Skip to main content
Home
Main navigation
  • About Us
  • Services
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
  • The GR Company
  • EN/JP
  • Contact Us
  • EN
  • 日本語

We are GR Japan

We specialize in Japanese government relations and public affairs.

Our team comprises experts with years of experience and a deep understanding of Japanese policymaking. We pride ourselves on our business acumen and knowledge of our clients’ strategic goals and business needs.

Our team, which includes former government officials and elected representatives, has an unparalleled network of contacts in the national and local government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.

GR Japan is politically neutral and enjoys excellent working relationships across the political spectrum.

GR Japan is a proud part of The GR Company with offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, London and Washington D.C.

 

OUR PEOPLE

Jakob Edberg - GR Group
Jakob Edberg
President & CEO
Tomohiko Kinoshita
Tomohiko Kinoshita
Director
Daisuke Sakamoto
Director
Shoko Takeda
Shoko Takeda
Director
Yutaka Iwahori | GR Japan
Yutaka Iwahori
Director, Attorney at Law
Tomohiro Gogo
Director
Fredrik Lofthagen
Fredrik Lofthagen
Executive Director & Head of Global Advisory
Jim
James Fatheree
Executive Director
Linda Sekiguchi
Financial Director
Daniela Dimitrova
Associate Director
Takashi Kuroda
Associate Director
Noriko Furuya
Senior Advisor
Ambassador Koji Tsuruoka
Senior Adviser
Toshikazu Masuyama
Senior Advisor
Yoshiteru Uramoto
Senior Consultant
Stewart Watters
Senior Consultant
Akinori Yabata
Senior Manager
Yoshito Ogawa
Yoshito Ogawa
Senior Public Policy Manager
Viktorija Belak
Viktorija Belak
Public Policy Manager
Takekuni Kurosawa
Takekuni Kurosawa
Public Policy Manager
Hiroyasu Komine
Hiroyasu Komine
Public Policy Manager
Raju Thakrar
Raju Thakrar
Public Policy Manager
Norikazu Takahata
Norikazu Takahata
Public Policy Manager
Shunsuke Nio
Shunsuke Nio
Public Policy Manager
Shoichiro Kominami
Shoichiro Kominami
Public Policy Manager
Austin Smith
Austin Smith
Public Policy Manager
Vivian Law
Public Policy Manager
Emi Nobuhiro
Emi Nobuhiro
Public Policy Manager
Tomoko Sakurai
Public Policy Manager
Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
Events Manager
Mina Takahashi
Mina Takahashi
Coalition Manager
Masahiro Taniguchi
Associate Manager
Yua Kanai
Associate Manager
Uran-Uchig (Uchka) Chimegbaatar
Uran-Uchig (Uchka) Chimegbaatar
Associate Manager
Dongyin Xu
Associate Manager
Gábor Seprényi
Gábor Seprényi
Associate Manager
Haruka Kitamura
Associate Manager
Mary Popeo
Associate Manager
Chris Shimamoto
Associate
Jacqueline Collier
Associate
Ayaji Fujita
Associate
Nico Bohnsack
Associate
Naritada Miura
Analyst
Lake Mizushima
Analyst
Saki Yoshimoto
Analyst
Miki Minawa
Senior HR Manager
Florin Grancea
Operation Manager
Kyoko Yamakawa
Executive Assistant
<
>
x
< > x
Jakob Edberg - GR Group
Jakob Edberg
President & CEO

Jakob Edberg is co-founder of The GR Company, and has over two decades of direct experience in politics and policy-making. Prior to co-founding The GR Company, Jakob was Policy Director at the European Business Council in Japan, where he supervised government outreach and advocacy for over 300 companies in 29 sector committees. He also served as a senior trade officer at the Swedish Embassy in Tokyo. Jakob is widely recognised as the leading government affairs practioner in Japan, with expertise in a range of policy areas including trade, consumer finance, energy and environment, tourism, and others.

Jakob is fluent in Japanese, English and Swedish, and complements degrees in political science and Japanese language with a Masters in International Political Economy from the University of Tsukuba, Japan.

< > x
Tomohiko Kinoshita
Tomohiko Kinoshita
Director

Tomohiko is a former Member of the House of Representatives. Prior to his election to the National Diet in 2012, Tomohiko had a successful business career, spending 18 years with Mitsui & Company, where he handled information industry-related operations in Japan, Europe and Asia.

As a Diet member, he served as Director at the Economy, Trade and Industry Committee, and Director at the Cabinet Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives. Tomohiko was also active in several Diet members' parliamentary leagues, including the Japan-EU Friendship Diet Members' League and the Japan-China Friendship Diet Members' League. 

Tomohiko graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Commerce, and is fluent in English.

< > x
Daisuke Sakamoto
Director

Daisuke Sakamoto is responsible for overseeing GR Japan’s healthcare team, which includes both health and pharmaceutical affairs. In addition, he supports clients' government relations and advocacy activities in the environment, tourism and energy sectors, achieving successes over the years.

Prior to joining GR Japan, Daisuke served as a Senior Executive at a clinical research company, and a policy aide to a Diet member, before being elected to the Diet himself in the 2012 election for the House of Representatives. He served in the Diet for one 2-year term, during which he was a member of the House of Representatives Committees on Financial Affairs and on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as well as a member of the House of Representatives Special Committee on Political Ethics and Election Law. He was also a Director of the Youth Division for the Party for Future Generations. During a career of over 15 years in Japanese politics, he has amassed a wide-ranging network of connections in the Diet, ministries and local government.


Daisuke is a graduate of Saint Martin’s University in Washington State, USA. He studied at the Departments of History and Political Science.

 

< > x
Shoko Takeda
Shoko Takeda
Director

Shoko Takeda oversees all IT, financial, energy, environment and security industries projects at GR Japan. She is an expert on the Japanese government's digital policies related to the semiconductor industry, AI, Digital Transformation (DX), platform services, web3, and blockchain, with experience supporting the government relations and advocacy of many IT companies.

Prior to joining GR Japan, she worked as a policy secretary for Diet members and assisted in legislative activities, including policy making and intelligence analysis for the deliberation of bills. She was deeply involved in the decision-making and legislative process of Japan's ruling party. She is a certified policy secretary for Diet members.

Shoko graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University and holds a Juris Doctor from Waseda Law School. She also received an M.A. in Socio-Information and Communication Studies from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies and conducted research on media theory and election reporting.

< > x
Yutaka Iwahori | GR Japan
Yutaka Iwahori
Director, Attorney at Law

Yutaka worked as Policy Secretary to members of the House of Representatives before joining GR Japan. He has had direct policy-making experience in a variety of policy areas, including social security, Japan’s response to the Fukushima Daiichi accident, renewable energy and environmental policy, and the promotion and energy market reform.

His experience includes liaison between the Diet and ministries (particularly the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Environment) as part of the process of introducing new legislation. Yutaka also has considerable experience of creating draft legislation, policies, and parliamentary questions, and is an expert on private-member bills.

Yutaka speaks fluent English and holds a Juris Doctor cum laude from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo. He is an attorney at Law (Admitted in Japan).

< > x
Tomohiro Gogo
Director

Tomohiro Gogo worked as an official of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for more than 10 years, in policy areas ranging from the promotion of SMEs to trade and consumer protection, as well as completing a secondment to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). He is now responsible for human resources at information services company Recruit. While at METI’s Trade Policy Unit, he played a vital role in formulating policies that resulted in a doubling of foreign direct investment to Japan under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. He has extensive experience of drafting legislation and working with the Diet to pass new laws, including in technical areas such as company law and taxation. 

Tomohiro graduated from the Law Department of Kyoto University and holds an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management.

< > x
Fredrik Lofthagen
Fredrik Lofthagen
Executive Director & Head of Global Advisory

Fredrik Lofthagen serves as Executive Director of The GR Company, Head of its Global Advisory Practice, and the company’s COO. A seasoned international government relations consultant, Fredrik brings 30 years of expertise as both a consultancy leader and an in-house practitioner.

Based in Singapore, he specializes in leveraging governments and inter-governmental organizations to drive organic growth and accelerate go-to-market strategies. His work is supported by The GR Company’s regional hubs in Singapore, London, and Washington D.C., as well as its 100-strong team in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. The company’s global network of top-tier affiliated firms further enhances its ability to serve clients worldwide.

With a legal background, Fredrik began his career in Brussels and went on to establish one of the largest government relations consultancies in Europe. Over the years, Fredrik has had the privilege of working as a government relations practitioner across multiple regions, including Europe, the US, and Asia. His diverse experience has given him a truly global perspective, allowing him to navigate complex governmental landscapes with a deep understanding of regional dynamics. He is also the creator of the world's largest partnership of independent government relations consultancies, spanning 70 markets worldwide. Fredrik's achievements are widely recognized, and he was the first consultancy leader in Europe to receive the prestigious SABRE Award for Government Relations Consultancy of the Year.

He holds a Master of Law from the University of Lund and is fluent in English, Swedish and French.

< > x
Jim
James Fatheree
Executive Director

Jim has over 25 years of experience working on U.S.-Asian trade and economic affairs. Prior to joining The GR Company, he served as Vice President for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, leading the work of a regional team covering Korea, China, Japan and Southeast Asia, and the Chamber's engagement in the U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Coalition.

Jim was also responsible for regional trade issues, and played a leadership role in managing the Chamber's work on the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). Between 2015-2016, Jim was co-leader of the U.S. Coalition for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, working directly with the White House, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative and other executive branch agencies to address business community's specific concerns. Jim is also a former President of the U.S.-Japan Business Council, where he played a significant role in working with U.S. companies to address trade, tax, regulatory, intellectual property and other policy issues in a wide range of major industries.

< > x
Linda Sekiguchi
Financial Director

Linda Sekiguchi has enjoyed a varied career in project management and finance administration. After graduation, she worked in the United States as project coordinator for a Seattle TV station, managing Japan-US projects. Upon her return to Japan, Linda joined the international division of a classical music artist management company, working with many well-known musicians and assisting in the production of operas and summer music festivals. After a period of freelance work, she was a senior finance administrator at the Royal Danish Embassy in Japan. Linda now effectively utilizes her administrative and finance experience at GR Japan. 

Linda graduated from Sophia University (Tokyo) with a B.A. in English Literature.

< > x
Daniela Dimitrova
Associate Director

Daniela Dimitrova is an experienced policy researcher and analyst. Before joining GR Japan, she worked in the areas of international cooperation and development, gaining experience at large international and humanitarian organisations, such as the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross. At GR Japan, she works on a variety of projects, including in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, and has been involved in outreach and liaison with both Diet member and bureaucrats.

Daniela speaks fluent Japanese and holds a B.A. in Law and Politics and an M.A. in International Politics from the University of Tokyo.

< > x
Takashi Kuroda
Associate Director

Takashi Kuroda has over 34 years of administrative experience at the Cabinet Office and the Consumer Affairs Agency, prior to joining GR Japan. He has been actively involved in all aspects of the policy-making process in fields such as foreign direct investment promotion, regulatory reform, economic and fiscal policies, and consumer administration. 

Recognized as an expert in parliamentary affairs, Takashi possesses a deep understanding of government processes.  During his tenure at the Cabinet Office, he played a pivotal role in formulating the "Basic Policies for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform" (commonly known as the Honebuto) between 2016 to 2018. Subsequently serving as Vice-Commissioner of Consumer Affairs Agency, he was directly involved in drafting and revising significant legislation related to consumer protection.

Takashi is a graduate of Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics.

< > x
Noriko Furuya
Senior Advisor

Noriko Furuya brings decades of distinguished experience in Japanese politics and policymaking to GR Japan as Senior Advisor.

Elected to the House of Representatives in 2003, Noriko served seven consecutive terms until her retirement in 2024. During her tenure, she held several high-profile government positions, including Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications under the Third Koizumi and First Abe Cabinets, and State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare during the Third Abe Cabinet.

In addition to her government roles, Noriko chaired the House of Representatives Committee on Economy, Trade, and Industry and previously led the Committee on Health, Labour, and Welfare. Within the Komeito Party, she held key leadership positions, such as Deputy Party Representative and Chair of the Women’s Committee and led the party’s Global Healthcare Promotion Committee.

< > x
Ambassador Koji Tsuruoka
Senior Adviser

Ambassador Koji Tsuruoka is the former Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and one of Japan’s most respected diplomats. He brings with him a wealth of experience from his 43 years at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was the Prime Minister’s Personal Representative in G7 and G20 Summits as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Japan's Chief Negotiator for the successful Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. He was also Chief Negotiator for services during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which paved the way for the formation of the World Trade Organization. Ambassador Tsuruoka has held a number of senior roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director-General for Global Issues, Director-General of the International Legal Affairs Bureau, and Director-General of the Foreign Policy Bureau.

His expertise includes International Law, Political and Security Issues as well as International Economic Negotiations.
 

< > x
Toshikazu Masuyama
Senior Advisor

Toshikazu Masuyama is a senior adviser to GR Japan. He is a former senior official at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), where he served in positions including Director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Division of the Trade Policy Bureau, Director for Policy Planning in the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, and Director-General of METI’s Hokkaido Bureau. His other contributions as a government official include negotiations on the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and promotion of a feed-in tariff system, a renewable energy policy in Japan.

< > x
Yoshiteru Uramoto
Senior Consultant

Yoshiteru Uramoto has a wealth of knowledge and unparalleled skills, with more than 30 years of experience working managerial positions at United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), working International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).  His expertise covers international aid and development in numerus areas from humanitarian programmes to education and health, international relations, migration, social justice, CSR (corporate social responsibility), and ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance).

During his rich career at UNICEF, Yoshiteru worked from 1978 to 2006 on delivering basic maternal and child health (MCH) services and education for women and children in emergencies and in poverty, developing policies, and building government capacities in many countries and regions over the globe, including Myanmar, Sudan, India, former Yugoslavia, Central Asian nations, Indonesia and East Timor, while also representing UNICEF in Japan and Korea at Tokyo office.

Yoshiteru also served as ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific from 2012 to 2014. Prior to that, he was Deputy to the Director-General of UNIDO supervising all field offices and their programme operations from 2007 to 2011.

He holds a master’s degree from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Sophia University, where he also worked as Distinguished Professor of Global Education and Discovery from 2015 to 2022.

< > x
Stewart Watters
Senior Consultant

Stewart Watters is a seasoned strategic communications and government relations consultant with extensive international experience in regional security and defence.

Stewart began his career in Business Development at Microsoft, focusing on the Middle East and Africa. He then spent the next 15 years in government-related work on foreign and security policy, first as a Government Relations Director at a leading NGO and then as a liaison officer at the British Parliament. 

In 2013, he joined the British Foreign Office, where he carried out high-level lobbying and delivered regular briefings on sensitive diplomatic and security matters, including at NATO and the EU. He led a communications team and collaborated across-government on key initiatives on counterterrorism and hostile disinformation operations.

Stewart holds a Master's degree in International Politics and Scandinavian Languages from The University of Edinburgh. 

< > x
Akinori Yabata
Senior Manager

Akinori Yabata has developed strong relationships with members of the Diet and their offices in both ruling and opposition parties. He has played a significant role in labor policies, specifically in the area of "Work Style Reform," and has garnered extensive experience in diverse fields such as IT, economy, finance, energy, environment, and fisheries. In his capacity as a consultant at GR Japan, he has organized and managed over 40 study sessions and educational events aimed at Diet members, policy secretaries, and other stakeholder groups, facilitating clients' government relations activities. Additionally, he oversees the management of GR Japan's SaaS-based IT solutions and e-Learning platforms.

During his tenure as the director of the president's office at Kodak Japan, Akinori was responsible for public affairs related to drug prices and healthcare policies due to Kodak's involvement in the X-ray diagnostic equipment and film industry. Before joining GR Japan, he worked at Japan's largest public relations firm, where he supervised more than 20 consultants as the head of a department specializing in IT and finance.

Akinori is a graduate of Keio University's Faculty of Economics and is fluent in English.
 

< > x
Yoshito Ogawa
Yoshito Ogawa
Senior Public Policy Manager

Yoshito  is an expert in public affairs activities, familiar with local administration. He worked in the private sector for five years before he was elected as member of Inzai City Assembly, in the northern part of Chiba Prefecture. From 2003-2019, he chaired various committees and served as both Vice Chair and Chair of the Assembly. He has extensive experience in analyzing and proposing policy, and has good relations with local assembly members all over Japan.

Yoshito graduated from Keio University in law.

< > x
Viktorija Belak
Viktorija Belak
Public Policy Manager

Viktorija is an experienced policy researcher and project manager with a deep understanding of the Japanese policy-making environment.

Since joining GR Japan, she has worked as policy researcher in a range of fields including energy, climate change, sports, food & beverages, healthcare, information technologies, tourism, agriculture, and public procurement. As a project manager and coordinator, Viktorija has worked on projects in the fields of energy, sports, food & beverages, and healthcare.

She has an MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Policy from Oxford University, and a First Class Honours degree in Japanese Studies from Sheffield University. She is fluent in English, Japanese, Russian and Lithuanian.

< > x
Takekuni Kurosawa
Takekuni Kurosawa
Public Policy Manager

Takekuni Kurosawa is a public policy specialist with over 10 years of experience in policy-making and policy research and analysis. Prior to joining GR Japan, he worked as an independent public policy consultant, Chief Policy Secretary to Diet members, and served as Chief Researcher at a political party-affiliated policy research institute. He has an extensive policy-making experience in areas such as regulatory reform, regional revitalization and construction of party manifestos. 

Takekuni obtained his Ph.D. in City Planning from University of Pennsylvania, U.S., and holds an M.Eng. in City Planning and B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from Waseda University. He is fluent in Japanese and English.

< > x
Hiroyasu Komine
Hiroyasu Komine
Public Policy Manager

Hiroyasu Komine is a seasoned public affairs professional with extensive experience of management roles within both the private sector and public sector. Prior to joining GR Japan, he served as Director of the Office for Public Employees’ Voice, Government Revitalization Unit, Deputy-Director of the Office for Revising the Freedom of Information Law, Director, National Policy Unit, and Councilor of the Secretariat of Public Interest Corporation Commission in the Government of Japan. During the period, he engaged in promoting “accountability” and “transparency” of public administration.

Hiroyasu holds B.A. from the Department of English Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Sophia University and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He is a graduate of the Matsushita Institute of Government & Management.

< > x
Raju Thakrar
Raju Thakrar
Public Policy Manager

During his 20-year career in Japan, Raju Thakrar worked for some of Japan’s most prestigious companies. For over five years, he was a reporter and editor at The Japan Times, the oldest English language newspaper in Japan. He also worked as a writer for the science magazine, Nature. In the communications field, Raju worked as a communications manager at Takeda, Japan’s top pharmaceutical company, Jatco, one of Nissan’s tier-one subsidiaries, and in a renowned public relations agency.

At GR Japan, Raju works on a wide variety of sectors, including technology, automotive, and international trade associations. In addition to his writing and communications skills, he has extensive translation experience, working in fields that include automotive and marketing.

Raju speaks and writes fluent Japanese and English. He has a chemistry degree from the University of Sussex in the UK.

 

< > x
Norikazu Takahata
Norikazu Takahata
Public Policy Manager

For over 20 years, Norikazu has been involved with private medical organisations and is thus well-versed in Japan’s social security system, with a particular focus on the medical aspect. Drawing on his profound experience in working with multiple patient groups while representing the interests of parents, he is responsible for making policy proposals for healthcare systems surrounding paediatric care, and maintains an extensive network of doctors, healthcare professionals, patient groups, Diet members, and local politicians. Norikazu is a member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Vaccination Research Group, and has experience acting as a reference to the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare’s Council on Novel Influenza Measures and its Vaccination Subcommittee, amongst others.

Norikazu graduated from Chiba University’s Faculty of Law, Politics & Economics with a degree in Economics.

< > x
Shunsuke Nio
Shunsuke Nio
Public Policy Manager

Shunsuke Nio is an experienced government relations consultant with a strong understanding of the Japanese policy-making process and a wide network among policy professionals. He oversees global health policy-related projects, with focus on multilateral cooperation and public-private partnerships.

Before joining GR Japan, Shunsuke worked at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on export strategy formulation, the promotion of Japanese companies, and regional revitalization.

Shunsuke holds a B.A. in International Liberal Studies from Waseda University. He is fluent in Japanese and English.

< > x
Shoichiro Kominami
Shoichiro Kominami
Public Policy Manager

Shoichiro Kominami has in-depth experience of Japan’s electric power industry.  Prior to joining GR Japan, he worked for a regional power giant, Chugoku Electric Power Company Inc.  At the utility, Shoichiro was engaged in a wide variety of activities, including stakeholder engagement during power plant construction, plant management, procurement, industrial waste disposal and research support.  He now utilizes his wealth of experience to assist in research and outreach activities at GR Japan.

Shoichiro holds a Bachelor of Laws from Hosei University.

< > x
Austin Smith
Austin Smith
Public Policy Manager

Austin Smith oversees several projects in the IT, energy, and environment sectors, and is an experienced policy researcher and analyst with a strong understanding of the Japanese policy making process.

Since joining GR Japan, Austin has been engaged in several major research and outreach projects relating to Japanese energy and IT policy, covering topics including economic security, countermeasures against online disinformation, grid management, and the regulatory landscape for offshore wind power. Prior to joining GR Japan, he managed logistics and supply chain operations for aircraft engines at All Nippon Airways Trading Co. and worked as a Research Associate for the Economist Group in Tokyo.

Austin holds an MA in International Relations from Waseda University’s Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies and a BA in International Affairs and East Asian Languages and Cultures from Florida State University. He is a native English speaker and fluent in Japanese.

< > x
Vivian Law
Public Policy Manager

Vivian Law is a seasoned international and public affairs specialist.  At GR Japan, she oversees energy and environment related projects, with a focus on developing and delivering effective stakeholder engagement strategy on decarbonisation across major sectors such as automobiles, steel and finance.  Prior to joining GR Japan, Vivian worked at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.  There she contributed to multilateral cooperation and the development of public-private partnerships, working as project manager for business delegations led by senior Hong Kong government officials to Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East.  She also facilitated policy processes, serving as liaison officer for overseas business chambers and administrator for a range of industry advisory committees.   

Vivian holds a first class honours degree in Social Science (BSS) from the University of Hong Kong and was offered the Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Global Environmental Studies at Kyoto University.  She is fluent in English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Cantonese.

< > x
Emi Nobuhiro
Emi Nobuhiro
Public Policy Manager

Emi Nobuhiro effectively applies her considerable journalistic skills to her research and government relations portfolios at GR Japan.  She previously worked for Bloomberg News and Hiroshima Television Corporation in Japan. As a policy reporter for Bloomberg, Emi covered economic, monetary, foreign, and security policy during the Abe, Suga, and Kishida administrations. She possesses a wide network of sources in the ruling parties and ministries and also has extensive experience covering local, central government, and international affairs.

Emi holds a B.A. in Language and Culture from Tokyo Woman's Christian University.

< > x
Tomoko Sakurai
Public Policy Manager

Tomoko Sakurai brings extensive experience across Japanese and international government agencies as well as the private sector.

Prior to joining GR Japan, Tomoko specialized in diplomatic affairs in Southeast Asia and Mekong countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. She then continued her work in the region at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where she engaged in ODA (Official Development Assistance) projects. In the private sector, she served as an ODA development consultant manager, leading the multinational team on infrastructure field projects. Additionally, she has held key roles in major global pharmaceutical companies, including project management in clinical development and policy planning in pharmaceutical public policy.

Fluent in English and a native Japanese speaker, Tomoko also has proficiency in French.

She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies at Kobe University.

< > x
Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
Events Manager

Ai Takahashi has extensive experience in business-to-business and business-to-consumer events management and coordination, mainly at global financial institutions. She has led events of various types and sizes, from seminars and conferences to high-end events for C-level clients.

Ai completed a Masters’ degree in International Studies at the University of Bath and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Language and Culture from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. She is fluent in Japanese, English, and Italian.

< > x
Mina Takahashi
Mina Takahashi
Coalition Manager

Mina Takahashi started her career at the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in Seattle as Project Coordinator. On her return to Tokyo, she worked directly to the Secretary-General of an international organization, the ASEAN Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism, for four years.

She developed her expertise in public relations at the Japanese arm of a global PR firm, where she handled a range of client accounts, from healthcare to tourism boards, chemicals to technologies. She then worked as the Media Relations Officer for the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) until moving to Singapore in 2008, where she was Asia-Pacific PR and Marketing Manager for Euromonitor International, a global market intelligence and research firm, coming back to Japan in 2013. From 2019 to 2022, she worked for SMBC Americas Division in New York City as PR/Media Relations Manager.

Mina studied in Denver, Colorado, has a B.A. in Communications and Mass Media from Temple University Japan, and an M.A. in Communication from Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

< > x
Masahiro Taniguchi
Associate Manager

Masahiro Taniguchi has broad experience in international cooperation and foreign and security policy in positions including Political Assistant, Political and Military Affairs Unit, the Political Section, US Embassy Tokyo, Government Partnership Officer, UN World Food Programme Japan Relations Office, Emergency Response Officer, the Secretariat of Japan Disaster Relief team, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Programme Coordinator for a NGO called Association for Aid and Relief Japan as well as a consultant for a Japanese company which provides safety and security services for Japanese companies and JICA venturing overseas.

He has solid and extensive knowledge and experience in military and security affairs, Japan-US security relationship as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief with focus on civil-military coordination and logistics.

Masahiro holds master’s degrees from both Japan and the US. He earned one from the School of Law at Hokkaido University in Japan, where he majored in international politics. His other degree is from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh in the US, with a focus on military and international security in East Asia.

 

< > x
Yua Kanai
Associate Manager

Yua Kanai has over 15 years of experience working in international business, with particular expertise in the healthcare and financial sectors.  She worked at the London EMEA headquarters of one of the largest Japanese banks, gaining solid product development capabilities and project management skills in transaction banking. Prior to that, Yua served as HR and PR officer at a British medical device company in Japan. 

Yua holds a B.A. in Law, specialising in international law and business, from Chuo University in Japan.  She is fluent in Japanese and English.

< > x
Uran-Uchig (Uchka) Chimegbaatar
Uran-Uchig (Uchka) Chimegbaatar
Associate Manager

At GR Japan, Uchka Chimegbaatar is contributing with her analytical and project management skills, while concurrently serving as an in-house interpreter/translator. After graduating from university, Uchka joined Mitsubishi Corporation in 2013 and was in charge of project management of mineral resource investments for four years. She was then dispatched to London as a trainee at a broker-dealer for London Metals Exchange, where she gained experiences in non-ferrous metals futures trading and business management.

Uchka is a Mongolian national, with native-level Japanese and fluency in English.  She is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington (December 2012), double majoring in Economics and International Studies with a certificate in LAMP (Liberal Arts and Management Program).

< > x
Dongyin Xu
Associate Manager

Dongyin Xu is primarily responsible for IT, energy, and environment accounts at GR Japan. He has been involved in many policy research reports and outreach projects, particularly in the areas of economic security, offshore wind power and the circular economy.  Previously, Dongyin worked for a Tokyo-based international NGO as a humanitarian aid project manager, where he was responsible for the management of multiple humanitarian aid projects, funding-related work and coordination with the Japanese government.

Dongyin holds a B.A. in International Politics from Aoyama Gakuin University and an M.A. in War Studies from the Department of War Studies, King's College London. He is fluent in Chinese, Japanese and English.

< > x
Gábor Seprényi
Gábor Seprényi
Associate Manager

Gábor Seprényi is an experienced international relations specialist. He is a former diplomat with two decades experience in the foreign service including two terms spent in Japan covering wide range of areas including domestic, foreign and security and energy policy and economic security. Since joining GR Japan he has been working on Consumer, Entertainment, Tourism, and Transport area.

Gábor is a graduate of Corvinus University Budapest with an MSc in Economic Sciences majoring in finance. He is a Hungarian national, fluent in English with a professional level of Japanese, and intermediate level of German.

< > x
Haruka Kitamura
Associate Manager

Haruka Kitamura is a core member of GR Japan's healthcare team. Leveraging her analytical expertise in policy and regulatory affairs and an established network of national policymakers, she offers clients comprehensive services, ranging from policy research and analysis to the designing and implementation of strategic outreach to political stakeholders. She specializes in global health, IT, and children's policies.  Prior to joining GR Japan, Haruka was selected by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intern at the Washington D.C. office of a U.S. congressman. 

Haruka holds a B.A. in International and Area Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies where she majored in Comparative Politics. She is fluent in English and Japanese.

 

< > x
Mary Popeo
Associate Manager

Mary Popeo manages projects, conducts policy analysis and supports clients in the fields such as IT, entertainment and tourism at GR Japan.  She has a strong background working in the Japanese social sector, where she spent 10 years supporting Japanese NPOs in projects related to SDGs, youth empowerment and social entrepreneurship.  She is a cofounder of PCV, a Hiroshima-based NPO and social business that partners with Japanese travel agencies and a community of paid youth leaders to offer peace education programs to over 10,000 people every year. 

Before joining GR Japan, Mary worked as Program Assistant at Harvard Kennedy School’s Master in Public Administration in International Development program and as an intern at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)’s Japan Chair.

Mary holds a B.A. in International Studies from Boston College.  She is a native English speaker and fluent in Japanese.

< > x
Chris Shimamoto
Associate

Chris Shimamoto possesses extensive knowledge of both Japanese and U.S. politics and policymaking processes.  Prior to joining GR Japan, he worked as an editor for The Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, and completed internships with the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Department of Treasury, and Bloomberg News’ Tokyo bureau.  At GR Japan, Chris works on a variety of accounts covering decarbonisation policy, vaccines, global health, defence equipment, and other areas.  He excels at quickly digesting new subject matter and analysing how public policy affects business development.

Chris holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a native English speaker and fluent in Japanese.

< > x
Jacqueline Collier
Associate

Jacqueline Collier is an experienced policy researcher with a strong understanding of the Japanese policy-making environment. Since joining GR Japan, she has engaged in research and outreach in the fields of consumer affairs, tourism, entertainment, IT, global health, and healthcare.  Prior to joining  GR Japan, Jacqueline was a Coordinator for International Relations for the JET Programme, working at the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education on professional development for English language teachers, Olympic and Paralympic education, international exchange, and education to foster a global mindset. 

Jacqueline holds an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of South Florida. A native English speaker, she is fluent in Japanese, with an advanced level of Mandarin Chinese. 

< > x
Ayaji Fujita
Associate

Ayaji Fujita is a skilled associate with a deep understanding of Japan’s policy landscape. Specializing in the energy, environment, and IT sectors, she has played a key role in various accounts, contributing valuable insights and analysis. Since joining GR Japan, she has been involved in a wide range of projects, including advocating for a green transition on a global scale and analyzing the policy environment for cutting-edge information technologies.

Ayaji holds a B.A. in Global Studies from International Christian University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Public Policy. She is fluent in Japanese and English.

< > x
Nico Bohnsack
Associate

Nico Bohnsack is an international relations specialist who dedicated himself to Japanese-German relations for many years before joining GR Japan.  He worked at the Tokushima Prefectural Government for five years, managing numerous exchange projects with Tokushima’s partner region in Germany in areas such as healthcare, energy, education, and sports.  He also used to work as a German language lecturer at Konan University.  Since joining GR Japan, Nico has been involved in several IT, healthcare, and global health projects.

Nico holds an M.A. in International Area Studies from the University of Tsukuba, an M.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Bonn, and a B.A. in East Asian Studies from the University of Hamburg. He further spent two semesters at Osaka City University and Korea University in Seoul. He is a native German speaker and fluent in Japanese and English.

< > x
Naritada Miura
Analyst

Naritada “Nari” brings extensive experience fostering strong U.S.-Japan relations to our team. Previously, he worked at the Sasakwa Peace Foundation USA overseeing programs focusing on the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, coordinating annual Japanese parliamentary delegation visits to Washington, D.C., and supporting the Pacific Islands Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Program. His current portfolio includes projects in technology, IT, and global health.

Born in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, Nari immigrated to the United States with his family over 20 years ago. He is fluent in both English and Japanese and has studied Spanish and Chinese during his years in high school.

He graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a bachelor’s degree in international relations with a concentration in East Asian Studies.

 

< > x
Lake Mizushima
Analyst

Lake Mizushima is a skilled analyst specializing in Japan's policy landscape. His experience includes internships at the Ireland Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC) and with the global risk analysis team of a risk control consulting firm where he focused on Japan and Northeast Asia.

Born in Tokyo and raised in the Philippines for over 15 years,  he developed strong connections with political and diplomatic figures during his time there.

Lake holds a B.A. from Sophia University in Tokyo and is fluent in English and Japanese.

 

< > x
Saki Yoshimoto
Analyst

Saki Yoshimoto is an experienced analyst with a strong background in East Asian politics and a particular focus on security issues.  Previously, she interned at the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat where she deepened her understanding of regional cooperation and diplomacy.

Saki holds a B.A. in Political Science from Doshisha University, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Public Policy and a Master of International Studies from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of International Studies.

She is fluent in both English and Japanese.

< > x
Miki Minawa
Senior HR Manager

Miki Minawa is a seasoned global professional and has an extensive experience in HR.  She started her career at  the Japan headquarters of a U.S. insurance company in Tokyo, where she was responsible for warranty insurance sales and compliance. Later, she was transferred to the company’s London office, working as the key account manager selling warranty insurance to UK-based retailers. Miki then moved to Germany to work at the Frankfurt branch of a Japanese financial institution, taking charge of HR and general office management.

Miki studied literature at Sophia University in Tokyo.  In addition to her native Japanese, she speaks fluent English and German.

< > x
Florin Grancea
Operation Manager

Florin Grancea is a highly skilled international communicator with over two decades of experience as a former journalist. He excels at bridging cultural divides and is renowned for his strong networking abilities, as a native Romanian speaker fluent in Japanese, English, Italian and French.  At GR Japan, Florin is actively involved in organizing Diet seminars, overseeing talent acquisition and retention, and collaborating closely with the COO on corporate governance initiatives.

Florin holds a B.A. in Communication and Journalism from Bucharest University, as well as an M.A. in Social Sciences and Communication from the University of Tokyo.

< > x
Kyoko Yamakawa
Executive Assistant

Kyoko Yamakawa served as an Official Policy Aide to a distinguished member of the House of Representatives, leveraged extensive networks within the Diet to inform policy decisions effectively. Prior to that, she worked for the Japan Centre for International Exchange (JCIE) as Program Officer and spearheaded Japan's political exchanges with the United States and Australia, fostering robust relations between these nations with exceptional leadership and diplomatic finesse. Beyond bilateral engagements, Kyoko held a crucial role as the head of the Secretariat of the Japan-Korea Forum, delicately managing diplomatic intricacies to foster dialogue and cooperation between Japan and South Korea.

Kyoko is fluent in Japanese and English.

CONTACT US

By sending, I agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms of Service.
Footer
  • About Us
  • Services
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
Social Profile
  • LinkedIn
Sitewide
  • GR Korea
  • GR Taiwan
  • The GR Company
  • EN/JP

© 2024 GR Japan

Menu Term
  • Terms of service
  • Privacy policy