# Top 45 Recruiting Angel Investors in Japan in May 2026 ## Tatsuo Sakamoto - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 3 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Education, Task Management, Recruiting Tatsuo Sakamoto ## Yu Akasaka - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - 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. ## Shinichiro Sugiyama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - 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. ## Hidetoshi Takano - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - 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. ## Sato Takahiro - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed - Focus: Employment, Recruiting, Human Resources Sato Takahiro - CEO @ Sekaisha ## Kensuke Furukawa - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - 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". ## Noguchi Keito - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Media and Entertainment, Marketing, Financial Services Noguchi Keito - Founder @ Vapes ## Yasuyuki Kin - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed - Focus: Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Career Planning Yasuyuki Kin ## 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. ## Ayataro Nakagawa - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - 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. ## Shota Iwasaki - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Recruiting, Human Resources, Staffing Agency Shota Iwasaki ## Koichiro Yoshida - Type: Angel - Location: San Francisco, California, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Internet, Software, Virtual Reality Founder and CEO at CrowdWorks. ## 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. ## Joe Hirao - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Series B, Seed, Series D - Focus: E-Commerce, B2B, E-Commerce Platforms Jo Hirao is President, CEO & Representative Director at ZIGExN Co., Ltd. Mr. Hirao is also on the board of Apple World, Inc. and Rejob Co., Ltd. ## 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 ## Shoji Kodama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series B - Focus: Real Estate, Internet, Construction Shoji Kodama - President @ Laxus Technologies ## Masao Ito - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel - Focus: Content, Social Media, Information Technology Masao Ito is a Founder & CEO at User Local. ## 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. ## Arai Motoki - Type: Angel - Location: Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Wedding, Recruiting, Media and Entertainment Arai is the CEO of Happy Elements KK (Japan Company). Arai-Sam manages the mobile business for the Japan market and the business development, product marketing, fans care in Japan.As a student, Motoki Arai worked as a programmer for tech startups such as Gaiax and KLab. He later was involved in the founding of Drecom, and became an executiveofficer just 4 months after joining the company.After being listed in the Mothers Index of the TSE, he started his own company, Cyworks, in Kyot ## Kotaro Chiba - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Internet, Content, Software Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University. ## Yusuke Asakura - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Finance, Internet, Consulting Yusuke Asakura is an entrepreneur, a businessman, a venture investor, a scholar and the co-founder of Signifiant Inc. At Signifiant, Yusuke manages a ¥20 billion growth fund “THE FUND” aimed at growth-stage startups. ## Soichiro Kawai - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Media and Entertainment, Information Technology, Internet Soichiro Kawai - CEO @ ReBoost ## Daisuke Takanashi - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: SNS, Content, Finance Daisuke Takanashi is an angel investor. ## Yasuyoshi Yanagisawa - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Post-IPO Equity - Focus: Media and Entertainment, Content, Men's Yasuyoshi Yanagisawa - President & CEO @ FAN Communications ## Narita Shuzo - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed - Focus: Task Management, Media and Entertainment, Content Narita Shuzo is a Executive Vice President/COO, CrowdWorks Inc. ## Hajime Hotta - Type: Angel - Location: Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Q&A, FinTech, Finance Hajime is a serial entrepreneur and an early stage investor with a strong academic background in artificial intelligence (AI) and AI web applications. Received Ph.D with a study of neural networks.Hajime started coding when he was 12 years old and implemented his first AI code at 14 years old, which automatically correct simple grammaticalmistakes. He was the inventor and product lead of AI-backed Ad Tech at Cirius Tech, which was acquired by Yahoo Japan, and also a CTO at NakedTech, which was sold to Mixi Japan. ## Michimasa Naka - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Reservations, Travel, Employment Michimasa Naka is a member of the Board Of Directors of istyle.inc. He is an experienced Chairperson with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. ## 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. ## Shinji Kimura - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series B - Focus: FinTech, Financial Services, E-Commerce Shinji Kimura - Chairman/Founder @ AnyPay ## Ichiro Fukushima - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Employment, Recruiting, Human Resources Ichiro Fukushima ## Taira Sakuma - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Human Resources, Software, Consulting Taira Sakuma is the founder of FORCAS. ## Nishio Kentaro - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Information Technology, Internet, Software Nishio Kentaro is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer & President at Game8. ## Koji Hayami - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Recruiting, Real Estate, Task Management Koji Hayami - Project Manager @ JPMorgan Chase & Co. ## Hu Hua - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Aerospace, Consulting Hu Hua ## 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. ## Toshiro Wakimaru - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Task Management, Food and Beverage, SNS Toshiro “Tosh” Wakimaru is the Chief Operating Officer of MedPeer, Inc. , Tokyo, Japan since May 2010. Medpeer is the “Medical Doctor Exclusive” SNS in Japan that has just successfully gone to the market in 2014.Prior to the current job, Tosh had been actively working for Price Waterhouse Consulting, Japan LLP (now IBM Japan, Ltd.) aftergraduating from the Boston University School of Management in 1996. While there he completed numerous projects in corporate strategy, operation improvement, and new business development focusing on the retail, service, and healthcare industries with a secondment to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. ## Shunsuke Sasaki - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed - Focus: Social Media, Content, SNS Shunsuke Sasaki - Executive officer @ Jiraffe ## Chikako Morimoto - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Human Resources, Employment, Information Technology Chikako Morimoto - External Counsel @ Traimmu ## Umagami Emi - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 Umagami Emi ## 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 ## 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. ## Yasuo Takahata - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Task Management, SNS, Recruiting Yasuo Takahata - President @ DesignOne Japan, Inc. ## Yusuke Sato - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Internet, Content, Food and Beverage Yusuke Sato is the Co-Representative and Co-Founder at Pulit. ## Oshima Ayanobu - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Recruiting, Human Resources, Staffing Agency Oshima Ayanobu - Chairman and CEO @ Infratop ## Toru Tony Sakai - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Apps, Medical, Employment Tony Sakai is founder & CEO at Open Doors Media. # 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