Launched in 2011, the G1 Global Conference addresses global and regional challenges through discussions conducted in English. The G1 Global provides a unique opportunity for global leaders to interact, share visions for the future, and develop ideas into concrete actions.
| Date and Time | 9:00-18:00, Sunday, October 11th, 2020 (followed by post-conference online group discussions, 19:30-20:30) |
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| Theme | Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society |
| Venue | GLOBIS University, Tokyo, Japan and online (Sumitomo Fudosan Kojimachi Bldg., 5-1 Niban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0084, Map) |
| Open to | Members, or by invitation (for inquiries about invitations, please contact us) |
| Language | English |
| Expected no. of participants | 200 |
| Registration Fee |
In Japan (in-person or online) - 78,000 JPY (registration by September 10) Outside Japan (online only) - 30,000 JPY (registration by September 10) |
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
2020 has been a year of many surprises. Instead of celebrating the Tokyo Olympics, Japan is battling a pandemic and an economic recession. Globally, issues that were prevalent before COVID-19—US/China tension, the US elections, and the reverberations of Brexit—have intensified, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves collaboration. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abe's sudden resignation may signify a new turning point for Japan. What type of Disruptive Evolution is in store for Japan? Can the new Suga administration build on Mr. Abe's legacy? Or will it forge a new path? Can it recreate the special "Trump-Abe" friendship with the US? Panelists discuss the global role for Japan now and in the years ahead, setting the stage for today's conference.
In November, Americans will choose between two 70-year-old men to lead them out of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump is running on "America First" and "Law and Order," and Vice President Biden never misses a chance to name-drop President Obama. The situation is similar to 2016, with the Democrat leading in the polls, and anything is still possible. Can Biden turn out Bernie Sanders-supporting, left-wing voters? Will Republicans stand with Trump or defect, as several Party leaders have done? Will Black Lives Matter affect voter turnout? Can VP nominee Kamala Harris inspire the Democratic base? Who will control Congress? With much of the election done by postal mail, how long will it be until we actually know the winner? What will the result mean for Japan and its new Prime Minister? Our panelists engage on this important topic.
IT and globalization were already changing how we work before COVID-19, but the pandemic has brought forward a new dimension to the workplace by forcing many companies to have employees work remotely. What kind of measures are companies taking to adapt to these changes? What will the role of the office become and what will the right balance be with remote work? How will employees and their families be affected and who will be the eventual winners and losers, as we go through this disruptive evolution in workstyle? Our panel will discuss the future of work in these uncertain times, and what we need to know to be ahead of the curve.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strong focus on healthcare and the essential role it needs to play in a functioning society. It has also highlighted gaps in the present system. This panel will examine the key innovations needed in healthcare in both the “with-COVID” and “post-COVID” scenarios. The audience will learn about what cutting edge innovations are being accelerated by the pandemic, changes in how we will look at the contribution made to society by healthcare, and the issues surrounding development and access to medicines and vaccines.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S.-China relations represented the major geopolitical challenge in Asia. While the pandemic seems to have unleashed China’s aggressiveness in areas such as the status of Hong Kong and the South China Seas, the current US administration seems to be doubling-down on its “America First” policy, seeking to intensify the strategic competition with China. In the midst of this, how can Japan, India, and ASEAN pursue their own interests while responding to the US-China situation? What would be Japan’s own security strategy with its new Prime Minister? How do we envision the Post-COVID international order? Our panelists offer their thoughts on policy directions as well as potential disruptive evolution in coordination among the U.S., Japan, India and ASEAN on China policy and other geopolitical agendas.
During the last major recession, the 2008 financial crisis, angel investing and funding for startups declined into 2009 and 2010. Will the startup industry experience a similar fate in 2020 and beyond? Or will COVID-19 lead to a new disruptive evolution in new types of startups and tech companies? What can entrepreneurs do to innovate and find new opportunities? On the funding side, in what ways might venture capital (VCs) support them? Where is the growth potential of the VC market, and how will VCs evaluate ventures in this time of uncertainty? We bring entrepreneurs and investors from Silicon Valley and Tokyo to discuss the current and future state of the startup industry.
The COVID-19 lockdowns across the globe gave society the opportunity to question its assumptions and rebuild communities, including a new role for cities. How does COVID-19 impact how people live, work and play? What are the key implications for urban planning and development? In particular, what will be the key magnet for a city center to attract people, assuming that remote work becomes a norm, retail outlets disappear, and large events become unpopular? On a deeper level, what will determine the attractiveness of a city in the new paradigm? Furthermore, as COVID-19 seems to be contained, what aspects of our life will return to the old normal, and what will remain as new normal? Our panelists explore these topics and consider how cities may change--and not change--going forward.
For our lunch program, we welcome Shinoharu Tatekawa to present “English Rakugo.” Rakugo is a traditional Japanese storytelling entertainment that has been passed on for more than 300 years. It takes a unique style, where one performer sits on a stage, and acts out all the characters that appear in the story. Some stories are classical, some are original, but they are both quite hilarious. Shinoharu, who lived in the U.S. for seven years, brings this entertainment to non-Japanese speakers and first-timers, as well as Rakugo fans who are eager to experience this art with a different twist. Enjoy!
Global monetary policy has evolved most radically. Traditionally, central banks were the proud guardians of sound money, famous for taking the punch bowl away before the party got out of control. Now, Central banks everywhere are focused on pumping-up liquidity; with every crisis triggering new creative ways to buy public and private assets in the pursuit of stopping deflation; and the very attempt at ‘normalization’ or “exit” quickly raising recession fears. How sustainable are these new and radical policies? Are they adding to a rising gap between have and have-nots? Are they the root-cause for the growing disconnect between asset prices rising and the real economy stagnating? Where are the boundaries between fiscal and monetary policy, and how can they evolve further to ensure sustainable prosperity? Japan has been a pioneer of this disruptive evolution of monetary policy; is Japan special, or does Japan offer lessons for global policy makers? Our panelists confront these important questions as the world seeks to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns globally forced companies to change their business models to survive. Yet at the same time, it can be argued that the demand for corporate sustainability—in the broad sense—has never been higher. How can companies continue to maintain shareholder value while considering the needs of all stakeholders? What aspects has the COVID-19 disruption sped up (e.g., digital transformation?) and slowed down (e.g., investments in SDG?) This panel looks at how corporations are reacting to the pandemic, including new initiatives and opportunities, such as workplace diversity, ecological sustainability & potentially useful technology. As we hope to move forward into a Post-COVID-19 world, we ask our panelists what businesses (and leaders) should keep in mind going forward.
Necessity is the mother of invention. At the heart of invention is creativity, which often flourishes in challenging times like COVID-19. How is COVID-19 changing the way of "creatives" work, as well as businesses and the industry? Are companies looking for new types of creativity? Are there new creative ways that people can communicate (with employees, customers, and other stakeholders)? Is creative collaboration feasible online? Or what are the essential differences between online and offline in creative work? In Post-COVID-19, what type of new creative businesses and art will emerge? Our panel will discuss the types of Disruptive Evolution that will be necessary to breed new forms of creative industries and give advice for business professionals as well.
For the last few years, Eurasia Group has identified the US-China tech rivalry as one of the top global risks, not only for government but companies as well. Both countries are increasingly using cyber-related threats to express their displeasure, and COVID-19 seems to be accelerating this phenomenon. What is the current situation, and how can third parties such as Japan, Europe and ASEAN respond? As data security comes to be treated more and more like traditional military and economic security, the strategic statecraft involved becomes even more complex. Europe is seeking to establish a "digital single market," or digital COCOM, while Japan sought to lead with "Data Free Flow with Trust" (DFFT). Other countries may need to choose between US or Chinese technology, as can be seen with Huawei. Our panelists discuss what can be done to protect our data security in these uncertain times.
The last 20 years has seen the rise of a vibrant commercial space sector propelled by a combination of traditional aerospace giants, a few successful start-ups and many venture companies that are on the cusp of disruptive breakthroughs. All of this activity is supported by increased government spending and growing global understanding about the importance of space exploration and utilization to our daily lives and to future generations. The coming decade will be a pivotal one for taking the next steps toward exploring, utilizing, working, and eventually living, in space. This panel is made up of a diverse group of experts that will address the role of government, industry, entrepreneurs and investors in this exciting market.
Will the COVID crisis help unite the divided world we live in? For years before COVID-19 rocked our lives, the world was struggling to tackle deep social divides and inequalities. With the unprecedented public health and economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, these divisions seem to have become even more intensified. They have manifested themselves in various forms, including racial tensions, rising global nationalism as well as widening income discrepancies. At the same time, the COVID crisis could fast track us to a better world—one where, for example, digitization can be promoted across societies or environmental awareness is shared irrespective of political views. On this panel, we will discuss how the COVID-19 induced crisis can potentially create opportunities to address these social challenges in Japan, Asia, Europe and the U.S.
A day’s worth of discussion winds down in this closing session. COVID-19 has disrupted our lives on every level, but with this pandemic, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly evolve from this disruption. We can virtually start over from scratch, question all our assumptions, and decide what type of society and world we want to live in. Building on the discussions throughout the day, our panelists discuss these possibilities and actions we can take to make them a reality, both in Japan and globally. We look forward to hearing ideas from the audience about how we, the G1 Community, can move forward together and take actions to create the Disruptive Evolution we need to build a better world post-COVID-19.
Congratulations! You made it through a full day of the G1 Global Conference. If you attended in-person, enjoy your trip home. If you are in Japan, please enjoy some tsumami (Japanese snacks) generously provided by Glico. Then, join your fellow participants who attended online in a relaxed, small group to discuss your thoughts on today’s conference. What opportunities for Disruptive Evolution do you see? What panels did you miss? This is an opportunity to network and hear new perspectives. Please share your reflections and how they might affect your daily life. Through these discussions, we hope you can deepen your connections in the G1 Global community, in order to create a better Japan and a better world!
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
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| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
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| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
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| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Trump. Brexit. The geopolitical fractures that emerged in 2016 seem to be deepening every day, aspopulism disrupts the post-WWII international order. Tensions over tariffs flare between the US andChina. Brexit forges ahead, leading to a new era for Europe. Iran, Russia, and North Korea areexercising new influence on the global stage. Amidst all this, global and regional institutions suchas the UN, the EU, and military and trade regimes must adapt or risk becoming obsolete. For somecountries, there are opportunities: Japan’s standing seems to be growing, emerging from thedisruption of allies and neighbors. How do we take advantage of such opportunities via ourcountries, our organizations, and ourselves in a disrupted geopolitical landscape? The panelists willdiscuss what measures can be taken to create sustainable innovation in these uncertain times,setting the stage for today’s conference.
Disruptions such as design thinking have helped every industry focus on people-centric innovations and more efficient business processes. Generally, this has resulted in more satisfied customers and more fulfilled employees. In the most successful cases, designers and traditional business people have come to respect each other and collaborate, though it wasn’t always easy. How will developments in technology impact these delicate relationships? What existing practices will be disrupted, and what innovations will emerge? Will the current trends become mainstream, or will they be swept away by new techniques bolstered by digital advancements? Our panelists will discuss the challenges, pitfalls and opportunities of the future of technology, design, and business.
To meet the demands of the global agenda, businesses and societies need to create disruptivesolutions. However, many business people continue to rely on empirical ideation and existing datasets in the innovation processes. The arts have the power to change this, to move us beyond logic, tocome up with unique questions and designs to generate solutions. In the first half of this session,panelists will focus on the unique characteristics of art and how to leverage them for disruptiveinnovation. However, many artists exist outside of the lucrative, insider circle of galleries, curators, andcritics. To harness the full potential of art, a sustainable, inclusive ecosystem is indispensable. In thesecond half of this session, panelists will tackle this conundrum and suggest concrete actions togenerate innovation in a healthy, forward-thinking, and global art ecosystem.
Japan has passed laws to open up immigration as part of its strategy to balance demographics anddeal with a labor shortage. While net immigration to Japan has increased for six consecutive years,the 2.22 million foreign residents still represent a mere 1.76% of the population. Japan is said to beone of the most homogeneous and high-context cultures in the world. How can Japan successfullyintegrate immigrants into its society? What are the key issues and problems surrounding large scaleimmigration? Will the new laws help Japan create a diverse society, even a new definition of what itmeans to be Japanese? This panel will seek to cover key issues surrounding immigration andsuggest what should happen next.
At the dawn of the Reiwa Era, Japan stands at a crossroads. On one side, the relative domestic calmand stability provided by “Abenomics.” On the other side, increasingly turbulent external threats,global political tensions, and accelerating technological change. This panel aims to provide focusand spark ideas on how to turn threats into opportunities. Experts will offer insights and examplesfrom first-hand experience with local political and economic initiatives. How can we bringsustainable growth and revitalization? What can AI can do to boost productivity employeehappiness? Where does Japan offer opportunities? What potential does “Reiwanomics” have tore-define global best-practices for both private- and public-sector leaders?
Across the world, social and digital media have transformed not only the way we distribute, receive,and send information, but the ways in which we inhabit the world and understand ourselves. Thedigital revolution has already engendered profound change, from influencing the outcome ofelections to supporting social movements and new kinds of businesses. It has also thrown updiverse challenges, including the perpetuation of fake news and the violation of individual privacy.How can we best regulate and harness the powerful forces unleashed by digital media to benefitsociety? Our panel will examine the possibilities and perils of this dynamic, brave new world.
With more Michelin stars than any other city, Tokyo is the food capital of the world. Leadingrestaurants attract foodies from across the globe, as some chefs uphold traditional aesthetics andtechniques while others experiment with new ideas to innovate. Meanwhile, with the world'spopulation expected to grow to 9.6 billion by 2050, food security is now one of the most importantglobal issues. However, multiple forces such as climate change, overfishing, marine pollution, andland degradation are negatively impacting agriculture and fisheries. How can chefs continue topursue innovation in gastronomy while supporting food sustainability, and what can consumers doto help? Our panel brings together the world’s No. 1 foodie, two of the most forward-thinkingTokyo-based chefs, and a food journalist/activist to discuss the latest trends in food sustainabilityand gastronomy.
The Middle East is clearly in the process of massive change. Put mildly, the landscape is clouded:Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are emerging (and competing) as regional powers; US presence maybe declining; and there is increased involvement from revisionist powers such as Russia and China.A potential determinant to all of this turmoil is cyber technology. With Israel as an outlier and Turkey,Saudi Arabia, and Iran as emerging investors in cyber warfare, the field could become a gamechanger in the longstanding confrontations of the Middle East. How would each country’s domesticpolitics be affected? How would the region’s relationship with the rest of the world change? Whatrole would China play? Or Japan? Our panelists shed light on these developments.
Digital technologies are revolutionizing the way people live and work. Technology has been thedriver of growth and prosperity for centuries, but today’s speed and scope are qualitatively differentfrom past advances. This panel will discuss how new technologies make millions of lives easier,cheaper, and more prosperous, but also disrupt both labor markets and social stability. Aregovernments and businesses re-writing the rules fast enough to keep up? Will monopoliesundermine competition—an essential component of capitalism? Where does Japan stand in thebalance between realizing the benefits of new technology and avoiding disruption?
With the emergence of new technologies, diverse “Silicon Valleys” are popping up all around theworld, from China to the US and Israel to Southeast Asia. What is the driving force behind thesehotbeds of innovation? How are unicorns transcending national borders to go global? As techstartups play a more prominent role in society, the old mindset (coined by Facebook) to “move fastand break things” seems less appropriate. Companies are expected to bear increasingresponsibility for data management, sustainable business models, and job opportunities. What arethe social and economic ramifications for Technovate entrepreneurs? Our panelists will discussbest practices they have witnessed in their respective markets, as well as what society can do toensure that Technovate wealth is shared by all.
The Rugby World Cup…the Olympics and Paralympics… Global sporting events are coming toJapan, and the people here are uniting to elevate the country’s global standing, a symbol of itsrecovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japanese are welcoming the world, breaking downlanguage barriers, making the subway easier to use, and even upgrading anti-smoking laws. Othernations and athletes, too, are excited to make their mark during these events…but there is a fine linebetween a festival of nations and a festival of nationalism. As Japan globalizes, its traditions,reputation, and even identity change. How will Japan, as the host, be perceived during and afterthese events? How will its status as a global leader be when the games are through? Can thegovernment and event organizers leverage today’s momentum to achieve wider social goals andambitions tomorrow? Panelists will discuss how hosting global sporting events may transformJapanese society and its image in the world.
Strategic competition between the U.S. and China continues to be a major geopolitical challenge in Asia. What are the core strategies in the region for each of these superpowers? How does the competition play out in the security, trade, and technology domains? Will the U.S. seriously pursue economic decoupling with China? Does China have policy alternatives? How can Japan, India, and ASEAN pursue their own interests while responding to the US-China situation? Our speakers tackle these disruptions and look for insights on innovation and sustainability for peace and stability in the region.
Until recently ESG (environment, sustainability and governance) frameworks were a way for corporations to fulfill their “responsibility” towards society, which often demanded social and ethical leadership from leading corporations. The UN has since upped the ante to a more comprehensive list of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Great companies, leaders and investors now know that there is not a trade-off between doing "good" for the world and doing "well" financially. Additionally, the best talent in the world looks to join enterprises that have a clarity of vision and mission on these issues. How do CEOs balance these interests in their companies? How do investors direct their money towards companies that have successfully incorporated SDGs in their business? In this session, panelists will discuss strategies on how they see these issues playing out in their own corporations and clients as well as in best practice companies.
Since the beginning of human history, technology has had the power to improve people’s lives.Oftentimes, however, it is also used for destruction, from the invention of weaponry to thedevelopment of hazardous chemical compounds. Today, new technologies such as AI, IoT, bigdata, and machine learning are opening a new world of possibilities for human development.How can they be used for good, to make us happier, personally and professionally? Ishappiness what we as a society really want and need? What does happiness mean exactly?Can it be defined universally? Is it lasting? This panel will discuss the potential of newtechnologies and what we seek from them as a society.
Japan has seen a five-fold increase of inbound tourists in 5 years. In 2020, it will likely achieve itstarget of 40 million visitors, thanks to the Olympic Games. However, another key target for thesame year—tourist consumption of 8 trillion yen—will see a wide miss. Average consumption perinbound tourist has stagnated at 150K yen. Further, increasing dependency on visitors from EastAsia (China, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong) accounts for three-quarters of inboundvisitors, adding the sector’s vulnerability to regional diplomatic tensions. To meet its goals, Japanneeds to attract more affluent tourists and a more diversified portfolio of countries. This meansimproved quality of tourist destinations and experiences, both of which call for the right balanceof traditional uniqueness and infrastructure development. The panelists, who have led the tourismindustry’s transformation and helped the government shape its policy, will discuss how Japanmay realize itself as a sustainable tourism superpower.
Three years after the Brexit vote and election of President Donald Trump, the waves of populism show no signs of slowing down. Issues that once simmered below the surface—immigration, health care, job creation—have boiled over to disrupt traditional political alliances, divide societies, and even rattle families at the dinner table. As each side becomes more extreme, compromised levels of politeness and decency erode political discourse, centrism, and collaboration. What are the issues driving this populism? Is it too late to turn back? Will this happen to Japan, too, or can Japan avoid it? Our panelists share their insights.
Social debate often sees a trade-off between fairness and efficiency, but gender equality in entrepreneurship offers a unique opportunity to improve both. By eliminating gender bias in entrepreneurship, society can not only use business talent more efficiently, but also accelerate the creation of such talent. A distinguished panel of entrepreneurs and experts come together to discuss how barriers to gender equality have been broken, how new entrepreneurs can replicate successes, and how companies and societies have gained.
A day’s worth of discussion winds down in this closing session. Despite disruptions, there areopportunities for progress in all sectors of society. The key is to harness those opportunitiessustainably, without turning our backs on innovation. To help us identify the wisest and most effectivepaths toward this goal, we welcome keynote speaker Prof. Sheena Iyengar. Then, in our final panel,we’ll bring global and domestic perspectives to these challenges, building on the day's progress. Welook forward to hearing ideas from the audience about how we, the G1 Community, can move forwardtogether and take action to create a more sustainable, innovative world.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Strong societal divisions can be seen around the world today. US President Donald Trump's “America First” policy challenges America's traditional alliances and domestic tensions remain high. Meanwhile, China's state capitalism seems to challenge the 70 years of postwar balance in East Asia, as other nations are increasingly forced to ally with China or the US, or forge a new path. In the midst of all this, Japan seems to remain relatively stable and connected in this fractured world. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's close relationship with President Trump has helped balance support for the US while maintaining its own interests. Is Japan's strategy a role model for others? In what spaces might Japan be able to exercise further global leadership and create more connections? This session lays out the theme of today’s conference and how to think about possible next steps.
The June meeting between North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump seemed to signify a new momentum in the geopolitical balance in East Asia. A few months later, the warm feelings have cooled off, and the status quo seems to have returned. What will happen next? What does it mean for relations among the US, China, Japan, and South Korea? Meanwhile, China's military buildup on artificial islands in the East China Sea continues, leading to potential conflicts with nations including the Philippines. Flashes of unrest between India and China occur infrequently along their border, while China continues its development with its One Belt One Road Initiative. With a stronger China and an unpredictable US, countries are looking to balance themselves in this potentially new military and economic framework. This panel explores these timely topics in this important region of the world.
Within the first weeks taking office in late 2012, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe implemented his two arrows of Abenomics, with a ¥10.3 trillion fiscal stimulus bill, and a 2 percent target inflation rate through quantitative easing. The third arrow of structural reform was always the most ambitious and has been the most difficult to implement. How has it progressed? What challenges remain? Will the consumption tax be raised? What can be achieved while he is still Prime Minister? How will Japan's neighbors and allies be affected? Much debate remains on this pivotal policy in Japanese history, and our panel takes a look at the main policy legacy of someone who may become Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister.
Thanks to the growing Asian middle class and to favorable policy changes such as the easing of visa conditions, Japan’s inbound tourism is booming. The government seems to be leading Japan into “Kanko Rikkoku” or a tourism-based country, but is it actually possible for tourism to drive economic growth? Travel consumption in Japan peaked in 2006 at around 30 trillion yen and the current figure, despite an impressive growth of inbound travelers, is in the 24-25 trillion yen range. Also, the travel industry has a very high ratio of part-time workers with low salaries. How can we change this contradictory picture and bring real prosperity through inbound growth?
Japan may not recognize the America it sees today: issues over immigration, racism, nominations to the Supreme Court, taxation, Obamacare, guns and many more have spurred division and unrest. Businesses, hardly immune, are taking sides on issues that a few years ago would have been considered too sensitive. This panel looks at the fractures in the US at both the social and political levels, and in particular how these fractures may impact̶and be impacted by̶the mid-term elections coming in November. Is there a path for the country to live up to its motto: "E pluribus unum (out of many, one)”? What lessons should Japan draw? What might Japan contribute?
Technologies and business models are destroying some jobs and creating new ones. What will the world of work look like in 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years? What skills will workers need? What should companies and governments do to bring income stability to workers without slowing innovation and diffusion of new ideas? What macroeconomic policies are needed to allow and encourage faster productivity growth? Our panelists explore ways to understand the future of work.
In 2017, the Monocle named Tokyo the world's most livable city for the third year in a row. It helped signify a rejuvenation, with record numbers of tourists, the coming Olympics, and a new sense of post-modern cool popping up in different neighborhoods around the city. It exemplified a “Creative City,” where creativity and cultural industries are at the heart of sustainable urban development. In light of this, how does Tokyo compare to other creative cities, such as Portland, now known as one of the top places to live in the US, or New York, or London? What should Tokyo do to evolve further as creative city, while addressing its challenges? Our panel includes the former Art Director/Thing Maker for the trendy Ace Hotel in Portland, a world-renowned Japanese architect based in New York, the founder of a leading creative design agency, and the leader of the NEXTOKYO Project. Together they share their insights into leading creative cities and expertise on developing creative hubs.
Under President Donald Trump's "America First" policy, the US has sought to renegotiate major trade deals, including with the EU, China, and NAFTA. Many traditional alliances are becoming fractured. Is a trade war inevitable, or has it already started? What would it look like, and what could be done to prevent it from worsening? Should we promote bilateral deals or multilateral frameworks? How would the global value chain be affected with more protectionism? Japan has the potential to lead a TPP, which, even without the US, could be a potential solution. Is this still realistic? How would business be affected? We gather experts from the US, China, the EU, and Japan to discuss this important issue.
Is the fintech revolution already dead? Technological breakthroughs in AI, Big Data, and blockchain have revolutionized finance, giving rise to alternatives to traditional banking, cross-border flows, and even currencies. But recent scandals in cryptocurrencies, as well as bans on cryptocurrencies in many countries, have seemed to halt the excitement. What are the risks and opportunities in Fintech? How will businesses use them? How will these new technologies be regulated and what global frameworks will be created? New automation will help cuts costs, but will they be passed on to consumers? How will the rise of big data affect protection of consumer privacy and financial data? Can we avoid another financial bubble and recession? Global leaders in business gather to share what's new in fintech, what it means for business, and what's in store for the future.
When Christel Takigawa gave her famous "Omotenashi" speech to help Tokyo win the 2020 Summer Olympics bid in 2013, it signaled the start of a shift in the way Japan communicates its image of itself globally. Japan has become a model of soft power, with its culture spreading in diverse ways few other countries can, from anime and otaku culture, to gourmet food, to postmodern art and architectural design. Has something changed? Is this a hint of "Cool Japan 2.0"? A fortunate result of this renaissance is that Japan now means many different things to many different people. What is the best way to continue this positive trend? On this panel, we bring the consultant behind Tokyo’s successful Olympic bid, and other international perspectives on how Japan can help shape its image globally.
One of the top risks set out for 2018 by Eurasia Group is that of a "Global Tech Cold War." As the pace of technological breakthroughs increase, people become more connected than ever, and the efforts to protect privacy become more and more difficult. AI, Big Data, and IoT are enabling greater access to information. Companies in the US and China are racing to utilize this information and dominate the market, and other countries may be forced to choose their country's standards, infrastructure, hardware and software. Consumers may one day have to choose between Baidu or Google, WeChat or WhatsApp, Weibo or Twitter, Paypal or Alipay. On a government level, countries that want more control of information flows may choose to fashion themselves after the Great Firewall of China. These are some of the elements that the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings forward to us both as challenges and opportunities. The panel will discuss how we can seize the opportunities in this dramatic time that we live in.
Is Tokyo the next Silicon Valley? New policies by the Abe administration have led to more opportunities for entrepreneurs, including one-year startup visas for non-Japanese to immigrate to Japan and start their own businesses. The BBC says Japan is on "the brink of a major cultural shift," as the environment for Japanese and non-Japanese entrepreneurs has warmed, with more incubators, more funding for start-ups, and greater networking among people in the start-up industry. What has been successful for entrepreneurs in the past few years, and what challenges still remain? On this panel, we bring in successful entrepreneurs̶all of whom are non-Japanese̶who were inspired in Japan and are now looking to expand globally
The recent waves of globalization since the end of the Cold War have resulted in fractures throughout the world. In response, we emphasize concepts such as "sustainability" and "impact." However, these have come to have different levels of importance to different people: CSR and ESG for businesses, economic growth and environmental protection for governments, and social justice and human rights for non-profits and individuals. While much of humanity is committed to making the world a better place, answers remain elusive and require coordination and creativity. How do we know when we have made a difference? What challenges are next, and where should we focus? Where can Japan take leadership? This panel will explore how to achieve sustainable impact through business, technology, governments and civil society.
A day’s worth of discussion is brought to a conclusion in this closing session. Despite many fractures, there are opportunities for connections. How can we create them, and how would these connections shape Japan? What would the country look like in 2030, ten years after the success of the Tokyo Olympics? How would Japanese be connected with others around the world? Our panel brings global and domestic perspectives to these questions, and looks on how to build on the day's progress. We look forward to hearing from the audience about how we as a G1 Community can move forward together and take action to create friendly and positive relationships in a more connected world.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
This year's theme is "Disruptive Evolution Post-COVID-19: Geopolitics, Business and Society." COVID-19 may represent the most disruptive event of our lifetimes, as the pandemic has infected millions and threatens to be the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump have been exacerbated, amplifying isolationist tendencies when the world craves for collaboration.
With disruption comes opportunities for evolution. History has been accelerated, as online technologies are changing the ways we live, work, and interact. Businesses and organizations that survive will need to be able to adapt in real time. With US-China tensions rising, a pivotal US election in November, and more potential waves of COVID-19, many disruptions await.
At the 10th G1 Global Conference, we will reflect on how the coronavirus has changed our geopolitics, business and society. Then, by utilizing the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe, we will discuss the ways we can evolve towards a post-COVID-19 world together.
Expected speakers include (subject to change):
[Plenary Speakers]
| Jane Harman | Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
|---|---|
| Taro Kono | Japan’s Minister for Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform, House of Representatives |
| Robin Niblett | Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House. Originator of the “Chatham House rule,” from one of the top global institutions on International Affairs. |
| Rui Matsukawa | House of Councillors, Japanese Diet |
| Hiro Mizuno | Special Advisor to Ministry of Economy and Trade. Former Executive Managing Director and CIO of Japan's US$1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). |
| Heizo Takenaka | Professor, Toyo University; Professor Emeritus, Keio University. Former Minister in the Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. |
| Yoshito Hori | Founder and President of GLOBIS University, provider of the No.1 MBA program in Japan, and Managing Partner of GLOBIS Capital Partners, Japan’s leading venture capital firm. |
| Chris Blackerby | COO, ASTROSCALE. Startup space business company. Former NASA Attaché for Asia. |
|---|---|
| Takeshi Hakamada | CEO & Founder, ispace technologies, inc. Also lead Team HAKUTO when he competed for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. |
| Saima Hasan | Founding Partner, Evolution, a venture fund focused on investing in cutting edge technologies in Silicon Valley. |
| Miku Hirano | CEO, Cinnamon |
| Chris Hyams | CEO, Indeed.com. Head of the #1 job site in the world, with over 250 million unique visitors every month. |
| Takuya Kitagawa | Chief Data Officer & Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten. Also, a director of Rakuten Data Marketing, Inc. |
| Seiji Inagaki | President, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Has experience in corporate planning, global markets, and risk management in the financial services industry. |
| Lewis Pinault | Partner, Japan & Asia Pacific, Airbus Ventures. Former research practitioner with the Imagination Lab Foundation established by the LEGO Group. |
| Yuka Shimada | HR & GA Director, Unilever Japan Holdings K.K. |
| Atsushi Sunami | President, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Advisor to the Japanese government on space policy. |
| Maiko Todoroki | President, Poppins Corporation |
| Justin Waldron | Co-Founder/President, Playco, Co-founder, Zynga (IPO with $10 billion valuation). The “pioneer of the social and mobile gaming industries.” |
| Naoko Yamazaki | Astronaut, Fly to the Future. 2nd Japanese woman to fly in space. |
| Robert Alan Feldman | Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities, Co., Ltd. Professor, Tokyo University of Science. Regular commentator on Japanese language business TV. |
| Soichiro (Swimmy) Minami | CEO, Visional. Founder and former CEO, BizReach, the "Japanese Linkedin," which received the Special Prize from Prime Minister Abe at the Japan Startup Awards 2017. |
| Miki Tsusaka | Senior Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group. Global Champion of Women in Business, Financial Times, 2017. |
| Emre Yuasa | Director, GLOBIS Capital Partners, leading investments mainly in Fintech, AI, Blockchain, drones and internet media. |
| Benjamin Ang | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of Centre of Excellence for National Security, RSIS, Singapore |
|---|---|
| Darshana M. Baruah | Non-resident Scholar, South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Research focus on maritime security in Asia and the role of the Indian Navy. |
| Jennifer Corbett | Rio Tinto Fellow, Foundation for Australia - Japan Studies |
| Abraham Denmark | Director, Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Senior Fellow, Wilson Center Kissinger Institute on China and the United States. |
| Abdul El-Sayed | physician, epidemiologist, former city Health Commissioner, and progressive activist. Author of “Healing Politics” and “Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide.” |
| Ayako Hirota Weissman | Outside Director, Toshiba |
| Nobukatsu Kanehara | Former Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat and Asst Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. |
| Bilahari Kausikan | Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore. Former renowned Singaporean Diplomat. |
| Mark R. Kennedy | President, University of Colorado. Former U.S. Congressman from Minnesota. |
| Mihoko Matsubara | Chief Cybersecurity Strategist, NTT Corporation. Thought Leader on Cybersecurity. Has served on Japanese government’s cybersecurity R&D policy committee. |
| Noboru Nakatani | EVP (Public Affairs and Cybersecurity), Yahoo Japan. Former Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation. |
| Toshihiro Nakayama | Professor, Keio University. Senior Adjunct Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs. |
| Yusuke Narita | Professor, Yale University |
| Noah Sneider | Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Economist, covering Japanese politics, business, society and culture. |
| Junko Tanaka | Former Washington Bureau Chief, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) |
| Tatsuya Terazawa | Special Advisor to the Minister / Former Vice-Minister, METI. Helped coordinate G20 Osaka Summit communique (especially trade and data issues). |
| Steven Wilson | CEO, Cyber Defence Alliance, fmr Head, Europol’s Cyber Crime Center |
| Ken Jimbo | Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Research includes Japan-US security relations, multilateral security in Asia-Pacific and regionalism in East Asia. |
| Jesper Koll | Senior Advisor, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. Economist known as “Japan’s Eternal Optimist.” |
| Trista Bridges | Co-founder and Principal, Read the Air Coalition and Author, "Leading Sustainably: The Path to Sustainable Business and How the SDGs Changed Everything” |
|---|---|
| James Crabtree | Associate Professor of Practice, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Former Financial Times Journalist and author “The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India's New Gilded Age,” shortlisted for FT Book of the Year (2018). |
| Shiho Fukuhara | Artist/co-founder of bcl |
| Tom Kelley | Partner, IDEO, a world-renowned design thinking firm. |
| John Maeda | EVP Chief Experience Officer at Publicis Sapient. Named as one of the “75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century” by Esquire. |
| Hiroo Mori | Director and Executive Vice President, Mori Building Co., Ltd. One of the most famous and prestigious Japanese property management firms. |
| Toshiko Mori | Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Founder/CEO, Toshiko Mori Architect PLLC. |
| Sho Okiyama | CEO, Aillis. A startup company developing AI diagnostic medical device for early and accurate influenza detection. |
| Seiichi Saito | Creative & Technical Director, Rhizomatiks. Has won numerous international awards for his three-dimensional and interactive work in the commercial art field. |
| Ken Shibusawa | Founder and Chairman, Commons Asset Management; Chief Executive Officer, Shibusawa and Company, Inc. Director, Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation (the “father” of Japanese capitalism). |
| Kinya Tagawa | Partner, Design Engineer, Takram. Honorary Fellow and former Visiting Fellow, Royal College of Art (UK). |
| Mio Takaoka | CFO, Medical Note |
| Taisei Tanaka | CEO, Geisha Tokyo, Inc |
| Scott Thomas | VP, Ilumina Japan |
| Yumiko Murakami | Head, Tokyo Centre, OECD. Best-selling author. |
| Ross Rowbury | Former President, Edelman Japan K.K. Former Sr Managing Director and COO at PRAP, Japan’s largest independent public relations firm. |
| Tak Umezawa | Japan Chairman, A.T. Kearney. Leads “NEXTOKYO Project,” proposing a future-city vision for Tokyo and supporting several urban redevelopment projects in the city. |
This year's theme is “Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption.” Social fractures that emerged with Brexit and US President Trump are deepening and expanding globally, with populism being one of many factors disrupting the post-WWII international order.
Meanwhile, Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT are transforming politics, business, and society.
At the 9th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss these disruptions in politics, business, and society by bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe.
This year's theme is “Connecting a Fractured World.” As US President Donald Trump pursues an “America First” policy, traditional alliances are becoming challenged. Japan and other allies carefully balance their interests with the US while building up relations with other countries. At the same time, new technological breakthroughs in AI, IoT, and blockchain are upending our traditional notions of trust, productivity, and privacy.
In this fractured world, new connections in politics, business, society, and technology will be needed to survive. At the 8th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Connecting a Fractured World,” bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
This year's theme is “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World.“ Deep social divides in the US and Europe can be seen in Brexit and President Donald Trump. Europe and the US are questioning globalization, turning inward and embracing populism that has lead to a volatile world. However, Japan, in contrast, is surprisingly stable economically and politically, with few social divisions. Meanwhile, developments in technology bring new threats and breakthroughs. New, creative actions are needed to evolve in Politics/Foreign Affairs, Economics/Business, and Technology. At the 7th G1 Global Conference, we will discuss “Creative Evolution in a Volatile World,“ bringing together the wisdom from various sectors and regions from around the globe. See report here.
The theme this year is “Leadership: Thinking the Unthinkable,” based on the research by G1 Global main facilitator and former BBC Presenter Nik Gowing. Brexit and the popularity of Donald Trump have confirmed the unthinkable that many political and corporate leaders would not even accept: the scale of public disillusionment at leaders' assumptions that they know what is best for their people and customers. Brexit showed how out of touch the UK government was, and the strategic error of believing they held the high ground of political wisdom. To respond effectively to events like this, a new type of leadership is required. G1 Global participants will discuss “Thinking the Unthinkable” and taking action, with focus on the realms of business, technology, and diplomacy, and with special attention on the role of Japan. See report here.
Programs are subject to change without notice.
TEL：+81-3-5275-3681 FAX：+81-3-5275-3890
E-Mail：g1global@globis.co.jp
