions, alliances, and joint ventures for blue-chip Japanese companies.
Throughout his career, he has partnered with these organizations to transform their portfolios, expand their global footprint, and strengthen their core businesses. Recently, Akio has been appointed to the boards of several companies, where he provides strategic management oversight. He holds an LL.B. from Kyoto University and an M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.
