Investment Advisory Services and Agency Business Service
Registration No. : Director General of the Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Financial Instrument Firm, \u201cKINSHO\u201d) No. 2162
Affiliate Association : Japan Investment Advisers Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asuka Corporate Advisory was established in March 2005. Asuka Corporate Advisory started to support the enhancement of corporate value of investee companies of the “Asuka Value Up Fund”. On March 2009, the firm registered as Investment Advisor Service with the Financial Services Agency of Japan. They continue to seek potential investee, and research and advise to enhance corporate values. On December 2022, the firm agreed on a capital and business alliance with Aozora Bank, Limited (8304).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name, \u201cAsuka\u201d, is derived from the Asuka period in Japanese history, which heralded in a new era in which the traditional cultures of Japan borrowed influences from foreign cultures and civilizations. At Asuka, we are committed to bringing a new practice to Japanese capital markets by adopting global best practices and integrating them with Japanese practices, which has proved successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name \u201cAsuka\u201d is also written using the Chinese characters meaning \u201ctomorrow\u201d (\u201casu\u201d) and \u201cfragrance\u201d (\u201cka\u201d), which can be interpreted to imply blossom and prosperity. Our hope is to create future prosperity for businesses in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our team is comprised of professionals carefully selected for their diverse set of skills in order to ensure that our model, aiming at high performance with low market correlation and limited downside, is successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Taniya has a broad range of investment experience from fixed-income derivatives to private equity. The early part of his career was marked by successful years at Salomon Brothers, where he joined in 1987. As the youngest managing director in Asia, he was the head of regional proprietary trading division for Japan and Asia, while widely regarded in the region as one of the pioneers in financial arbitrage trading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He subsequently joined Tudor Capital (Japan) as one of the founding partners and led an MBO to found Asuka Asset Management where he has served as chairman. He is credited for developing the firm into a leading independent hedge fund in Japan. In addition, he has set up the PE Fund AD Capital (Mercuria), which is a joint venture with DBJ, focused on investments in Asia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a venture capitalist, he initiated the launch of Lifenet Insurance Company, the first online life insurance company, invested in \u201cstudio yoggy,\u201d a pioneering yoga studio, widely considered to have contributed to the popularization of Yoga in Japan, started Campus for H Inc., a health care venture which develops and markets innovative corporate wellness programs, and promotes well-being including mindfulness, Money Design Inc., the first Robo Advisor company in Japan and Longhash Japan which is incubator of blockchain in Japan. In addition, he and his team set up a corporate venture capital together with IDEO which is famous for design thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the NGO\/NPO sphere, he serves as Representative Founder of International School of Asia, Karuizawa (UWCISAK), the first international boarding school in Japan, since its establishment. In addition, he is the vice chairperson of Human Rights Watch which is one of the world\u2019s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights, director of Asia Pacific Initiative Foundation and board member of Endeavor Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr. Taniya received his B.A. in law from the University of Tokyo in 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career at The Nippon Credit Bank, Limited (now Aozora Bank) where he rose to the role of listed equity fund manager. He then joined JAFCO Co., Ltd. where he gained experience in private equity investment and the enhancement of business value. During this time, he served as an independent director at portfolio companies, including Yuasa Electronics, Co., Ltd., Kitchenhouse, and Victoria Inc. He then moved to Morgan Stanley where he was a research analyst covering small and medium-size companies. He left Morgan Stanley to join Asuka Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tanaka received his B.A. in Arabic Studies from Osaka University of Foreign Studies (currently School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University) and his MBA from Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is Excecutive Officer, CFO at Aizawa asset management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has broad range of investment experience spanning over 23 years. He joined Asuka Group in 2005. Prior to joining Asuka Group, he was a director at Unison Capital (2000-2005), where he led many private equity investment deals and advised lots of companies. He also has investment experience in Japanese and foreign listed equities at The Nippon Credit Bank and Gartmore group (1990-1999). He performed stock selections with good foresight through bottom-up approach and fundamental analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agata received his B.A. from Tokyo Gakugei University. He also received an MBA from Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law, Waseda University(now Graduate School of Business and Finance).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has 23 years’ experience of strategy consulting in Accenture. He is a founding member of Japan strategy service from 1990. He led Japan Management Consulting and APAC Strategy Service in Accenture until March 31, 2013, as one of the three global management committee members.
He joined Accenture in 1990 with Master of Science in Tokyo University. He promoted to Manager in 1994 and partner in 1998. He was appointed as managing partner of APAC healthcare industry in 2000, Japan Management Consulting in 2006, APAC Strategy Service in 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After graduating from the School of Commerce at Waseda University, Jun Shinozaki joined Nippon Credit Bank (currently Aozora Bank).
He was mainly engaged in lending and credit examining operations for corporations. After serving as Branch Manager of Takamatsu Branch, General Manager of Credit Dept. 1, General Manager of Sales Dept. 4, etc, He was appointed Executive Officer in July 2018 and promoted to Managing Executive Officer in July 2022.
In August 2025, he was appointed Senior Managing Executive Officer and Head of the Investment Banking Business Group (Strategic Investments Unit), where he spearheads the bank\u2019s expansion in its strategic focus area of investment banking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career at The Nippon Credit Bank, Limited (now Aozora Bank) where he rose to the role of listed equity fund manager. He then joined JAFCO Co., Ltd. where he gained experience in private equity investment and the enhancement of business value. During this time, he served as an independent director at portfolio companies, including Yuasa Electronics, Co., Ltd., Kitchenhouse, and Victoria Inc. He then moved to Morgan Stanley where he was a research analyst covering small and medium-size companies. He left Morgan Stanley to join Asuka Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tanaka received his B.A. in Arabic Studies from Osaka University of Foreign Studies (currently School of Foreign Studies, Osaka University) and his MBA from Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career at Shin Nippon Securities (now Mizuho Securities). From 2000, worked in the asset management industry (Resona Trust Bank (now Resona Bank), Nissay Asset Management, etc.) as a domestic equity fund manager engaged in listed stock investment. And starting in 2023, as the fund manager for our investment strategy. Possesses experience in both judgmental and quantitative investment approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Agata received his B.A. from Tokyo Gakugei University. He also received an MBA from Graduate School of Finance, Accounting and Law, Waseda University(now Graduate School of Business and Finance).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career as a management consultant at Corporate Directions, Inc. then moved to serve as director in charge of finance and business planning at a startup company. He then moved to China and was responsible for creating and managing the start up company\u2019s Shanghai branch. After that, he established his own business in Shanghai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hamada received his B.Sc. and his M.Sc. from the University of Tokyo. He also received an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career as an analyst in the banking, trading, automotive and machinery areas ,then as a fund manager of the growth team at Resona Trust & Banking Co., Ltd(now Resona Holdings, Inc). He left Resona to join Asuka Group.
Kanaoka received his B.A. in Commerce from Waseda University. Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career as a client service associate for public pension funds in Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, then moved to Pre M&A unit in Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC as a management consultant.Itokawa received his B.A. in Economics from Keio University. He also received an MBA(Financial Strategy Program) from Hitotsubashi University Business School, Japan. He is a Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan and Certified International Investment Analyst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prior to joining the Asuka Group, she worked at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management. She was involved in fund management, fund operations and fund research for Mutual funds focusing on emerging market equities, theme stocks and REITs. She graduated from the Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University. Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She began her professional career at a regional bank, followed by experience in back-office operations at a securities company. Prior to joining Asuka Group, she held the position of Head of Compliance at several asset management companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He started his career at Nippon Life Insurance Company, then he moved to its’ sister company, NLI Research Institute, as the chief strategist for the Financial Research Department. He later rejoined Nippon Life Insurance Company as the general manager of the Treasury & Capital Markets Department, general manager of Finance & Investment Planning Department and a director of the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a 30 year career at Nippon Life, he left the company to expand his career, specializing in the securities markets, securities investment, and investor behavior. He was formerly a research professor at the Graduate School of Accounting, Chuo University, and a professor of Policy Studies at Doshisha University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2006, Mr. Kawakita has been a professor of the Graduate School of Management at Kyoto University, where he lectures on the securities markets and securities investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is a director of the Nippon Finance Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has published a number of works on a variety of subjects, including the financial industry, industry reforms and stock markets. Examples of his publications include the following:
\u201cSubstantial Analysis of Stock and Bond Investment\u201d (Chuokeizai-sha, 2008)
\u201cTextbook of Stock & Bond Investment\u201d (Chuokeizai-sha, 2006)
\u201cMarket Micro-structure\u201d (Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha 1998, co-author)
\u201cCorporate Finance: Best Practices in Japanese Companies\u201d (Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha 2008, co-author)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Kawakita received his B.A. in Economics from Kyoto University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is a lawyer and partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, and he has considerable experience in representing domestic and overseas clients from a wide range of businesses and industries. He has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, cross-border investments and corporate restructurings. He is also involved in assisting venture companies, venture capital and private equity funds, as well as providing legal services on employment and labor union relations, real estate property transactions, intellectual property issues and other general corporate matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He received his B.A. in Law from the University of Tokyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n