As a corporate attorney, I have spent my career supporting startups and emerging companies. Through this experience, I have come to recognize how the complexity of Japan’s legal system often hinders innovation and growth. To truly unlock the potential of businesses, we must not only navigate existing rules—but also reimagine them, and work toward building better, more forward-looking regulatory frameworks.

With this in mind, I founded Policy Innovation Japan (PIJ). PIJ is an organization dedicated to enabling companies and organizations to engage constructively in the policymaking process. While Japan still lacks a formal infrastructure for lobbying, in many Western countries lobbying is recognized as a regulated profession governed by clear qualifications and ethical standards. It plays a vital role in shaping public decisions. During my ten years living in Europe and the United States, I saw firsthand how structured dialogue and well-designed institutions drive social progress.

For international companies seeking to enter the Japanese market, regulatory opacity is one of the most significant barriers. By establishing clearer and more predictable rule-making processes, Japan can attract more global players—stimulating new cycles of innovation and economic growth.

At PIJ, we aim to transform how policy is shaped in Japan. Through a hybrid model that combines an AI-powered policy platform with expert consulting, we address the deep-rooted challenges of information overload and limited access. Our goal is to give companies—especially those previously excluded from policy discussions—a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate.

We are committed to advancing Japan’s future through the power of law and technology. I sincerely look forward to working together with all of you on this journey.