# Top 35 Proptech Angel Investors in Japan in October 2023 ## Kotaro Chiba - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 4 - 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. ## Takaya Shinozuka - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Internet, Local, Advertising Takaya Shinozuka is the President, CEO, and Founder at Reiwa Travel. ## Kazuma Ieiri - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Fashion, Recruiting Born in 1978 and raised in Fukuoka prefecture, Kazuma founded paperboy&co. inc. (currently GMO Pepabo) and went on to become the youngest CEO ever (at the time) to take a company public in Japan by taking paperboy&co. public on the JASDAQ Japanese stock exchange. After leaving paperboy&co, he continued his startup trail by foundingBASE, CAMPFIRE, and XIMERA. Kazuma also dabbled in the food services industry via the founding of On The Corner (a cafe) and is active in the startup investment scene. He also started the Liverty-house project which attempts to create shared housing for young people in need. ## Mamoru Taniya - Type: Angel - Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong - Relevant deals: 1 - 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. ## 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. ## Hideto Fujino - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Reservations, Travel, Real Estate Hideto Fujino - President, Cheif Investment Officer @ Rheos ## Mochio Umeda - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: FinTech, Finance, Education Mochio Umeda's visionary insights combined with his firsthand knowledge and experience in Silicon Valley are highly regarded among CEOs of large Japanese IT companies. As an opinion leader in the industry, he plays a key role in introducing the "Silicon Valley high growth mechanism" into the management thinking of those companies inJapan.Mochio is a co-founder of the Pacifica Fund and the founder and president of MUSE Associates, a strategy and business consulting firm to the Japanese IT industry established in Palo Alto, California, in 1997. Before starting MUSE, he was one of the founding directors of Arthur D. Little's Silicon Valley office. Mochio is also a leading commentator on IT industry in the Japanese press, with countless published articles in Japan's primary business publications, including Chuo Koron, Nikkei Business, Nikkei Personal Computing and Foresight. He is the author of the book "How Silicon Valley Changed Me" (Shincho-sha, 2001) and a contributing author of, "A Strategic Planning Roadmap" (Diamond Business Press, 1991) and "The Computer Industry's High Return Revolution" (Diamond Business Press, 1993).Mochio holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Keio University and a Master of Information Science from the University of Tokyo. ## Gabriel Fong - Type: Angel - Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Apps, Hotel, Mobile Apps Gabriel Fong - CEO & Co-founder @ CallFixie ## Fumiaki Koizumi - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, E-Commerce, Content Fumiaki Koizumi - Executive Director @ Mercari ## Masanori Sugiyama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Software, Internet, Media and Entertainment He graduated from Kansai University in 1988. He was enrolled in Ljoma while he was in college. 2002 Vice President of Practice (now index lights). In 2004, he became president of zappallas. Listed on the TSE Mothers in the second year of his appointment, and in 2010 he was listed in part of the TSE. In 2011 he became the CEO of enish. Listed on apart of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Thereafter, he served as outside directors such as Nikkatsu and JibannetHD. ## Kensuke Furukawa - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Media and Entertainment, Software Kensuke Furukawa was born in June 2, 1981. He graduated Waseda University majoring Political Science and Economics, and in 2000, he launched "Milkcafe", a student community, which has grown to a site with 10 million PV per month. In 2004, he became the CEO of Media Clip, which operates a rental bulletin board service "ShitarabaBBS". After that year, he had transfer "Shitaraba BBS" to Livedoor, and took charge of starting up the Consumer Generated Media sector. In 2006, he joined Recruit, and took charge of starting up a new business at Business development sector. In June of 2009, he left Recruit, and became the CEO of nanapi （formerly Rocket Start), which operates the How-to Site "nanapi". ## Kobayashi Toshihito - Type: Angel - Location: Kameyama, Mie, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Art, Real Estate, Construction Born in 1977, his family was originally a rice farmer in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture. He was involved in the development of online games at Community Engine Co., Ltd., from the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University. After he became a director of the Company in 2003, he moved to Beijing to establish a subsidiary and became CEO. Hereturned to Japan in February 2007. He served as Technical Director of ONE-UP Co., Ltd. in May 2010, and moved to Aiming in June 2011. He was appointed Chief Technology Officer in May 2013 and listed on TSE Mothers in April 2015. In September 2017, he founded ukka Co., Ltd. and assumed the position of President. ## Tomohito Ebine - Type: Angel - Location: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Home Services, Information Technology, Consulting Tomohito Ebine is non-executive Director at Owls Co., Ltd. ## Masaru Tange - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, E-Commerce, SaaS Masaru Tange graduated from Kyoto University and joined Incs Inc. in 2000 where he started their IT business and strategy consulting group with only 2 members and developed it into the company's main business with a team of 140 consultants with annual revenue of $50M in 5 years. He then founded SHIFT Inc in 2005 in his studio apartment. He wasthe only employee. The business world wasn't very kind to him - he made no revenue for a while but he kept experimenting with the business model listening to the needs of customers. In 2009, he finally found traction in the "software testing industry." In 2014, Masaru successfully IPO'ed the company. Shift now has 500 employees. ## Bae Yong-Joon - Type: Angel - Location: Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Apps, Hotel, Mobile Apps Bae Yong-joon (born August 29, 1972) is a South Korean actor and businessman. ## 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. ## Edward Ronkowski - Type: Angel - Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: FinTech, Finance, Financial Services Edward Ronkowski ## Shintaro Tabata - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Sharing Economy, Audio, Content Shintaro Tabata - Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Sales @ Line ## Ayataro Nakagawa - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - 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. ## Nobuhiro Ariyasu - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Internet, Finance Nobuhiro Ariyasu is the CEO at Coach United. ## 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. ## Noguchi Keito - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Media and Entertainment, Marketing, Financial Services Noguchi Keito - Founder @ Vapes ## Hirofumi Miki - Type: Angel - Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - 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. ## 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. ## Daisuke Takanashi - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: SNS, Content, Finance Daisuke Takanashi is an angel investor. ## Shinichiro Sugiyama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Recruiting, Wedding, Home Decor After HR in charge of the Tokyo Stock partially listed manufacturer, joined Pacific Management Co., Ltd. in 2001. After experience IPO on JASDAQ, TSE 2, and TSE partially listed, HR and management planningHe is responsible for management planning, equity finance, and IR, supporting the IPO of two Group companies to the TSE J-REIT market. JoinedEscrit Co., Ltd. in 2008, and oversees the listing of Mothers IPO and Tokyo Stock Exchange as CFO. Joined Bengo4.com Co., Ltd. in 2013 and launched several IPO and new businesses in Mothers in a year and a half as a director CFO. Representative Director of Burritudo Co., Ltd., 5 IPO Experience Companies. In July 2017, he was appointed Director of REXIT Co., Ltd. In November 2017, he became the Auditor of REXIT Co., Ltd. ## Seiji Kurokoshi - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Sports, Internet, Education Seiji Kurokoshi (黒越誠治) is an angel investor. ## Shoji Kodama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series B - Focus: Real Estate, Internet, Construction Shoji Kodama - President @ Laxus Technologies ## Takashi Shibayama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Music, EBooks, Gaming Takashi Shibayama ## Takashi Nagao - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A - Focus: SNS, Video, Brewing Takashi Nagao ## Kiyohiro Sugashita - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Marketing, Travel, Media and Entertainment Mr. Sugashita joined Polaris as Advisor in May 2011. He is Director and CEO of Sugashita Partners, Ltd since 1998 and provides consulting services to financial institutions and ventures in and outside of Japan. Prior to that position, he was CEO of Lazard Japan Asset Management from 1991 to 1998. His business career also includes positions at DaiwaSecurities and Merrill Lynch Securities, Tokyo Branch. On the academic front, Mr. Sugashita received a BA in Economics from Ritsumeikan University and since 2009 is Special Advisor for the Dean of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. ## 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. ## 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. ## Kenji Endo - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Apps, Fitness, Internet Kenji Endo - Director @ Japan Business Systems # About Shizune Shizune.co is an investor database. Core features: - 48,091 startup investors (angels, VCs, accelerators, and others) - Email, phone, LinkedIn (for intros), socials, and other contact data - Updated daily from public funding news - CSV and Excel export The User can access the full database FOR FREE after signing up: shizune.co