Japan’s responses to rapid global sustainable finance evolution
How can Japanese institutional investors and financial institutions secure a place in the rapidly evolving sustainable finance world?
Join opinion leaders from Japan and abroad to discover how urgent theoretical and practical issues can marry with the vision for a new era of capitalism in a sustainability-conscious world.
Make new connections with 400+ senior Japanese finance professionals to debate regulatory developments, market trends and best practices in responsible investment, and be a part of advancing sustainable finance in Japan.
What can you expect at the forum?
Connect with the Japanese ESG and sustainable finance industry
Past attendees have included Dai-ichi Life Insurance, GPIF, Japan Post Insurance, Pension Fund Association, Sophia School Corporation, Transport Agency Pension Fund, and many more.
Get answers to the biggest ESG questions from industry experts
Carefully curated panel sessions will showcase the depth and the dynamics of sustainable finance discussion from global standardisations of ESG to organisational challenges to take up portfolio decarbonisation.
Japan-focused content with a global perspective
With a well-established network of sustainable finance practitioners, Responsible Investor will bring together both local and international attendees to discuss how to progress Japanese business in a sustainability-conscious world.
Meet the keynote speakers
Hear from the top officials presenting strategies to push climate risk management forward and enhance opportunities in sustainable finance.
Key event themes
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- Power game for international standardization of sustainable finance
- To what extent has ESG and sustainable finance taken root in financial markets and corporate management?
- How do METI’s roadmaps lead the capital to transition finance?
- Impact on the real world: Expectations and evaluation methods
- Financial informatization of ESG and sustainability factors
- How do responsible investors observe the governance of Prime Market companies?
Connect with 400+ Japanese sustainable finance professionals
Our leading advisory board in 2022
Our leading advisory board in 2022
Masaru Arai
Chairman
Japan Sustainable Investment Forum
Mariko Kawaguchi
Executive Advisor to the CEO
Fuji Oil Holdings
Arisa Kishigami
Independent Consultant
En-CycleS
Michiyo Morisawa
Head of Japan
PRI
Hideki Takada
Secretary-General
Green Finance Network Japan
Minako Yoneyama
Relationship Manager Japan, Signatory Relations
PRI
View the 2022 agenda
The RI Japan conference will take place on 24-25 May 2022, all timings are in Japan Standard Time (UTC+9).
For more information on the agenda, please contact Sae Imamura.
sae@responsible-investor.com | +44 (0)20 3307 2474
View agenda page
Agenda
RI Japan 2022 - Tuesday 24th
RI Japan 2022 - Day 1
08:15 - 09:00
Registration
09:00 - 09:15
Welcome remarks from Responsible Investor and Lead Sponsor
Iwao Nagashima,
Mark Steinberg
09:15 - 10:00
Plenary 1: The global standardisation of sustainable finance: background, expectations, and implications for Japanese investors
Miyuki Zeniya,
Janine Guillot,
Yoichi Mori,
Chris Newton,
Tomo Sekiguchi
- Does the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) finally settle the question of what ESG is?
- How does the standard embrace the notions and debates around single, double, dynamic materiality? What about the real-world impact?
- How exactly does a tighter disclosure standard drive capital to sustainable assets?
Moderator:
Miyuki Zeniya, Deputy Head of Global Sustainability, Fellow, Corporate Planning Unit, Dai-ichi Life Holdings and Head of Sustainable Finance, Fellow, Investment Planning Dept., The Dai-ichi Life Insurance
Miyuki Zeniya
Deputy Head of Global Sustainability, Fellow, Corporate Planning Unit, Dai-ichi Life Holdings and Head of Sustainable Finance, Fellow, Investment Planning Dept., The Dai-ichi Life Insurance
Read bio
Yoichi Mori
Technical Director, The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA）
Read bio
10:00 - 10:05
App and venue information
10:05 - 10:20
Keynote
Tokutaro Nakai
10:20 - 11:00
Networking break
11:00 - 11:50
Plenary 2: Are Japanese investors and the financial infrastructure ready for a sustainability-minded ‘new capitalism’?
Michiyo Morisawa,
Masaaki Amma,
Priscilla Luk,
Takeshi Mizuguchi,
Peter Reali
- Key players and initiatives to align policy, regulations, and practices to the sustainable economy vision
- How has JPX’s market restructuring changed the game for corporates and investors?
- Levelling up Japanese investor’s responsible investment practice
Moderator:
Michiyo Morisawa, Senior Lead, Japan, PRI
11:50 - 12:40
Plenary 3: Building trust and credibility in the sustainable finance industry: How can investors, lenders and service providers be true to their sustainability claims?
Akane Enatsu,
Antonio Fuentes,
Takeshi Kimura,
Will Oulton,
Hideki Takada
- How are European and global investors grappling with SFDR? Is there any similar regulation on the horizon?
- What can be done to avoid green and sustainability wash?
- Engaging and improving transparency in ESG rating methodologies.
Moderator:
Akane Enatsu, Head of Nomura Research Center of Sustainability (NRCS), Nomura Institute of Capital Markets Research (NICMR)
Akane Enatsu
Head of Nomura Research Center of Sustainability (NRCS), Nomura Institute of Capital Markets Research (NICMR)
Read bio
12:40 - 13:30
Networking lunch
13:30 - 14:15
Stream A-1: Achieving Net-zero in reality: how financial institutions consider carbon pricing and credit
Kae Takase,
Toshihide Arimura,
Fumihiro Kajikawa,
Masaaki Kobayashi
- Price setting: methodologies and their validities.
- What do investors in the hard-to-abate sectors need to look out for?
- The question of real-world impact
Moderator:
Kae Takase, Associate Director, CDP Worldwide-Japan
Toshihide Arimura
Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, RIETI Faculty Fellow
Read bio
Fumihiro Kajikawa
Director, Environmental Economy Office, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Read bio
Masaaki Kobayashi
Senior Deputy General Manager & Fellow, Asset Management Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Read bio
13:30 - 14:15
Stream B-1: Pension fund management and ESG
Keiichi Fukuyama,
David Fairs,
Yoko Monoe
- Evolving ESG related regulations for pension funds in the UK, Australia
- Do ESG and responsible investment help the sustainability of the pension funds themselves?
Moderator:
Keiichi, Fukuyama, Principal Researcher, Research Institute for Polices on Pension & Aging
13:30 - 14:15
Stream C-1: Applying a human rights lens to investment
Asako Nagai,
Kiran Aziz,
Nikolaj Halkjaer Pedersen,
Masataka Nagoshi
- From theoretical framework to practice: data collection and risk analysis
- A case study of human rights risks in Myanmar and how they translated into the engagement activities
Moderator:
Asako Nagai, Managing Director, BSR
14:20 - 15:05
Stream A-2: How investable are the technological innovations for net-zero?
Miho Kurosaki,
Firdaus Anuar,
Kimihiro Fukuyama
- Who is bearing the cost of the first move, and what is the outlook?
- Hydrogen, carbon capture, ammonia: understanding the efficacy and evaluating investment value.
Moderator:
Miho Kurosaki, Independent Climate Change/ESG Specialist
14:20 - 15:05
Stream B-2: ESG in the legal landscape
Chie Mitsui,
Nneka Chike-Obi,
Daniel Wiseman,
Asahi Yamashita
- How has ESG reshaped stewardship, fiduciary duties, and responsibilities of corporate executives in Japan and globally?
- Lessons learnt from ESG-related litigation cases around the world
Moderator:
Chie Mitsui, Senior Researcher, Data Analyst, Digital Financial Business Planning Department I, Nomura Research Institute
14:20 - 15:05
Stream C-2: What is the role of sustainability in fixed income strategies?
Khalid Azizuddin,
Ulf Erlandsson,
Marion Le Morhedec
- How have green, social, sustainability bonds performed against conventional paper?
- ESG factors to consider when investing in sovereign bonds
- Future of sustainability linked bonds.
Moderator:
Khalid Azizuddin, Senior Reporter, Responsible Investor
15:05 - 15:40
Networking break
15:40 - 16:30
Case study: climate portfolio analysis
Kenji Shiomura,
Atsuko Saida,
Jakob Thomä
An in-depth presentation of portfolio analysis and TCFD reporting from an asset owner with commentaries.
Presenter:
Kenji Shiomura, Senior Director, Chief Strategist & Head of ESG Team, GPIF
15:40 - 16:30
Round table dialogue: Japan’s sustainable finance experts
Takeshi Mizuguchi,
Eiichiro Adachi,
Reiko Hayashi,
Arisa Kishigami,
Mari Yoshitaka
- Key discussion topics and afterthoughts from the ministerial expert panels and committees
- What needs to consider next?
Moderator:
Takeshi Mizuguchi, President, Takasaki City University of Economics
Mari Yoshitaka
Principal Sustainability Strategist, Social Impact Partnership Dept., Research & Innovation Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting
Read bio
16:35 - 17:25
Step-by-step explainer: Investors’ guide to net-zero journey
Kenjiro Okazaki,
Yuichi Honda
A leading net-zero asset owner presents their own experience in:
- Gaining internal buy-ins for net-zero
- Analysing portfolio carbon footprint
- Setting decarbonisation strategy
- Engaging with the key players
16:35 - 17:25
Bringing up new leaders in sustainable finance
Arisa Kishigami,
Ai Aonuma,
Kimihiro Katsumi,
Emi Onozuka
- Expertise, knowledge and human qualities required to develop a successful responsible investment team
- Barriers for the mid-career professionals: opportunity, skill sets, working conditions
- What is the sustainability-conscious youth looking for when they enter the job market?
Moderator:
Arisa Kishigami, Independent Consultant, EnCycleS
17:30 - 19:30
Drinks reception
Agenda
RI Japan 2022 - Wednesday 25th
RI Japan 2022 - Day 2
09:30 - 09:45
Registration
09:45 - 10:30
Stream A-3: Sustainability of the Japanese regional economy
Mari Yoshitaka,
Tsukasa Kanai,
Takayuki Sato
- How has the regional economy been considered in the sustainable finance discussion?
- Net-zero transition that is just for the regional economy
- Future visions of the regional financial institutions
Moderator:
Mari Yoshitaka, Principal Sustainability Strategist, Social Impact Partnership Dept., Research & Innovation Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting
Mari Yoshitaka
Principal Sustainability Strategist, Social Impact Partnership Dept., Research & Innovation Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting
Read bio
09:45 - 10:30
Stream B-3: Data challenges of “S”
Tamami Ota,
Masaru Arai,
Takefumi Konishi,
Takayuki Mamabe
- Is there enough data to evaluate employees’ health, safety and wellbeing and what has changed since the pandemic?
- The best metrics for diversity, equity and inclusion in the context of Japanese companies
Moderator:
Tamami Ota, Financial & Capital Market Research Dpt. Head of Office of SDGs Research & Consulting, Daiwa Institute of Research
09:45 - 10:30
Stream C-3: Making a positive impact through investment
Maiko Morishita,
Ryuichi Horie,
Joan Larrea,
Belissa Rojas
- What does the performance of “positive impact investment” look like?
- Tracking and managing impact data
- Leveraging concessional capital for impact investment in developing countries
Moderator:
Maiko Morishita, Programme Manager, Finance Taskforce, IGES
Maiko Morishita
Programme Manager, Finance Taskforce, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Read bio
10:45 - 11:30
Stream A-4: Sustainable food systems
Kaori Fujita,
Teni Ekundare,
Kim Farrant,
Cathy Rowan
- Climate change, nutrition, and antibiotics… what are sustainability concerns in the food industry?
- Where should investors allocate their capital and engagement effort to avoid risks and support building a reliable food system locally and globally?
Moderator:
Kaori Fujita, Professor, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
10:45 - 11:30
Stream B-4: Disclosure of sustainability information
Ryusuke Ohori,
Hidemi Tomita,
Natsuho Torii
- How can Japanese domestic disclosure guidelines be aligned with ISSB’s prototype?
- Caveats behind disclosed information around human resources and non-tangible assets?
Moderator:
Ryusuke Ohori, Executive Director, IICEF
10:45 - 11:30
Round table dialogue: Chief Financial Officers
Minako Suematsu,
Fumiyo Harada,
Shinji Miyaji,
Ryohei Yanagi
CFOs View – missions and challenges
- How has the business of CFOs changed amidst the rise of SDGs, the introduction of the Prime market, mainstreaming of non-financial information disclosure?
- Financial strategies of global corporations and their response to the corporate governance code.
Moderator:
Minako Suematsu, Chairperson, Publisher and President, The Japan Times
Fumiyo Harada
Executive Officer (GRIT), Chief Manager, Sustainability management Office, Development Bank of Japan
Read bio
11:45 - 12:30
Stream A-5: How are corporates taking steps to manage biodiversity and nature related risks?
Makoto Haraguchi,
Hiroshi Fujikawa,
Masayuki Hashimoto
- Acknowledging nature-related issues signalled in the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) β version.
- How do corporates consider the nature-related challenges in their sustainability strategy?
Moderator:
Makoto Haraguchi, SVP of Sustainability Section, MS&AD Insurance Group
11:45 - 12:30
Stream B-5: Constructive and sustainable relationships between active owners and board of directors
Chieko Matsuda,
Toshiyuki Imamura,
Toshiaki Oguchi
- Is there a clear-cut answer for the board composition and transparency?
- Development of active ownership in Japan
- Would investors ever be able to foresee governance scandals?
- Executive compensation and ESG performance
11:45 - 12:30
Showcase: Insights of ESG analysts
Velina Karadzhova,
Kentaro Kawamori,
Kenji Watanabe
Presentations about a specific ESG theme or sector analysis with an ESG perspective by market analysts.
12:30 - 13:30
Networking lunch
13:45 - 14:00
Keynote
Tomoko Amaya
14:00 - 14:15
Keynote: From ESG to Impact: Opportunities in sustainable investing
Matt Christensen
14:15 - 15:05
Plenary 4: Revisiting approaches towards transition: roadmap and taxonomy
Reiko Hayashi,
Sebastien Godinot,
Satoshi Ikeda,
Adam Matthews
- How does the EU taxonomy answer questions around transition? The role and expectations of the transitional activities.
- How have the transitional pathways helped progressive investors to engage with companies? What can they tell the Japanese investors?
Moderator:
Reiko Hayashi, Director and Deputy President, BofA Securities Japan, Board Member, ICMA
15:05 - 15:30
Networking break
15:45 - 16:00
Keynote
Hiromi Yamaji
Hiromi Yamaji
President & CEO, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Director & Representative Executive Officer, Group COO, Japan Exchange Group
Read bio
16:00 - 16:15
Keynote
Tokiko Shimizu
16:15 - 17:05
Plenary 5: Changing the global sustainable finance landscape in the net-zero era
Khalid Azizuddin,
Andrew Howard,
Mariko Kawaguchi,
Mark Wade
- What happens to benchmarks and passive investment as decarbonisation accelerates?
- Are there going to be more divestment cases as the tension of the climate crisis mount?
- Impact and long-term implication of the standardisation for the sustainable finance industry
- Does the world continue looking to Europe for the leadership of sustainable finance?
Moderator:
Khalid Azizuddin, Senior Reporter, Responsible Investor
Speakers confirmed for May 2022
For more information on speaking in 2022, please contact Sae Imamura.
sae@responsible-investor.com | +44 (0)20 3307 2474
Iwao Nagashima
President and CEO, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Apr. 2020 President and CEO of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (incumbent). After graduating from the Faculty of Economics of Keio University in 1985, he joined Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation (currently Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and… Read full bio
Mark Steinberg
Chief Executive Officer, First Sentier Investors
Mark is the company’s Chief Executive Officer and is based in Sydney. Mark brings a strong background in acquisitions and wealth management to his role of CEO. He re-joined the company in October 2017 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in Sept… Read full bio
Eiichiro Adachi
Senior Counselor, Japan Research Institute
Senior Counselor of the Japan Research Institute, Limited. Eiichiro Adachi was born in 1962 in Tokyo, Japan, and graduated from Hitotsubashi University with a Bachelor of Economics degree in 1986. He is now a member of the ISO/TC 322 which is the tec… Read full bio
Tomoko Amaya
Vice Minister for International Affairs, Financial Services Agency
Ms. Amaya is Vice Minister for International Affairs at Japan’s FSA since July 2021. Prior to the current position, she served as Vice Commissioner for International Affairs. She is a member of the Financial Stability Board and serves as Co-Chair of… Read full bio
Masaaki Amma
Executive Officer, PricewaterhouseCoopers Sustainability
Masaaki Amma, Executive Officer for PricewaterhouseCoopers Sustainability LLC (since March 2021). He worked for Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) until 2017, when he left as Managing Director at board, and for Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd a… Read full bio
Firdaus Anuar
Project Manager, Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
Firdaus is a Project Manager in AIGCC and overlooking projects supporting investor engagement and market outreach activities, especially those in Japan and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining AIGCC, he worked in KPMG and ERM, and has about 9 years of co… Read full bio
Ai Aonuma
Representative Director, Kamakura Sustainability Institute
Ai Aonuma has engaged in social audit and improvement of the working environment mainly at garments factories in Bangladesh and Myanmar since 2011 after working for an SRI investment advisory company. Later she joined the sustainability department of… Read full bio
Masaru Arai
Chairman, Japan Sustainable Investment Forum
Masaru Arai is chair of the Japan Sustainable Investment Forum since 2012. He is a senior engagement consultant at EOS and focuses on engagements and business development in Japan. He has 13 years of experience in responsible investment, 19 years in… Read full bio
Toshihide Arimura
Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, RIETI Faculty Fellow
Dr. Arimura is a Director of the Research Institute for Environment Economics and Management at Waseda University. He was a Professor at Sophia University in Tokyo and was a visiting scholar with George Mason University and Resources for the Future a… Read full bio
Kiran Aziz
Head of Responsible Investment, KLP
Kiran Aziz is Head of Responsible Investments at Norway’s largest pension fund. KLP has embedded ESG in the investment strategy for more than 20 years and is seen as a leading actor on responsible investments. In her role she monitors and assesses ho… Read full bio
Khalid Azizuddin
Senior Reporter, Responsible Investor
Khalid retrained as a journalist after working for a number of years in corporate strategy at Sime Darby in Malaysia. He focuses on sustainability data & disclosures, policy and developing markets. He is a former winner of the CFA UK Journalist o… Read full bio
Nneka Chike-Obi
Head of APAC ESG Research, Sustainable Fitch
Nneka Chike-Obi joined Fitch Ratings in the ESG Research team in 2020. She is based in Hong Kong and covers thematic ESG topics with a particular interest in emerging markets, agriculture, and natural resources. Before joining Fitch, Nneka worked in… Read full bio
Matt Christensen
Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing, Allianz Global Investors
Matt Christensen is Global Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing with AllianzGI, which he joined in 2020. In his role, he is responsible for accelerating the growth of Impact Investing as part of the company’s growing private markets platform; he… Read full bio
Teni Ekundare
Head of Investor Outreach, FAIRR
Teni joined the FAIRR Initiative in March 2020 and leads FAIRR’s investor outreach activities. She is responsible for raising awareness of FAIRR’s research and engagement initiatives with a focus on educating investors on the potential risks and rewa… Read full bio
Akane Enatsu
Head of Nomura Research Center of Sustainability (NRCS), Nomura Institute of Capital Markets Research (NICMR)
Akane Enatsu joined Nomura Institute of Capital Markets Research (NICMR) in 2012 and was appointed as the Head of Nomura Research Center of Sustainability (NRCS) in 2019. Her main research coverage includes public finance and sustainable finance. She… Read full bio
Ulf Erlandsson
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute
Dr Ulf Erlandsson is the CEO and founder of the Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute (AFII), a research institute and advocacy focusing on fixed income markets and the climate transition. Launched in 2020 and backed by prominent climate philanthropies… Read full bio
David Fairs
Executive Director of Regulatory Policy, Analysis and Advice, The Pension Regulator (TPR)
David was appointed Executive Director of Regulatory Policy, Analysis and Advice in 2018, having previously been a senior partner at KPMG. He is responsible for the development of policy at The Pensions Regulator; co-chair of its Diversity and Inclus… Read full bio
Kim Farrant
General Manager Responsible Investment, HESTA
Kim Farrant is the General Manager Responsible Investment at HESTA. She leads the fund’s responsible investment program as part of HESTA Impact – HESTA’s approach to creating positive returns and outcomes for the planet and society by investing with… Read full bio
Antonio Fuentes
Head of Sales, RepRisk
Antonio joined RepRisk in 2020 as Head of Sales. He is responsible for the firm’s global strategic sales activities and leading a global Team of senior ESG advisors. Before joining RepRisk, Antonio worked with the two global Swiss banks, UBS and Cred… Read full bio
Hiroshi Fujikawa
Executive Officer, General Manager CSV Strategy Department, Kirin Holdings
He has been working for Kirin since 1987. After getting MBA degree at Cornell, he was involved in multiple M&A projects in Kirin and worked as one of top management in invested companies in Australia, Singapore, and Myanmar. In 2017, he took a po… Read full bio
Kaori Fujita
Professor, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
She is involved in education and research at Tohoku University, specializing in the areas of biodiversity, natural capital, local development, SDGs and business and finance. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from University of Tokyo.… Read full bio
Keiichi Fukuyama
Principal Researcher, Research Institute for Polices on Pension & Aging
Principal Researcher, Research Institute for Polices on Pension & Aging (RIPPA) since 2018 after serving Executive Managing Director of RIPPA for 14 years. He is also Visiting Lecturer of Takushoku University, in which he gives lecture on “Theory… Read full bio
Kimihiro Fukuyama
Chairman, DBJ Investment Consulting (Beijing)
Mr. Kimihiro Fukuyama is the Chairman of the Board, DBJ Investment Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd , which is the Development Bank of Japan’s sole agent in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan operations. Prior to this position, he served DBJ as the chie… Read full bio
Sebastien Godinot
Economist, WWF European Policy Office
Mr Sebastian Godinot has worked in the environmental sector for over 21 years and is currently the senior economist of WWF European Policy Office and Head of the Sustainable finance unit. His area of expertise lies in private and public finance, budg… Read full bio
Janine Guillot
CEO of the Value Reporting Foundation and Special Advisor to ISSB Chair
Janine Guillot is Chief Executive Officer of the Value Reporting Foundation. As CEO, Janine’s priorities are to increase use of Integrated Thinking Principles, the Integrated Reporting Framework and the SASB Standards by companies and investors aroun… Read full bio
Nikolaj Halkjaer Pedersen
Senior Lead, Human Rights, PRI
Nikolaj Pedersen is the PRI’s senior lead on human rights. In collaboration with signatories and partners, he promotes respect for human rights in the investment industry. He is an observer to the Social Taxonomy sub-group of the EU Platform for Sust… Read full bio
Fumiyo Harada
Executive Officer (GRIT), Chief Manager, Sustainability management Office, Development Bank of Japan
Fumiyo Harada serves as Executive Officer of Head of Corporate Planning & Coordination Department and Chief Manager of Sustainability Management at the Development Bank of Japan, Inc. (DBJ), and is particularly responsible for the GRIT Strategy (… Read full bio
Makoto Haraguchi
SVP of Sustainability Section, MS&AD Insurance Group
Makoto Haraguchi is a TNFD Taskforce Member. Since joining the MS & AD Insurance Group in 1996, he has worked to realize a sustainable and resilient society through business using nature-based solutions.
Masayuki Hashimoto
General Manager, Sustainability Management Dept., Marubeni
1992 Joined Marubeni Corporation. 2019~ General Manager, Sustainability Management Dept. ME from Asian Institute of Technology, BE from University of Tokyo.
Reiko Hayashi
Director and Deputy President, BofA Securities Japan
Reiko Hayashi is director and deputy president of BofA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. In these roles, she oversees the firm’s interactions with regulators and government departments in Japan and is responsible for overseeing the governance framework acro… Read full bio
Yuichi Honda
Responsible Investment Dept., Dai-ichi Life
Yuichi Honda joined Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company in 2006. He is in charge of risk management, compliance, private equity investment, etc. in the securities management department. From 2013 to 2014, he was on secondment to the Japan Bank for Intern… Read full bio
Ryuichi Horie
Co-founder & CEO, CSR Design Green Investment Advisory
Horie is Co-founder and CEO of CSR Design Green Investment Advisory, Co., Ltd., which focuses on ESG advisory in the real estate and infrastructure sectors as well as research on green buildings and sustainable finance. He graduated from University o… Read full bio
Andrew Howard
Global Head of Sustainable Investment, Schroders
Andrew Howard is Global Head of Sustainable Investment at Schroders, which includes the firm’s sustainability thought leadership, ESG integration and stewardship. He joined Schroders in 2016 and is based in London. Andrew was an Equity Analyst at Did… Read full bio
Satoshi Ikeda
Chief Sustainable Finance Officer, Financial Services Agency, Government of Japan
In March 2019, the Financial Services Agency of Japan (JFSA) decided to create the position of Chief Sustainable Finance Officer (CSFO), to plan and coordinate on promotion of sustainable finance internally and globally. Upon its creation he was appo… Read full bio
Toshiyuki Imamura
Managing Director, Head of Responsible Investment, Nomura Asset Management
Imamura is the Head of Responsible Investment Department of NAM. Imamura has over 25 years of investment experience, and his appointments prior to the current position in 2016 include the Head of the Investment Planning Department (2013), and the Lon… Read full bio
Fumihiro Kajikawa
Director, Environmental Economy Office, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Mr. Kajikawa Fumihiro joined METI in 2002. Before entering his current position, he has previously worked on SME financing, the formulation of the IT policy, design policy and economic growth strategy, human resources development and employment polic… Read full bio
Tsukasa Kanai
Chief Sustainability Officer, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings
Born in 1961, Mr. Kanai joined Sumitomo Trust and Banking in 1983 and worked in the London branch, the Pension Investment Department, and other departments before joining the Corporate Planning Department in 2003. He led the formation of a department… Read full bio
Velina Karadzhova
Head of First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute
Velina Karadzhova joined First Sentier Investors in September 2021 to lead the First Sentier MUFG Sustainable Investment Institute and deliver its sustainable investment research programme. The research looks at how macro market trends and practices… Read full bio
Masahiro Kato
Head of Responsible Investment, Asset Management Business Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Masahiro Kato has been with the company since April 1990 and has over 25 years of experience in the asset management business. He started his career as Japanese equity financial analyst, after which he was assigned as Asian equity portfolio manager a… Read full bio
Kimihiro Katsumi
CEO, Allesgood
After visiting Southeast Asia as a high school student, he became interested in the economic disparity between developed and developing countries and aspired to solve social issues. He started an educational project in a slum in the Philippines and t… Read full bio
Mariko Kawaguchi
Executive Advisor to the CEO, Fuji Oil Holdings
Specially Appointed Professor of Rikkyo University, Executive Advisor to CEO, Fuji Oil Holdings, Special Advisor to Daiwa Institute of Research, Advisor to Sustainability Committee of Asset Management One. After acquiring master’s degree (environment… Read full bio
Kentaro Kawamori
CEO & Co-Founder, Persefoni
Kentaro Kawamori was the youngest Chief Digital Officer ever at a Fortune 500 company before starting Persefoni - he serves as CEO and Co-Founder. His career has focused on the software space and includes time spent as a Cloud Strategy Consultant at… Read full bio
Takeshi Kimura
Special Adviser to the Board, Nippon Life
Dr Takeshi Kimura is Special Adviser to the Board of Nippon Life Insurance, Japan’s largest private institutional investor. He has served as Board Director of the PRI since July 2021. Before joining Nippon Life Insurance, he worked at the Bank of Jap… Read full bio
Arisa Kishigami
Independent Consultant, En-CycleS
Arisa Kishigami is an independent thought leader & consultant through her initiative En-CycleS. Arisa aims to bridge gaps in thought and action on sustainable investment/finance and corporate management in Japan and globally. As part of this, Ari… Read full bio
Masaaki Kobayashi
Senior Deputy General Manager & Fellow, Asset Management Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Masa is responsible for leading and engaging responsible investment from an investment management perspective, and also developing and maintaining relationships with Japanese sovereign wealth fund clients. He is currently involved in the collaborativ… Read full bio
Takefumi Konishi
Senior Manager, Asset Management Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Takefumi Konishi, CMA, has been with Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation since 2002 building up his career in Japan Quantitative Active Equity and Global Passive Equity Portfolio Manager. Prior to his current role of Index and Smart Beta fac… Read full bio
Miho Kurosaki
Independent Climate Change/ESG Specialist
Miho has 15 years of experience in ESG and climate change and advised policy makers including ministers, investors, companies on their ESG and climate change strategies based on analysis and data. She has managed a diversified team in Tokyo but also… Read full bio
Joan Larrea
CEO, Convergence
Joan Larrea, CEO of Convergence, is an expert in catalyzing investment in places that need it most and brings with her over 25 years of experience in emerging markets investing. Since 2016, Joan’s leadership has driven Convergence to become a global… Read full bio
Marion Le Morhedec
Global Head of Fixed Income, AXA Investment Managers
Marion Le Morhedec is the Global Head of Fixed Income, and a member of AXA IM’s Management Board. She was previously Head of Active Fixed Income for Europe and Asia from 2019 to 2021. Before this role, between 2016 and 2019, Marion headed the Product… Read full bio
Priscilla Luk
Managing Director, Head of Global Research & Design, S&P Dow Jones Indices
Priscilla Luk serves as Managing Director, Head of Global Research & Design, APAC, at S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI). She is responsible for the conceptualization and design of new indices using a combination of analytical, commercial, a… Read full bio
Takayuki Mamabe
Director, Corporate Engagement ESG, S&P Global Sustainable1
He is responsible for corporate engagement in Japan for the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). He has over ten years of experience working with NGOs, think tanks, and corporations on environmental, climate change, sustainability research, str… Read full bio
Chieko Matsuda
Professor of Graduate School for Business Administration, Tokyo Metropolitan University
She had the pleasure of studying as a graduate student at École Nationale des Ponts et chaussées（École des Ponts Paris Tech）Business School (MBA). She obtained her Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Tsukuba. She has been a facult… Read full bio
Adam Matthews
Chief Responsible Investment Officer (CRIO), Church of England Pensions Board
Adam is the Chief Responsible Investment Officer (CRIO) at the Church of England Pensions Board; He is the co-Director of the Investment Team with the CIO. He is also the Chair of the $41 trillion in AUM backed Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI) and… Read full bio
Chie Mitsui
Senior Researcher, Data Analyst, Digital Financial Business Planning Department I, Nomura Research Institute
Chie Mitsui is a graduate of the Tokyo University of Science and has a masters degree from the Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science. Before joining Nomura Research Institute in 2008, she worked at Jiji Press Ltd. Chie specializes in corp… Read full bio
Shinji Miyaji
Representative Director, Senior Executive Vice President CFO CCO, AGC
Shinji Miyaji is Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President of AGC Inc. He has headed the corporate planning function since 2015 and served as Chief Financial Officer since 2016. As the member of the top management team, he has focus… Read full bio
Takeshi Mizuguchi
President, Takasaki City University of Economics
After working at a trade company and an audit firm as a certified public accountant, he became a lecturer at the Takasaki City University of Economics in 1997 and had been a professor since 2008. He has been appointed as the President of the Universi… Read full bio
Yoko Monoe
Senior Consultant (Sustainable Investment) WEALTH, Mercer Japan
She joined Mercer in 2021, and is in charge of the development of Sustainable Investment advisory service in Japan. Prior to joining Mercer, she worked at GPIF for about four years, where she was involved in ESG and climate change related analysis an… Read full bio
Yoichi Mori
Technical Director, The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA）
Yoichi Mori leads integrated reporting and assurance projects in JICPA. He works with multiple stakeholders in the corporate reporting field, including businesses, investors and regulators through research projects, framework development and policy d… Read full bio
Michiyo Morisawa
Senior Lead, Japan, PRI
Dr. Michiyo Morisawa is Japan's senior lead in the signatory relation of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), and PRI has expanded ESG investment since establishing the Japan Network in 2010. Also, she is as Japan Director of CDP, guiding… Read full bio
Maiko Morishita
Programme Manager, Finance Taskforce, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Maiko Morishita is a Programme Manager for the Finance Taskforce at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). She has 20 years of experience in the intersection of social/environmental responsibility and public/private finance. Her re… Read full bio
Asako Nagai
Managing Director, BSR
With more than 20 years of sustainability experience, Asako leads and advises global technology companies as well as BSR members and partners in Japan to better integrate sustainability into core business strategies as well as specialized on business… Read full bio
Masataka Nagoshi
Senior Manager, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, EY Japan
Mr. Nagoshi has been leading advisory service on business and human rights since 2015 at EY Japan. He specialized in human rights policy development, human rights due diligence, assessing human rights / sustainability risks in supply chains. He forme… Read full bio
Tokutaro Nakai
Vice Minister, Ministry of the Environment
After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, he entered the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in 1985. After working at the Budget Bureau, he was temporarily assigned to the Toyama Prefectural Government. During his assignment in Toyama. Re… Read full bio
Chris Newton
Executive Director, Responsible Investment, IFM Investors
Joined IFM Investors in June 2016 Chris Newton is the Executive Director of Responsible Investment at IFM Investors. Here, he works to enhance IFM’s responsible investment endeavours and to drive ESG innovation. Chris has significant expertise and ex… Read full bio
Toshiaki Oguchi
Representative Director, Governance for Owners Japan KK
Toshiaki Oguchi established Governance for Owners Japan KK in 2007 after leaving Nippon Life Group, where he had more than 20 years’ business experience in Japan, the US and the UK. GO Japan is a specialist in adding long-term value to publicly quote… Read full bio
Ryusuke Ohori
Executive Director, Institutional Investors Collective Engagement Forum
Graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tokyo in 1987. Joined Nomura Securities in the same year and was assigned to Institutional Research and Advisory Department. Subsequently, Mr. Ohori worked in sell-side analyst operations,… Read full bio
Kenjiro Okazaki
General Manager, Responsible Investment Dept., Dai-ichi Life
Kenjiro Okazaki is General Manager, Responsible Investment Department at Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company. He has spent his entire career with Dai-ichi Life, starting in 1994. In his most recent role, he was General Manager of the Global Fixed Income… Read full bio
Emi Onozuka
COO, Japan Catalyst
Emi is currently the COO and leading ESG/Stewardship efforts for Japan Catalyst, Inc. as well as a leader for Monex Group’s ESG/Sustainability Task Force. Previously, she held various roles at Goldman Sachs Asset Management during her twenty years at… Read full bio
Tamami Ota
Financial & Capital Market Research Dpt. Head of Office of SDGs Research & Consulting, Daiwa Institute of Research
Tamami Ota is Senior Researcher and Head of Office of SDGs Research & Consulting at Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd. She is tasked with researching sustainable finance. She was previously researcher of corporate finance.
Will Oulton
Global Head, Responsible Investment, First Sentier Investors
Will Oulton is the Global Head, Responsible Investment at First Sentier Investors (FSI) based in the UK and is responsible for defining and delivering FSI’s responsible investment and stewardship strategy globally. In this role he is tasked with adv… Read full bio
Peter Reali
Managing Director, Head of Stewardship - Responsible Investing, Nuveen
Peter Reali is a managing director and member of the responsible investing (RI) team at Nuveen, the investment management arm of TIAA. He is responsible for leading the engagement efforts across the firm by working directly with companies to discuss… Read full bio
Belissa Rojas
Impact Measurement and Management Lead, United Nations Development Programme
Belissa Rojas is the impact measurement and management lead at SDG Impact, part of UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub. She has 20 years of experience of advising multilaterals including the World Bank, private sector, impact investors, such as IDB Invest,… Read full bio
Cathy Rowan
Director, Socially Responsible Investment, Trinity Health
Since 2003, Cathy Rowan has been the Director of Socially Responsible Investments for Trinity Health, a large Catholic health care system in the United States and a member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility. Cathy engages companies… Read full bio
Atsuko Saida
Senior Consultant, Environmental Innovation Group, Sustainability Division, Mitsubishi Research Institute
Obtained a master's degree (Economics) from the Graduate School of Area and Culture Studies at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. She has worked as a researcher in the research department of a foreign securities company and a domestic financial thi… Read full bio
Takayuki Sato
General Manager, Division of Vitalising Akita and Regions, Hokuto Bank
Mr Sato joined Hokuto Bank in 2006. After having worked at branch offices, he has been in charge of project finance and promotion of renewable energy from the headquarters since 2014. He was assigned to his current position in April 2022. He is invol… Read full bio
Tomo Sekiguchi
Partner, KPMG AZSA LLC
Tomo Sekiguchi is the head of sustainability reporting and assurance as well as the head of Department of Professional Practice-Disclosure at KPMG AZSA LLC. He is also the vice-chair of the corporate and sustainability reporting topic team at KPMG in… Read full bio
Tokiko Shimizu
Assistant Governor, Bank of Japan
Ms. Tokiko Shimizu has served as Assistant Governor since July 2020, and is in charge of International Department, and the Bank’s international affairs. Since joining the Bank in 1987, she has accumulated experience mainly in the fields of financial… Read full bio
Kenji Shiomura
Senior Director, Chief Strategist and Head of ESG Team, GPIF
After obtaining his master’s degree in economics from Tokyo University in 2001, Mr. Shiomura joined Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd. He was in charge of domestic and global macro economy, as well as investment strategy for Japanese equities in the Investmen… Read full bio
Minako Suematsu
Chairperson, Publisher and President, The Japan Times
After coming from Hiroshima and receiving an MA in Humanities from Gakushuin University Graduate School in Tokyo, Minako tested her hands in an internet based startup company. In 2001, she helped News2u Co.,Ltd. to be established and then in 2017, ap… Read full bio
Hideki Takada
Director for Strategy Development, Financial Services Agency
Mr. Takada has been working as a government official at the Ministry of Finance since 1995, dealing with various policy areas including public finance, tax and financial services. His career also includes secondments to other public bodies such as: H… Read full bio
Kae Takase
Associate Director, CDP Worldwide-Japan
Kae Takase received her Ph. D in environmental studies from graduate school of frontier science, University of Tokyo. She was an economist at Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, and her specialty was econometric modeling of energy supply and demand… Read full bio
Jakob Thomä
Managing Director, 2° Investing Initiative
Jakob Thomae is one of the leading global experts on sustainable finance and long-term risks. He co-founded the 2° Investing Initiative network in New York and Berlin and serves as Executive Director of 2° Investing Initiative Deutschland. Jakob led… Read full bio
Hidemi Tomita
Managing Director, LRQA Sustainability
At Sony Corporation, he served as General Manager of the CSR Department at Sony headquarters for about 10 years. After joining Lloyd’s Register group, he became a Director of Lloyd's Register Japan (currently LRQA Sustainability), where he is current… Read full bio
Natsuho Torii
Manager, Sustainability Department, JPX
Natsuho Torii has been a leading presence in Japan Exchange Group’s (JPX) sustainability project from before it joined the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative in 2017. Having been a member of JPX's Sustainability Committee from its formation… Read full bio
Mark Wade
Head of Sustainability Research & Stewardship, Allianz Global Investors
Mark Wade is Head of Sustainability Research & Stewardship at AllianzGI. In this role, he manages the sustainability thematic research and engagement strategy. Mark is tasked with transitioning the firm’s sustainability research and stewardship a… Read full bio
Kenji Watanabe
Vice President, APAC ESG & Climate Research, MSCI
Kenji Watanabe has specialized in ESG and climate change solutions. His publication included international environmental law articles and journals published in the United Nation University, Oxford University Press and Georgetown Environmental Law Rev… Read full bio
Daniel Wiseman
Head of APAC Policy, PRI
Daniel Wiseman is the Head of APAC Policy for the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), leading a team of policy specialists conducting analysis and engagement to support responsible investment across key capital markets in the region. Daniel… Read full bio
Hiromi Yamaji
President & CEO, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Director & Representative Executive Officer, Group COO, Japan Exchange Group
YAMAJI Hiromi is President and CEO of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. and Director and Representative Executive Officer, Group COO of Japan Exchange Group, Inc. He joined the group in June 2013 as CEO of Osaka Exchange, Inc., before being appointed to the… Read full bio
Asahi Yamashita
Legal Advisor to ClientEarth in Japan | Attorney-at-law, admitted in Japan and California, Tokyo Surugadai Law Offices
Mr. Yamashita is a legal advisor to ClientEarth since January 2021 to assist ClientEarth’s challenges to tackle climate change in Japan and South East Asia from corporate and investment law perspectives. He is a senior lawyer at Tokyo Sugugadai Law O… Read full bio
Ryohei Yanagi
CFO, Eisai and Visiting Professor, Waseda University
Dr. Ryohei Yanagi is the CFO of Eisai, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Japan and a Visiting Professor at Waseda University, where he focuses on ESG and Value Creation as well as Impact Measurement. Dr. Yanagi earned a Ph.D. in economic… Read full bio
Mari Yoshitaka
Principal Sustainability Strategist, Social Impact Partnership Dept., Research & Innovation Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting
Mari joined Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities in 2000 to start up the Clean Energy Finance Committee and transferred to MURC in May 2020. Her area of expertise is climate change policy, especially climate finance and mitigation projects, in th… Read full bio
Miyuki Zeniya
Deputy Head of Global Sustainability, Fellow, Corporate Planning Unit, Dai-ichi Life Holdings and Head of Sustainable Finance, Fellow, Investment Planning Dept., The Dai-ichi Life Insurance
Miyuki Zeniya is Deputy Head of Global Sustainability, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. and is Head of Sustainable Finance, The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited. She has been responsible for incorporating ESG approaches into the entire portfolio… Read full bio
Sponsorship opportunities in 2022
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities please fill in the enquiry form.
Claire Porter | claire@responsible-investor.com | +44 (0)7939 097539
Pre-Event Resources
Network at the leading sustainable finance event in Japan
After two years of successful virtual meetings, RI Japan will be back in person to bring together the Japanese ESG industry leaders once again. Join 400+ attendees in Tokyo for two days of networking and connect with the ESG community.
The in-person networking experience
Meet leaders in sustainable finance
Network with investment professionals, corporates, regulators, and academics who are leading the sustainable finance conversation in Japan.
Network in person in Tokyo
Connect with your peers at plenty of networking breaks, evening drinks reception and roundtable discussions.
Build new connections
Past attendees have included Dai-ichi Life Insurance, GPIF, Japan Post Insurance, Pension Fund Association, Sophia School Corporation, and many more.
Connect with active investors
To help keep you and your peers safe, we require you to follow the Covid principles below to ensure the smooth running of RI Japan 2022.
All attendees must wear a mask at all times. You are not allowed to enter the venue if you observe a high temperature above 37.5 degrees, or symptoms such as sore throat, cough, or severe fatigue. The staff will take the temperature at the entrance using a non-contact thermometer. Please refrain from coming to the venue if you are found to be in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
In addition to the above, please help us by:
- Downloading and using the COVID-19 Contact Confirming Application (COCOA)
- Regularly sanitising hands and surfaces
- Maintaining social distances
- Using event apps to exchange contacts
In case you are not able to attend physically, you can still take part in the conference using the conference app where you can see the live streaming of the plenary sessions.
If you have any questions, please contact riaj@responsible-investor.com
RI Japan 2022 Affiliated events
Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) Energy Transition Event
May 26
9-10am JST, followed by an invite-only, closed-door roundtable session from 10.30 to 12 noon JST
Toranomon Hills Forum and online
The Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC) will host an event on the side-lines of Responsible Investor Japan 2022 focused upon Japan’s energy transition. It will aim to involve all stakeholders, but more specifically policymakers, investors, utility companies and other Japanese companies, in order to highlight key issues and new perspectives ahead of the Clean Energy Strategy document scheduled to be released by the Government of Japan in July 2022.
The event will take the format of a general session (from 9 to 10am JST) followed by an invitation only, closed-door roundtable where discussions will be centred around the role of ammonia co-firing and renewables in Japan’s energy transition plans.
Transition to Net-Zero: The Role of Finance and Pathway toward Sustainable Future.
May 26
13:30-18:00
Toranomon Hills Forum and online
Climate change is an urgent issue that must be resolved globally. In order to achieve carbon neutrality, all industries need to make transitions that contribute to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is also important to properly evaluate these efforts and encourage the mobilization of capital.
Representatives from the financial and industrial sectors as well as government officials, foreign investors and key participants in net-zero private initiatives, are invited to join us for a lively discussion focusing on the transition pathway to net-zero and the role of transitional finance in achieving a sustainable society.