Issue:
Regular Member
Youngjae Choe
Asia Today
Youngjae Choe is an investigative journalist who began his professional reporting career in 1995. His engagement with journalism dates back to 1988, when he worked as a reporter and news anchor at a university broadcasting station, gaining early experience in field reporting and live news production. From the beginning, his journalism has been grounded in firsthand observation and on-the-ground verification.
Since the late 1990s, Choe has focused on investigative reporting across Northeast Asia, covering armed conflict, security issues, and transnational illicit networks. In 1999, he reported directly from the conflict zone in East Timor, documenting civilian suffering and the international response to the crisis. Between 2000 and 2005, while based at the Dong-A Ilbo in Seoul, he made frequent reporting trips across Northeast Asia, particularly to China, to investigate North Korea–related illicit activities. During this period, he reported from sites linked to North Korean drug trafficking operations in China and traced arms-smuggling routes connecting Vladivostok in Russia and Busan in South Korea.
In 2001, Choe broke an exclusive story on Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who attempted to enter Japan illegally through Narita International Airport. The scoop drew international attention for exposing the overseas movements of North Korea's elite and the use of forged travel documents, offering rare insight into the regime's opaque power structure. In 2005, he further expanded his investigative work to historical and human rights issues by reporting from Sakhalin on Korean forced laborers mobilized during Japan's colonial rule and the unresolved issue of their postwar abandonment.
Alongside his field reporting, Choe completed a master's program at the University of North Korean Studies, where he conducted systematic research on North Korean politics, society, and governance. By integrating academic study with extensive investigative reporting, he established himself as a journalist specializing in North Korean affairs, providing nuanced analysis that situates the North Korea issue within the broader framework of Northeast Asian geopolitics.
Currently, Choe serves as the Tokyo correspondent for AsiaToday, a major Korean news organization. Based in Japan, he covers Japanese politics, diplomacy and security, trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, North Korea's nuclear and political developments, as well as Japanese social and urban policy issues. Drawing on sources within the Japanese government, political circles, diplomatic communities, and international media networks, he delivers in-depth reporting and analytical dispatches for Korean audiences.
Choe's journalism is defined by a commitment to firsthand investigation and factual accuracy. He is widely recognized for persistently pursuing cross-border issues and power dynamics in Northeast Asia, grounded in the belief that journalism must begin at the scene and be built on what can be directly observed and verified.
Regular Member
Miho Ouyou
Econosights
Miho Ouyou is a journalist whose stories have been frequently recognized by major international outlets and academic institutions, including the Pulitzer Center, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, and the U.S. Department of Education. She earned her master's degree in journalism with a focus on data from Columbia University and was awarded a Pulitzer Center fellowship to support her reporting abroad. She and her brother also founded the publication Econosights while at Columbia University. The publication has published stories in partnership with outlets such as the Pulitzer Center and has been featured by the University of Chicago for exemplary journalism. She has also delivered lectures and speeches on writing and environmental issues at prestigious universities, with sponsorship from governmental and academic institutions.
Miho is a member of the international economics honor society Omicron Delta Epsilon and Phi Beta Kappa, whose members include 17 former U.S. presidents and 140 Nobel laureates. She completed her bachelor's degree in economics (STEM) with a minor in East Asian studies at age 20. She graduated two years earlier than her peers and finished with a nearly perfect GPA, becoming the youngest graduate in her class.
The same year, at age 20, she began strategy consulting for Fortune 500 companies at one of the world's largest consulting firms. Her mission to foster international connections through storytelling began at age 13, when she and her brother co-founded a U.S.–Japan cultural initiative in California. Their activities were supported by the Japanese Embassy in the U.S. and documented by Japan's only public broadcaster, NHK, and broadcast in the U.S. and 149 other countries and regions.
She is also passionate about aerospace engineering. At Columbia, she was part of the Columbia Space Initiative, where she co-wrote a nanosatellite proposal that won funding from NASA. One of the core missions of the nanosatellite is to photograph light emitted from gas atoms in space and share the findings with students in underserved New York City public schools.
Reinstatement (Regular Member)
Pei-Ling (Pauline) Yang
Global Views Magazine
Tokyo-based columnist, GLORAKU CEO, TSE Prime-listed Company Outside Director, and cross-cultural leadership expert
Pei-Ling (Pauline) Yang is a trilingual columnist and business leader with more than 25 years of international experience spanning Asia, the United States, and Europe. She currently contributes as a freelance columnist to Global Views Monthly (遠見雜誌), one of Taiwan's most influential media groups, where her work focuses on cross-cultural management, global leadership, workplace transformation, and other broader topics. Her recent writings appear in the Global Views Online edition under the "華人菁英論壇 (Chinese Elite Forum)" section, engaging readers across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the global Chinese-speaking community.
In addition to her ongoing freelance journalism, Pauline has an extensive track record as a writer and commentator. She was Tokyo Bureau Chief and Correspondent for China Times (Taiwan) to cover major politic and economic topics from Japan to Chinese-speaking readers — key interviews including Mr. Shinzo Abe, Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone, Takeo Hiranuma etc. She also contributed regular columns for more than 13 years to the Commercial Times (工商時報) and Economic Daily News (經濟日報) , two major business newspapers in Taiwan, on topics such as "New York, Tokyo, Stop-Look-Listen", "Work-Life Balance", "Social Enterprise Trends" to provide her insight on global business expansion, global talent management, and key topics of business world.
Professionally, Pauline is the Founder and CEO of GLORAKU Co., Ltd. (Tokyo), a consultancy specializing in cross-cultural leadership, global HR integration, and corporate communications strategy. She previously served in senior leadership roles with Fidelity International and DIAM (currently Asset Management One, a leading Japanese asset manager under Mizuho Financial Group). She was Chief Experience Officer and Executive Director at the Japan office of Edelman, the world's largest PR firm, where she was responsible for ESG, DEI, and organizational transformation strategies.
In addition, she is also an independent outside director of a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed company, making her one of the few Taiwan-born professionals to serve on a Japanese public company board.
Pauline holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She is a certified as Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), and an accredited trainer in both MBTI and DiSC, as well as a Mindfulness teacher. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, English, and Japanese, she brings a unique perspective on the intersection of global business, culture, and social innovation.
Professional/Journalist Associate Member
Yumiko Suzuki
Media Literacy Researcher
I was born in Tokyo in 1958. I started working at TV Asahi in 1981, working in the Information Systems Department, General Affairs Department, Human Resources Department, and as the President's Secretary.
From 1987, mainly I produced several news programs, including "The Scoop" and "Super Morning". During this time, I covered events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Malta Summit, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Gulf War.
In 2001, the producer of the political debate program "Sunday Project," (MC Tahara Soichiro) featuring appearances by Prime Ministers Keizo Obuchi, Junichiro Koizumi, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton etc. In 2003, Just before Iraq war Mr. Tahara and our team covered the US-Iraq conflict from Baghdad.
In 2007 I became the head of three-year media literacy project "Roppon project" with the University of Tokyo for the 50th anniversary of TV Asahi.
In 2012 I was the producer of the long discussion program at late night "Asa made Nama TV!" (Since 1987), this program covered various themes, including politics, economy, COVID-19, gender, and the Imperial succession. I resigned from TV Asahi at the end of September 2025.
Outside of my regular job:
From 2007 to 2011, the secretariat for the Japan-China Journalist Exchange Conference (sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan). I managed the conference and published The Japan-China Wall (Tsukiji Shokan).
From 2009 to 2013 I have been responsible for media studies at Kyoritsu Women's University, and from 2019 at Shohoku Junior College, from 2024 at Meiji Gakuin University.
I am member of Japan Association for Media, Journalism and Communication Studies, and the Japan National Press Club.
Associate Member
Alex Seiler
FGS Global (Japan) GK
Alex Seiler is a Partner at FGS Global, where he helps leaders navigate some of their toughest moments—whether that's a high-stakes M&A deal, a major corporate transformation, or a crisis that threatens their reputation. He's spent nearly two decades advising on how to communicate when the pressure is on and the stakes are highest.
What sets him apart is his ability to combine sharp analysis with a real understanding of how different stakeholders think and what they care about, across different markets and cultures.
Alex started with FGS Global in Frankfurt am Main back in 2008, spent time in New York, and is now based in Tokyo. Before joining the firm, he worked at a local PR agency in Germany. Alex studied Modern German Literature at Ludwig Maximilians University Munich—with side interests in Theatre Studies and Political Science—and later completed INSEAD's executive program in M&A and Corporate Strategy. His background—spanning literature, politics, and business—gives him a unique lens on the intersection of business, politics, and society.
Outside of work, Alex is a passionate sportsman. He's done his share of adventurous pursuits over the years: ice climbing, mountaineering, backcountry skiing, paragliding, kitesurfing—you name it. These days, he's trying to stay in one piece while training in kickboxing.
Associate Member
Hideyuki Kambayashi
Kyoto Prefectural Government
- Born on 9 October 1965
Educational background
- March 1988: Graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University (Faculty of Sociology)
Career
- April 1988: Joined Kyoto Prefectural Government
- April 2013: Director, Business and Management Support Division
- April 2017: Director, Industry and Labor Affairs Division, Department of Commerce, Labor and Tourism
- April 2019: Deputy Director General, Department of Commerce, Labor and Tourism
- May 2022 to present: Director General, Department of Commerce, Labor and Tourism
Associate Member
Masashi Ohya
ANA Systems Co., Ltd.
Masashi Ohya began his professional journey at All Nippon Airways (ANA) in 1991, initially joining the Information Systems division. During his early career, he played a pivotal role in managing and developing large-scale projects for the airline's core operational systems. His expertise covered a wide spectrum of essential functions, including passenger reservations, ticket issuance, check-in processes, cargo management, and corporate accounting systems, all of which form the backbone of airline operations.
In 2007, he transitioned to the Marketing Department, where he applied his analytical skills to passenger demand forecasting and database marketing, contributing to the company’s data-driven strategic growth. His career further evolved in 2015 when he joined the division responsible for Products and Customer Services. In this role, he was deeply engaged in the planning and design of premium service experiences, focusing on enhancing the overall customer journey.
His leadership qualities led to his appointment as an Executive Officer at ANA Systems in 2018. He subsequently expanded his executive responsibilities, serving as a Director at both ANA Systems starting in 2021 and ANA X in 2022. Building on this extensive experience across technology, marketing, and service design, he officially assumed the position of President and Representative Director of ANA Systems in 2024, where he now leads the company’s digital transformation and operational excellence.
