NAGOYA CONNÉCT #120

NAGOYA CONNÉCT is a community event held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Nagono Campus, under the theme "Connect with Nagoya. Connect in Nagoya." Through lectures by diverse innovators and workshops that accelerate innovation, participants can gain new insights and expand their networks by leveraging shared experiences. Let’s broaden the circle of innovation and take on new challenges together.
Scroll down to see the details for each session.

Although there is a capacity limit shown on this page, participation is flexible, and walk-ins are more than welcome!
Online participation is also available. For more details, please visit the event page here:
https://community.venturecafetokyo.org/events/29277df6-37a3-4486-9f2d-27509c84e95b

Operated by: Venture Café Tokyo
Hosted by: City of Nagoya
Participation is free.

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## ❏ Sessions

### 17:00 - 18:00 | HYBRID (Japanese)

"Designing the Forms of Happiness" — New Models of Organizations and Society Created by Well-being
In the coming era, organizations and society will be judged not only by their "growth" but by how well they can design "happiness." Well-being is evolving beyond simple employee benefits or satisfaction; it is becoming the "corporate value" itself. In this session, Yoshiki Ishikawa, a leading authority on well-being research, will decode the latest insights and social trends. He is joined by Naoki Miyazaki, Chairman of Toyoda Gosei, who will share real-world implementation cases from the front lines of management. Together, they will discuss how to perceive and implement well-being from their respective standpoints.
【Presenters】

• Yoshiki ISHIKAWA
• Public Health Researcher | Ph.D. (Medicine)
• Born in Hiroshima in 1981. After graduating from the University of Tokyo and earning a Master’s from Harvard School of Public Health, he received his Ph.D. from Jichi Medical University. He serves as the Representative Director of the "Well-being for Planet Earth" Foundation. Under the theme of "How humans and the Earth can live in harmony," he works on long-term initiatives spanning generations ("Unson" - 8 generations later, approx. 200–300 years).
• Naoki MIYAZAKI
• Chairman of the Board, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
• Graduate of Kyoto University’s Faculty of Law. Joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1980. After serving in HR, Public Affairs, and Legal, he became Managing Officer in 2008 and Senior Managing Officer in 2013. He joined Toyoda Gosei in 2014, serving as President (2015) and Chairman (2020). He has also served as Representative Director of the Chubu Association of Corporate Executives (2022–2025).

【Moderator】

• Makoto AOU
• Planning & Operations Producer,Nagono Campus | CEO, LEO Co., Ltd.
• After working as a software engineer, she became the first female executive at a tech company in 2012. She founded LEO Co., Ltd. after co-founding ExaWizards Inc. Currently, she is the producer of "Nagono Campus," an incubation facility housed in a former elementary school, and a navigator for ZIP-FM’s "Startup [N]." She also holds visiting professor/associate professor positions at Musashino University and Nagoya University.

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### 18:00 - 18:30 | HYBRID (Japanese)

How to enjoy NAGOYA CONNÉCT
We will introduce the worldview of Venture Café Tokyo and provide a guide on how to make the most of NAGOYA CONNÉCT. This session also features the latest information on Nagoya’s startup ecosystem. First-time participants are highly encouraged to join!

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### 18:30 - 19:30 | HYBRID (Japanese but English Friendly)

Regenerative Agri-Food Shift — From "Consumption" to "Regeneration": The Present and Future of Agriculture and Food
Climate change, resource depletion, and a volatile international landscape—global food security is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. In the face of these global challenges, how should Japan’s "on-the-ground wisdom" and "enterprises—especially startups" respond? In this session, we will discuss the construction of a circular economy based on real-world conditions and the realization of sustainable social implementation. Furthermore, joined by experts well-versed in global agri-food trends, we will dissect the essential requirements for Japanese-led innovations to succeed in the global market.
【Presenters】 Coming soon...!

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### 19:40 - 20:40 | HYBRID (Japanese)

Creating "Heat" at High Speed as a Latecomer — The Reality of Corporate Co-creation Communities Proven by Marubeni Agora’s 2,000+ Members
Since its opening in September 2023, "Innovation Lab Agora," run by Marubeni’s Chubu Branch, has surpassed 2,000 members in just over a year. Among the many innovation hubs in Nagoya, it stands out for its overwhelming speed and frequency of activity. Why has a latecomer hub managed to attract such diverse players and become a "heat source" for moving projects? The secret lies in a gritty yet strategic community design unique to a general trading company (Sogo Shosha). In this session, we welcome Atsushi Suzuki, the creator of Agora, and Jun Kitagawa, who accelerates co-creation as the operations manager. They are joined by Takeshi Isaku from Musashi Seimitsu Industry, who established "Musashi Innovation Lab Clue" and now serves as an evangelist for Agora. Together, they will dive deep into the "true value" of corporations running their own communities.
【Presenters (Alphabetical order)】

• Takeshi ISAKU
• Senior Executive Officer & Chief Innovation Officer, Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd. | Head of Musashi Innovation Lab Clue
• After 18 years in the US handling OEM sales, he returned to Japan in 2010. Since 2019, as CIO, he has overseen new business development, establishing JVs with Israeli tech firms (MusashiAI, 634AI). As a CVC Director, he has executed 15+ investments in startups across Israel, Silicon Valley, Canada, and Japan, currently focusing on Green Tech in Africa.
• Jun KITAGAWA
• Operations Manager, MARUBENI Innovation Lab Agora | Deputy General Manager, Chubu Branch, Marubeni Corporation
• A graduate of Nagoya University’s Faculty of Law. An expert in fashion business (D2C, SCM, retail) with broad experience in M&A and business management. He has tackled management challenges at enterprises in Peru, the UK, and Japan (GU). Since April 2023, he has led Agora, focusing on realizing open innovation from the Chubu region. He is also an invited faculty member at Nagoya University’s D-Center.
• Atsushi SUZUKI
• Former Executive Officer & General Manager of Chubu Branch, Marubeni Corporation
• Joined Marubeni in 1987, specializing in automotive, finance, and mobility. Spent 18 years stationed in Belgium, Sweden, the US, and India. After serving as President of Marubeni India, he led the Chubu Branch from 2022 and founded Agora in 2023. He recently established Woodbell Holding LLC to support ventures and serves as a visiting professor at Nagoya University.

【Moderator】

• Mizuki AMANO
• Innovation Promotion Dept., FUJI Corporation
• Handles market research and startup scouting at FUJI. She is involved in launching and operating internal business contests and design thinking training. Holding the "GIMI Innovation Catalyst" international certification, she serves as a lecturer and mentor for the "Innovator’s Bus" program—a joint entrepreneurship initiative by Musashi Seimitsu Industry, FUJI, and Marubeni.

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17:30 - 21:00 | In-person Only
Networking
All participants of NAGOYA CONNÉCT are invited to network. Let's expand the circle of innovation together through this program.