# Top 50 Hardware Angel Investors in Japan in May 2026

## Kotaro Chiba
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 7
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Internet, Drones, Software

Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University.

## Yusuke Sato
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Content, Food and Beverage

Yusuke Sato is the Co-Representative and Co-Founder at Pulit.

## Hironao Kunimitsu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Media and Entertainment, Virtual Reality

Hironao Kunimitsu was born in Hyogo, Japan. After graduating from Okayama High School, he spent several years traveling around the world. He visited over 30 countries including the US, China, India, Canada, and others in Central and South America.In 1996 he entered Fudan University in China, and then later went on to study at Santa MonicaCollege in the US. In 2004 he entered Atmovie Inc. where he produced movies and televised dramas, and was appointed company director in the same year. In 2007 he founded gumi Inc., and it started listing on first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December, 2014.

## Hirofumi Miki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Content, Marketing, Internet

After JTB Co., Ltd. and CYBIRD Co., Ltd. as an initial member of Glee Co., Ltd. is responsible for business development. Currently, he is mainly engaged in venture support in the Internet area, investing in venture and venture capital, and served as management advisor for dozens of companies. Hands-on business development, growth strategydevelopment, financing advice, HR organization design support, partner referral and Recruit Support. He is also engaged in business support for ventures in the healthcare and university venture fields. He served as Digital Health Meetup Advisor, NEDOTCP Mentor and Future 2016 Mentor.

## Masao Ito
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Content, Social Media, Information Technology

Masao Ito is a Founder & CEO at User Local.

## Ayataro Nakagawa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Software, Information Technology

2011 At university, participated in the founding period as a director of Atcole Co., Ltd., and started the web service experience.2012 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd.,
which operates a curation platform for women "MERY" .2014 Founded Peroli
Co., Ltd. Sold to DeNA
2015 Jointly established Tokyo Founders Fund as an angel investor and startedinvesting in startups in Japan and overseas
2019 Appointed outside director of FIREBUG Co., Ltd.

## Mamoru Taniya
- Type: Angel
- Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Apps, Content, FinTech

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined Solomon Brothers, where he became the youngest managing director in Asia, where he was in charge of Asian investment. After that, he created one of the largest independent Asuka assets. He also launched Japan's first independent online life insurance company,LifeNet Life Insurance, and inspired Japan's first International.

## Cheng Tao
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Telecommunications, Content, Internet

Tao Cheng currently works as Chief Executive Officer and Founder of popIn.

## Yasumasa Manabe
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Information Technology, Drones, Big Data

Yasumasa Manabe

## Narita Shuzo
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Task Management, Media and Entertainment, Content

Narita Shuzo is a Executive Vice President/COO, CrowdWorks Inc.

## Kiyoshi Nishikawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: News, Social Media, Big Data

After working at KDD Corporation （Currently known as KDDI Corporation）, Kiyoshi Nishikawa next went to work at Arthur D. Little Inc. in the United States, where he became inspired to start his own company. After returning to Japan, he established a Japanese corporation of the world’s largest Internet company, America On Line, LLC. Later andbased on this experience and the relationships he developed, he founded the first Internet business incubator, NETAGE, Inc. After serving as the President and CEO of NETAGE Group, he later became and still serves as the Chairman of ngi group, inc. Kiyoshi was one of the main entrepreneurs responsible for proposing and realization of “Shibuya Bit Valley Concept” and is well known for his various speeches and writings. He is a graduate of the Department of Education at Tokyo University.

## Matsuo Koichiro
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Robotics, Software, Information Technology

Matsuo Koichiro - Director @ Kokopelli

## Taizo Son
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Financial Services, Information Technology, Venture Capital

Taizo Son - Co-Founder @ VIVITA

## Shigeru Urushibara
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Series A, Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, Artificial Intelligence, Social Media

Shigeru Urushibara - President & CEO @ UL Systems

## Ryosuke Matsumoto
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Art, Reservations, Software

Ryosuke Matsumoto is the founder and CEO of Community Factory Inc.Ryosuke is born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1981. He joined launching of the publication venture company, and ran a cafe while he was attending Chuo University in Tokyo. Since he joined launching the social media venture company in 2004, he has been in social media business. In2006, Ryosuke founded Community Factory Inc. which specialized in planning and operating social media and blog services.Community Factory started to specialize in social application for mobile from 2009, and Community Factory draw investments of around 4.5 million US dollars from venture capitals and mixi inc. then the biggest social media in Japan. DECOPIC, Community Factory's one of the apps for smartphone, has been downloaded 6 million times in the 6 months since its release, and it is rapidly gaining users mainly in Asian countries.In Sep 2012, Ryosuke and other stock holders sold Community Factory to Yahoo Japan Corp., and he remains as CEO of Community Factory.

## Kenji Kasahara
- Type: Angel
- Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series B, Seed, Angel
- Focus: Aerospace, Travel, Robotics

Born in 1975, Kenji Kasahara grew up in Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Tokyo.
Inspired by the case studies of IT business he studied in a university seminar on management strategy and by the rapid rise of Internet business in Silicon Valley in the USA, he started up “Find Job !”, an online jobinformation site, in 1997. In 1999 Kasahara established eMercury, Inc. (mixi, Inc.) and assumed the post of representative director.

## Yusuke Ando
- Type: Angel
- Location: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Content, Education, Social Media

YUSUKE ANDO is a Outside Director at hachidori.

## Teruhide Sato
- Type: Angel
- Location: Singapore, Central Region, Singapore
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series B, Series A
- Focus: E-Commerce, Internet, Marketplace

Teruhide Sato is President and Group CEO of netprice.com, Ltd., a global internet and e-commerce business incubator group (Tokyo Stock Exchange 3328). Lead the group to deliver the latest experience in online shopping across Japan, US, Europe and Asia. Strongly believe in the power of entrepreneurship.

## Yasuo Takahata
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, SNS, Recruiting

Yasuo Takahata - President @ DesignOne Japan, Inc.

## Daisuke Kamada
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Software, Task Management, Information Technology

Daisuke Kamada - Director (part-time) @ boarding pass

## Hiroaki Watatani
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Content, Software, Logistics

Hiroaki Watatani is the president of ASAKASHINKAN GROUP.

## Hidetoshi Takano
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Information Technology, Media and Entertainment

Joined Intelligence in 1999. Established Key Players Inc. in 2005. Consultation with more than 3,000 managers and career counseling for more than 10,000 individuals. In addition, we have invested in more than 55 outside directors, advisors and angels in Silicon Valley and Bangladesh in Japan. Over 100 lectures on careers, entrepreneurship andstartups.

## Shota Horii
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Information Technology, Internet, Art

Shota Horii

## Ken Soga
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Music, Mobile, Content

Ken Soga is an individual investor.

## Toru Shimada
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, Manufacturing, Content

Toru Shimada is a Senior Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Shimada is a Director of Rakuten Baseball, Inc., and Head of Asia Regional Headquarters Office of the Company.Mr. Shimada joined Rakuten in 2004. Prior to joining Rakuten, Mr. Shimada was founder and Director of INTELLIGENCE, LTD from 1989 to 2004. Prior to INTELLIGENCE, LTD.Mr. Shimada worked at RECRUIT CO., LTD. from 1987 to 1989.

## Otomi Tomohiro
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Health Care, Travel, Content

Otomi Tomohiro - CEO @ Tyrus

## Miyajima Yuji
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Corporate Round
- Focus: Content, Blockchain, Consulting

Miyajima Yuji is a Founder & CEO at Mobile Factory.

## Kanzaki Takahiro
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Freelance, Recruiting, Human Resources

After independence, in addition to financial support for start-ups, we have provided total support for start-up management operations in the seed period, which has no management staff, such as formulating capital policies and business plans. He also has more than tens of debt financing a year. Familiar with the finances of listed companies fromstartups. In order to produce startups that flourish from Japan to the world, we will always incorporate them into growth support from the perspective of startups.

## Yasuhide Uno
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: CRM, Internet, Task Management

Yasuhide Uno - Executive Chairman @ ALMEX Japan

## Keisuke Honda
- Type: Angel
- Location: Chuo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Education, Blockchain, E-Learning

Keisuke Honda is the Founder & CEO of Now Do.

## Yu Akasaka
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Food and Beverage, Content, Internet

During Hosei University student, and intern at Hakuhodo C & D. After joining the Image-net, I do media monetization of EC site as a media planner. Then, new business, engaged in Alliance. Launched a crowdsourcing site "MILLION DESIGNS" of design in the individual, sold to Ransazu Corporation. Established the Eureka Co., Ltd., wasappointed Representative Director CEO.

## Masahiko Homma
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: EdTech, Leisure, Software

After graduating from Keio University, in the overseas investment arm of JAFCO, to carry out investments in Internet companies in Israel and Silicon Valley, JV establishment, the Japanese market business. From 2001, he worked in venture capital and corporate development department of Accenture. Works in the capital of Mitsubishi Corporationsubsidiary, to experience an IPO from venture capital MonotaRO, of Benchari public than in 2003. funds in 2007, specializing in seed stage investment of the net business, core People Partners establishment. He was appointed representative partner. is performed establishment phase of Pokerabo and gumi, the development of business investment in the establishment phase, significantly grow. 2010, incubate bait Fund No. 1 Limited Partnership establishment. Representative appointed partner.

## Shunsuke Oyu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Internet, Media and Entertainment

Shunsuke Oyu is the co-founder of Connehito Inc.
Started an online Q&A platform “mamari” which is the largest platform for moms in Japan. Connehito was acquired by one of the telecom giant KDDI in 2016.
Selected as a “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia” at consumer technology department. Angel-investing 50+ companies globally.

## Bart Joseph Broadman
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Robotics, Machine Learning, Autonomous Vehicles

Bart Joseph Broadman

## Oki Matsumoto
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel, Seed, Series A
- Focus: Information Technology, Cryptocurrency, FinTech

Oki Matsumoto began his career at Salomon Brothers Asia Limited in April 1987. He then joined Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd. in April 1990 and was appointed General Partner of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. in November 1994. As a General Partner, he was Co-Head of its Tokyo Branch’s FX & Fixed Income Business and was in charge of FX and fixedincome products and the related risk management. It was in April 1999 that Matsumoto jointly established (the former) Monex, Inc. with Sony Corporation. In August 2004, Matsumoto become the Representative Director and CEO of the Company (former name: Monex Beans Holdings, Inc.) upon its formation through management integration of Monex, Inc. and Nikko Beans Inc. He was named the Representative Director, Chairman and CEO of the Company in February 2011 and then assumed his current position in June 2013.

## Yo Shibata
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Apps, Gaming, Content

Yo Shibata is a Co-Founder of Funds Inc.

## Kentaro Ruichi
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1

Ruichi Kentaro is an Angel Investor.

## June Taketani
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: CRM, E-Commerce, Home Decor

June Taketani is an individual investor.

## Jun Nishikawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Media and Entertainment, Mobile, Content

Jun Nishikawa - Co-founder, Executive Vice President, COO @ eureka, Inc.

## Hao Yan
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Robotics, Manufacturing, Medical Device

Hao Yan is the Representative Director of EPS Holdings.

## Yuki Naito
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series B
- Focus: Manufacturing, Internet, SNS

Yuki Naito - CEO,President @ Drecom

## Yasuyuki Kin
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Career Planning

Yasuyuki Kin

## Seio Nagami
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, SaaS, Information Technology

Seio Nagami

## Yuki Sato
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Sports, Internet, Recruiting

Engineer since 10 years old. Electronics, Mechanical, Web, iOS Android

## Yusuke Murata
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B
- Focus: Nursing and Residential Care, Software, Artificial Intelligence

In 1999, he founded SaaS startup (towards financial institutions). After exited, he joined the NIF Ventures (now Daiwa Corporate Investment) in 2003, and mainly dealt with investment for internet-related startups and fund management. In 2010, founded Incubate Fund as one of co-founder and general partner, and works on investment and incubation inmedia, gaming, digital health, and frontier-tech areas. He won #1 prize of Forbes JAPAN’s MIDAS LIST 2017.
Since 2015, he is on the Japan Venture Capital Association (JVCA) as General Manager of planing department and Chairperson of Fund Eco-System Committee and Director of LP Relationship department.

## Shuuichi Wada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Reservations, Content, Social Media

Shuuichi Wada - CTO @ alu Japan

## Kazuhiro Ishikura
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Beauty, Content, Fashion

Kazuhiro Ishikura served as the head of the Akatsuki Business Management Department in 2013 and as a corporate auditor of Akatsuki in 2014, contributing to the company's listing on the TSE Mothers and TSE 1st sections. Appointed 3minute CFO in 2015, engaged in business start-up and organizational design, and succeeded in large-scale M & Adeal with Glee. After leaving the company, he became a WARC director in November 2018. Certified public accountant.

## Keisuke Wada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Human Resources, Software, Apps

After graduating from Kyoto University, Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd., CyberAgent Investment: through the (now Cyber ​​Agent Ventures), established Selene Venture Partners (now representative partner). Then, has engaged in incubation activities of Internet ventures, including the establishment of the Corporation Pokerabo. The established:(typical current partner), you are doing investment and incubation activities with a focus on social apps field incubator fund bait in 2010.

## Shogo Kawada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Software, SaaS, Media and Entertainment

Shogo Kawada is Co-founder and Adviser of DeNA, a global Internet company focused on a social games platform, social games, e-commerce and other Web services for mobile devices and PCs.

## Yoshitsune Ido
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Information Technology, Robotics, Software

Yoshitsune Ido

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