Advisors

Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Keio University, and completed the master’s program at the Graduate School of Economics. After engaging in research and consulting work mainly for automobile manufacturers and domestic and overseas government agencies at Mitsubishi Research Institute, he obtained a Ph.D. (Ph.D.) from the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business in 2008. Since the same year, he has been an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo Business School in the United States. Since 2013, he has been an associate professor at Waseda University Business School. He has been in his current position since 2019.

While pursuing her career as an actress, Maiko is also playing her role as a president and CEO of Rightstuff Co.,Ltd, TV program production company.
In 2010, she joined department of health science and social welfare of e-school, Human Sciences at Waseda University.
In 2014, she went on to master program and developed “Locopyon” – care robot to assist squat exercise with the purpose of preventing locomotive syndrome.
Currently, she’s been doing research and development on how to accelerate “preventive medicine” in her doctor program.
In January 2019, Maiko took the fellow position at ExaWizards Inc.

Current position since 2014
Researcher at IBM Research – Tokyo
Previously Associate Professor at Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo

After completing the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, became an assistant in the same faculty. Joined Roland Berger in 1996. After serving as President of the Japan branch, served as a global co-representative until March 2020. Founded Kiduki Architect, Inc. in July 2020, and is currently promoting the mass production of new businesses through the collaboration of exceptional talents. Director of the Factory Scientist Association and Green CPS Consortium, among others. Serves as an external director for companies such as Linkers, YUKI Holdings, O2 Partners, SOMIC transformation, and US-based Devices-Unlimited. Delivered numerous lectures and contributed articles on themes such as mobility, small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, and IoT/DX. Served on numerous government committees and as a NEDO technical committee member.

Current position since 2012
Research Fellow, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science since 2008
Visiting researcher at AI Center of AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) since 2016

Current position since 2012
Director of The Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence since 2016
Invited researcher at AIST Artificial Intelligence Research Center since 2015
Director of The Robotics Society of Japan since 2013
Formerly Research Fellow at Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Researcher at RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Associate Professor at Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Director at The Robotics Society of Japan

Responsible for production system development, plant operations, etc. at Bridgestone Corporation. In 2016, he became the Executive Officer in charge of Production Engineering, and in 2017, he became the CDO and the General Manager of Digital Solution Division, promoting company-wide DX and business model transformation. In 2020, he moved to Idemitsu Kosan, where he became Executive Officer in charge of CDO and CIO Digital ICT Promotion Department. In parallel, he founded CoolSprings Inc. in 2014 to develop DX support business. In 2023, he published the book “Restaurant Manager is CDO” .

Dr. Sako becomes a neurosurgeon after graduating Ehime University in 1987. He transferred his specialty to brain injury rehabilitation in 2004 after realizing not just the importance of treatment, but of “human recovery” which is accomplished by drawing out the patient’s residual function to its fullest and thus joining and contributing to society once again. He was Department Chair of Hatsudai Rehabilitation Hospital Stroke Division, Vice Director of Setagaya Memorial Hospital/Director of the Recovery Rehabilitation Center and Assistant Director of Ken-ikukai Takekawa Hospital. In 2017, he became the Facility Director of Oizumigakuen Multi-Facility/Director of Nerima Ken-ikukai Hospital.

After graduating from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law in 1983, Mr. Sasaki joined the Ministry of Finance. After the establishment of the Financial Supervisory Agency (FSA), the predecessor of the Financial Services Agency (FSA), he has been engaged in financial administration for over 20 years, serving as Deputy Director-General of the FSA and Director-General of the Policy Planning Bureau. After retiring in July 2019, he became a visiting professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of Business Administration, where he established the Global Financial Regulation Research Forum. He continues to conduct research on the latest developments in financial regulation.

Apr, 2001 – Mar, 2018 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Communication Science Laboratories
Apr, 2018 – Jun, 2020 Associate Professor, Graduate School of Information Science, Tohoku University
Apr, 2020 – Apr, 2022 Google LLC Visiting Researcher(Cross Appointment)
Jul, 2020 – Sep, 2023 Professor at Center for Data-driven Science and Artificial Intelligence,Tohoku University
Apr, 2017 – Present RIKEN　Center for Advanced Intelligence Project　Visiting Resercher
Oct, 2023 – Present Tohoku University　Center for Language AI Research　Director, Professor

1998 Completed Master's program at the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
2002 Left the doctoral program with guidance certification at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University
2003 Ph.D. in Information Science, Kyoto University
After working as an assistant at Toyota Technological Institute and as an assistant professor at the University of Electro-Communications, he became an associate professor at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University in 2008. He served as a professor in the Endowed Chair at the same school from October 2020 to September 2023.
He specializes in mathematical optimization, particularly in the research and development of efficient algorithms for large-scale and complex combinatorial optimization problems, and in applying mathematical optimization to real-world problems.