NAGOYA CONNÉCT #119

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/ab0a9b8c-5605-4052-b5dc-beabf83ea9db

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

## ❏ Sessions

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

Turning the Entire City into a Stage of "Enthusiasm" — The Expansion Plan for the 3rd TechGALA, Inspired by SXSW and NoMaps
Business, technology, music, and art. At SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas, all boundaries melt away, turning the entire city into a massive experimental playground. How can we "implement" that overwhelming energy into the 3rd TechGALA to create a new explosion where business and play converge?
In this session, we bring together the core members who built the excitement of the previous TechGALA. Joining them are Tsuyoshi Kurimoto (JR Central) and Chihiro Furukawa, who experienced the heat of SXSW firsthand in March 2026; Toshio Morimura, who is building the next decade of co-creation at "NoMaps"—one of Japan’s leading urban festivals in Sapporo—and who also traveled to SXSW this year; and journalist Keiko Yamamoto, known for her keen insights into social trends.

• "How can we balance business deals with the 'frenzy' of music and networking?"
• "What mechanisms can make sponsors enjoy the event beyond traditional branding?"
• "What themes should we be debating at TechGALA?"

We will discuss a "serious expansion plan" for the third installment, exploring how to bloom SXSW’s global energy and NoMaps' "city-hacking playfulness" in the soil of Nagoya. Join us as we design the future of this city’s new standard of enthusiasm.
【Presenters (Alphabetical order)】

• Tsuyoshi KURIMOTO
• Director, Innovation Promotion Office, Technology Development Dept., Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central)
• Born in Kanagawa in 1975. After earning his master’s in engineering in 1999, he joined JR Central to work in industries close to people's daily lives. Following roles in customer service improvement, HR, and management, he moved to the technology department in 2017. He played a key role in establishing the "Innovation Promotion Office" in 2020 and returned to lead it in 2024. As the "challenger unit" of the tech department, he is dedicated to sparking non-linear change. Hobbies: Sake, F1, and community activities.
• Keiko YAMAMOTO
• Journalist | Former NHK Senior Commentator (Gender & Equality)
• Joined NHK in 1995. After serving as a reporter and editor, she broadcasted news globally in English for "NHK WORLD JAPAN" starting in 2014. From 2019, she served as Deputy Editor in Nagoya and concurrently as a Senior Commentator from 2021, specializing in gender issues. She became an independent journalist in September 2024. Having founded a study group for female journalists in 2001 (now 1,000+ members), she continues to drive social change through media. She is an "Asia 21 Fellow" and a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo.
• Toshio MORIMURA
• Executive Director, NoMaps Executive Committee
• Originally from Osaka. After a career in artist management, event production, and advertising, he moved to Sapporo. He joined NoMaps during its planning phase and has since focused on creating cross-sector co-creation platforms to drive innovation from Hokkaido. Appointed as the new Executive Director of NoMaps in April 2026, he aims to connect people, regions, and ideas to foster future-facing movements.

【Moderator】

• Chihiro FURUKAWA
• Program Manager, NAGOYA CONNÉCT | LEO Co., Ltd.
• A graduate of Nagoya University’s Faculty of Education, she began her career in foreign exchange at a major bank. After working in business event direction, she joined LEO in 2023. As Program Manager for NAGOYA CONNÉCT, she plans and operates events alongside a team of ambassadors. She also serves in the TechGALA secretariat and recently experienced SXSW firsthand!

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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)

Why hasn’t Nagoya’s charm "Transformed" yet? — The Power of PR to Turn a City into a Brand
"Nagoya is bad at self-promotion." "Nagoya is terrible at PR." Some of Japan’s top communicators are here to shatter these self-deprecating stereotypes. From an outside perspective, Central Japan (Aichi/Nagoya/Tokai) is a rare "treasure trove" where unique culture meets an overwhelming industrial foundation. The recent TechGALA proved this region's potential once again. So why does its charm fail to fully "transform," and why is it still sometimes mocked for being "skipped over"?
In this session, we welcome Eishiro Noro, a broadcast writer and strategic PR consultant who has woven countless "compelling stories," and Emi Senda, who has sparked movements as an "external PR department" for numerous companies. Guided by PR specialist Natsuko Inukai, who generated 2,000 media hits annually for a major department store, we will dissect "Nagoya’s true weapons." Learn how to verbalize the envy felt by outsiders and strategically deliver that message to upgrade Nagoya into a world-class brand.
【Presenters (Alphabetical order)】

• Eishiro NORO
• Broadcast Writer & Strategic PR Consultant
• Born in Obu, Aichi. While planning and writing for major TV programs, he crafts branding and PR strategies for corporations and executives. His strength lies in transforming philosophies into "stories that stick." Author of Why Do Fast Workers Build Systems?, he actively bridges the gap between business and media through writing and lectures.
• Emi SENDA
• CEO, Front Stage Co., Ltd.
• Born in 1980. After roles as a teacher and in ad sales, she led PR for Demae-can, Dr.Ci:Labo, and STORES. At STORES, her PR strategies contributed to 200% annual growth. She founded Front Stage in 2016, serving as an "external PR office" for companies. She also leads the "Power Mama Project" to support working mothers and has authored several books on media relations and PR.

【Moderator】

• Natsuko INUKAI
• CEO, Wo-one Co., Ltd.
• Spent 15 years in PR for a major department store at Nagoya Station, leading them to 500 TV segments a year. Founded Wo-one in 2023 to help companies build in-house PR capabilities. She serves as a lecturer for KADOKAWA and a Press Release Evangelist for PR TIMES. Her book, Passion Relations (KADOKAWA), was published in 2025.

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

The Structure of Female Outflow in a Manufacturing City — AI, Workstyles, and City Redesign Analyzing Nagoya’s "Now" through Multi-hub, Local, and Global Perspectives
Nagoya is a manufacturing powerhouse, yet it faces urgent challenges: low gender equality indices and career interruptions due to life events. To remain a city chosen by the next generation and the world, how should we redesign our social "OS"?
This session brings together professionals who support autonomous careers from borderless perspectives. We will discuss how to turn care work and career gaps into unique expertise using AI as a tailwind. Looking toward the 2026 Asian Para Games, we will also explore how to upgrade tourism and PR into world-class "strategic professions" to make Nagoya a destination for global talent.
【Presenters (Alphabetical order)】

• Sayuri SEKI
• Representative Director, Career Connect Association
• A former top-tier sales professional at Recruit Career Consulting with 27 awards. After moving to China for her husband’s assignment, she founded Career Connect to support expatriate partners and corporate global human resources. She is a finalist for METI’s "RED CHUBU" program and currently resides in Beijing.
• Hidesato NAITO
• CEO, Local Story LLC
• A Waseda graduate and former Mitsubishi UFJ banker who took the unique path of becoming a comedian (NSC) for three years. He then pivoted to tourism, co-founding Prime Concept and managing marketing for over 300 lodging facilities. Now, as head of Local Story, he focuses on regional revitalization and DMO support. Author of Tourism Business.
• Kiyono YAGAMI
• CEO, Manabiyah Mom Co., Ltd. | MBA (UT Austin)
• After an MBA from UT Austin and consulting at IBM Japan, she founded a parent-child support group in Nagoya in 2009. She has since built a community of 6,000+ women, promoting entrepreneurship and career development. She currently leads a multi-hub lifestyle across Saitama, Aichi, and Nagano, driving regional innovation.
• Maki KATSUME
• Leader, Writing Ship
• A Nanzan University graduate and former Mitsubishi UFJ banker. After becoming a freelance writer to find "life fulfillment" alongside motherhood, she now writes for major financial media. In 2023, she launched the female writer team "Writing Ship" and has been organizing AI-utilization workshops since early 2026.

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### 17:30 - 21:00 | On-site Only

Networking
An opportunity for all NAGOYA CONNÉCT participants to interact. Let’s expand the circle of innovation together!