# Top 40 Sports Angel Investors in Japan in May 2026 ## 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. ## Makoto Takano - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B - Focus: Content, Sports, Apps Makoto Takano is CEO of atomixmedia, inc., publisher and editor-in-chief of Forbes Japan and Rolling Stone Japan since June, 2014. Prior to joining Atomixmedia, Inc., he was Managing Director and President of PIMCO Japan Ltd. Before joining PIMCO in 2001, he was head of marketing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Makoto's prior experiencealso includes work at Daiwa Securities where he was head of the strategists team at Daiwa Institute of Research. He has published extensively on the capital markets. In 1992, he was awarded Securities Analysts Journal Prize by the Securities Analyst Association of Japan. He has also given lectures on asset management at Waseda University and Kyoto University. He holds master’s and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Waseda University. Makoto serves as Director of Nippon Finance Association and Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation. ## Yuto Nagatomo - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: SNS, Sports, Content Yuto Nagatomo - President, CEO, and Founder @ Cuore Co., Ltd. ## 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". ## Kevin Chou - Type: Angel - Location: San Francisco, California, United States - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel - Focus: Gaming, Video Games, eSports Kevin Chou is Managing Partner of the SuperLayer web3 venture studio and co-founder of Rally, a crypto platform that allows creators and artists to launch their own digital currency and to build sustainable, independent economies with their fan communities. Kevin currently serves as the Chairman of Forte, a new blockchain whose mission is to builda more collaborative future in gaming by realigning the economic relationship between players and developers. He is also Chairman of Gen.G, a new esports enterprise bridging Asia and North America. Previously, Kevin was CEO and co-founder of Kabam, a top developer of mobile games. Kevin led the company from business plan founding to over $400M in annual revenue serving over 500 million players. Kabam developed leading partnerships with Marvel, Star Wars, Fast & Furious, Lord of the Rings, and Hunger Games. Kabam was profitable from 2012 until the sale of the company's studios to Netmarble, 21st Century Fox, and GAEA, which in total generated nearly $1 billion in value. He's been honored by Fortune in 40 under 40, CNN in Smartest People in Tech, and Business Insider's Silicon Valley Top 100. Kevin Chou graduated magna cum laude from the UC Berkeley undergraduate Haas School of Business program. He serves on the Board of Trustees at UC Berkeley. ## Kevin Lin - Type: Angel - Location: San Francisco, California, United States - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed - Focus: Gaming, Information Technology, Video Games Lin is the COO of Twitch, the world’s leading social video platform and community for gamers. He was instrumental in the 2011 launch of the platform when he joined Justin.tv in 2008. His role included attracting the site’s largest broadcasters and building out the partnership team among other activities which have helped grow the Twitch brand.Currently more than 100 million gamers gather every month on Twitch to broadcast live video, watch and chat about gaming, making the platform an industry leader. ## Tomohito Ebine - Type: Angel - Location: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Home Services, Information Technology, Consulting Tomohito Ebine is non-executive Director at Owls 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. ## Hiroaki Kitano - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Debt Financing - Focus: Health Care, Information Technology, Fitness Hiroaki Kitano is the SVP at Softbank Mobile. He attended Waseda University. ## 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 ## Nobuhiro Ariyasu - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Content, Internet, Finance Nobuhiro Ariyasu is the CEO at Coach United. ## Dai Tamesue - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Angel, Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Apps, Sports, Health Care Dai Tamesue is the Chief Marketing Officer of Miekuru. ## 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. ## Ishikawa Ryo - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 2 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Sports, Internet Ishikawa Ryo ## 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. ## 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. ## Eiko Hashiba - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Fitness, Health Care Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo. Joined Goldman Sachs in 2001. 2003 Experience planning and management of budgets at Lore Alu Japan. In 2007, he was engaged in PE investment at Unison Capital. Get an MBA at MIT. The Company will launch VISASQ in 2012. ## Otomi Tomohiro - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Health Care, Travel, Content Otomi Tomohiro - CEO @ Tyrus ## Takaya Shinozuka - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Internet, Local, Advertising Takaya Shinozuka is the President, CEO, and Founder at Reiwa Travel. ## Akihiro Nishino - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Content, SNS, Audio Akihiro Nishino is a Japanese comedian. ## Minoru Moriya - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Series A - Focus: Health Care, Nursing and Residential Care, Internet Minoru Moriya is a director at AuB. ## Hironao Kunimitsu - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - 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. ## Siqi Chen - Type: Angel - Location: San Francisco, California, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Angel - Focus: Software, Artificial Intelligence, Gaming Siqi Chen is the Co-Founder of Runway and a Member Board Of Directors at Sandbox VR. Siqi holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from the University of California, San Diego. ## Haruki Satomi - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Angel - Focus: Sports, Fantasy Sports, Media and Entertainment Haruki Satomi - Chairman of the Board and CEO @ SEGA Games ## Kamata Tomihisa - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Fitness, Medical, Genetics Dr. Kamada earned his Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo. In 1984, he pursued his journey to establish his own business that focused on information appliances and mobile software, namely ACCESS Co., Ltd.. With great success, the company entered the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in 2001. He left ACCESS Co., Ltd. in 2011, and founded TomyK Ltd.in 2012 where he supports startups possessing revolutionary business ideas that revitalize the Japanese economy. ## Kent Wakeford - Type: Angel - Location: San Francisco, California, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Internet, Sports, E-Commerce Kent Wakeford is Chief Operating Officer for Kabam, a world leader in AAA mobile free-to-play games. Kent joined Kabam full-time in February 2011 after serving as a company advisor since February 2009. He has been instrumental in shaping the company’s game portfolio, adding talented development teams, and navigating all legal areas for the company.Currently, he is responsible for the legal department, mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy and governance, partnerships for third party game development, and licensed intellectual property.Kent has sourced and structured Kabam’s relationships with Warner Bros. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for The Hobbit mobile and web games, and NBCUniversal for the Fast & Furious 6 mobile game. Kent facilitated Kabam’s acquisitions of Gravity Bear, Fearless Studios, WonderHill, Wild Shadow Studios, Balanced Worlds, Exploding Barrel Games, Phoenix Age, TapZen and Magic Pixel Games. In addition, he assisted in raising more than $100 million in capital investments for Kabam from venture and strategic investors including Google Ventures, SK Telecom, Pinnacle Ventures, Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Canaan Partners, Intel Capital and Redpoint Ventures. Kent also played an integral role in Alibaba’s $120 million investment in Kabam, which increased the company’s valuation to more than $1 billion.Kent began his digital career at Netscape and spent more than five years at AOL as a Vice President, facilitating more than 250 partnerships across AOL web properties as well as Time Inc., Turner, and Warner Bros. Prior to joining Kabam, he was SVP at AddThis social sharing platform and co-founded the media valuation and ad verification company Integral Ad Science. Kent began his career as a corporate attorney at O’Melveny & Myers representing movie studios, record labels, and media companies.Kent graduated order of the coif from University of Southern California Law School, achieving awards for highest scholarship and excellence in the field of entertainment law, and participated on Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree cum laude from University of California, Los Angeles. ## Takashi Sato - Type: Angel - Location: Menlo Park, California, United States - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Angel - Focus: Fitness, Computer, Software Takashi Sato is a Managing Partner at MS&AD Ventures. ## 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 ## Gaku Nakamura - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Pre-Seed - Focus: Sports, Education, Information Technology Gaku Nakamura - Co-Founder and CEO @ RareJob ## Kentaro Uryu - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel - Focus: Sports, Internet Kentaro Uryu - Legal advisor @ Adot ## Naoki Yamada - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed - Focus: Information Technology, Software, Sports Naoki Yamada ## Shoji Kodama - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series B - Focus: Real Estate, Internet, Construction Shoji Kodama - President @ Laxus Technologies ## Masayuki SHOBAYASHI - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Fitness, Software, Mobile Apps Masayuki SHOBAYASHI ## Yoshihito Nishioka - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Sports, Content, Social Media DescriptionYoshihito Nishioka is a Japanese tennis player. ## 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. ## Kei Nishikiori - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Sports, Internet Kei Nishikiori ## Murakami Hiroki - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Sports, Internet Murakami Hiroki ## 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. ## Yoshinori Fukushima - Type: Angel - Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A - Focus: Internet, Marketing, Media and Entertainment Completed the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. He developed the service of “Gunosy” while he was in graduate school. Established Gnosy in 2012 and appointed CEO. In 2013, he was appointed President and CEO. 2012 IPA Unexplored Super Creator. He also served as President of LayerX. ## Taku Namura - Type: Angel - Relevant deals: 1 - Stages: Seed - Focus: Sports, Internet Taku Namura # About Shizune Shizune.co is an investor database. 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