JP/EN
Data Scientist
Kenmaru is a Japanese-Chilean data scientist who loves coffee and traveling. As he has a strong passion to contribute to developing countries through science and technology, he studied abroad in China, a country leading the artificial intelligence while at Waseda University. During his master’s degree, he gained experience in data analytics and business development at SaaS based startup and International Organization while researching econometrics. To exercise bigger impacts on society, he started his career at US multinational technology company and promote data democratization for enterprise-level clients.
Assistant at i.school, an innovation education program / Researcher at WIRED Sci-Fi Prototype Lab
Born in 1996, Fukushima, Japan. Chihiro studied in a laboratory on community development with residents participation through Labour Based Technology, specializing in urban development. He graduated from Takushoku University in 2019 as a recipient of the top prize in the on-campus essay contest, a study incentive scholarship student, a Katsura Taro Juku scholarship student, and the President's Award of the Alumni Association (Outstanding Undergraduate Student).
After graduating from the university, he worked as a staff of a prefectural university and a special researcher (design research) at a regional research institute before becoming independent. He is mainly engaged in planning and internal communication in the field of education.
Council Member of Kamakura-City / Human Resources and IT Consultant
My name is Koukou Kuribayashi. My mission is to create a society where you can live the way you are. I am currently working as a Kamakura city councilor and HR/IT consultant to achieve my vision. Through my activities at GSC-Yokohama, I want to connect and expand my vision of the world. I am proud to be a member of Yokohama HUB, which connects Japan and the world. I look forward to working with you!
Crowdfunding Service Office, BORDERLESS JAPAN, Inc. Founder, Dialogue Radio.
Yuka Fujii, born in 1998, is a passionate intrapreneur dedicated to building a social infrastructure where diverse individuals can thrive. She began her career at Borderless Japan, contributing to the launch of new businesses and creating platforms for social entrepreneurs. She later joined PEOPLE PORT Corp., a group company focused on creating employment opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers in Japan, while addressing environmental challenges like e-waste through its refurbishing PC business, ZERO PC.
At PEOPLE PORT, Yuka played a key role in rebuilding production lines and strengthening the technical team for ZERO PC, working closely with engineers from refugee backgrounds. From April to August 2024, she co-managed ZERO PC with the CEO, navigating the organization through its second founding phase. During this period, she spearheaded efforts to scale the refurbishing operations, which not only provided meaningful work for displaced individuals but also contributed to reducing electronic waste and promoting a circular economy. Currently, she focuses on fostering partnerships with diverse stakeholders and creating an inclusive workplace where multicultural and multigenerational teams can fully realize their potential.
In her free time, you can find her driving, watching movies, or skiing on the slope.
Beyond Lab Inc., CEO
Born in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. After graduating high school, moved to the United States to study sociology at the University of Minnesota. While in college, helped establish project-based learning programs for middle and high school students in Shiga and Miyagi Prefectures.
After graduating, joined a Fukushima-based advertising agency specializing in regional branding as a member of the Venture for Japan entrepreneurial development program. In 2022, started a business in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, running corporate English training programs and cultural exchange programs for teenagers. Currently serves as a community manager at an international student dormitory in Waseda, overseeing the design of residential education programs.
Waseda University, Researcher
Originally from Spain, Borja lived in 6 countries before moving to Tokyo in 2022. He obtained his bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Additionally, he pursued 2 master's degrees: one in Informatics at the Technical University of Munich, and an Honor's Degree in Technology Management from the Center for Digital Technology Management (CDTM) of the Elite Network of Bavaria. Before joining Global Shapers, he gained experience as a neuroscience researcher and served as Chief Product Officer at Custom Surgical GmbH, a startup offering affordable, smartphone-based medical devices with the goal of democratizing access to high-tech medical technology in developing regions. Borja is passionate about social entrepreneurship and is committed to applying technology to solve problems in the areas of climate, education, and healthcare. In his free time, you can find him reading history books, playing chess, or at a basketball court.
Management consultant
Yuka has had a strong passion for biodiversity conservation and earned B.Sc. and M.Sc. in ecology from the University of Tokyo. She is the founder of “Mend It Mine,” a sustainable fashion movement to tackle the serious impact of the fashion industry, which has been featured by multiple media organizations, such as NHK World and some of the major Japanese newspapers. She has engaged in varied sustainability-focused activities, including founding an organization placing students at UN Climate Conference (SUS+ UTokyo), attending UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, completing an internship at Conservation International, and working as a Global Ambassador at The Better Tomorrow Movement. In her master’s program, she studied wildlife conservation and entrepreneurship at the University of Washington as an exchange student. She currently works as a management consultant specializing in sustainability.
Freelancer
Lisa’s life mission has always been to create a safe place where all potential thrives. Influenced by her upbringing as a third culture kid and her little sister, Eri with down syndrome. From her experience working in branding, marketing, and creative production, she takes part in communication design to blend the weak into a broader context. She currently works as a freelancer, working as a PR/Design lead in a flower shop in Harajuku, more than half of its employees are with some potential. She is also the founder of “goof club” where she invites people from different backgrounds to create an experimental space where everyone’s roles are fluid. She believes in “the comfort in chaos”. Outside of work, you can find her in her kitchen experimenting or indulging in a book on her couch.
Teacher, Freelance Education Consultant
A 2nd generation bisexual Hakka-Chinese-American, Roy spent his formative years in China, the U.S., and Japan. Originally from Cupertino, California, Roy witnessed first-hand how the rise of technology has widened the wealth gap and left many behind. Currently teaching at an all-boys middle and high school and working freelance as a consultant, Roy believes that learning must be reimagined to be more personal and meaningful, education must be transformed to be more equitable and sustainable, and the world must be empowered to become more compassionate and kind. Roy serves on the Kanagawa Prefecture foreign residents council and holds a BA in Global Studies from Akita International University. He has an insatiable sweet tooth, and is often said to be spotted in local bathhouses.
Tech Era Education Program Lead
Atoka Jo, born and raised in Japan, received her undergraduate degree from New York University Abu Dhabi and her Master’s degree from Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University. During her studies, she was involved in research and projects related to education and development economics in Argentina, Ghana, and Costa Rica, and interned at the United Nations in New York. In Japan, she founded and currently runs a liberal arts summer program at Himeji Girls’ High School. She also holds a role as the Education Program Lead at TechEra, a non-profit organization in Ghana. Selected to attend the World Economic Forum Davos Conference 2022 as one of the 50 Global Shapers. Masayoshi Son Foundation Scholar. Global Shaper. G7 Youth 2019 Japan Representative. One Young World 2018 Japan Representative.
Salesforce Japan
Hisae was born in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Interested in the media's coverage of the Korean situation and hate speech issues, she entered the Faculty of International Liberal Studies at Yokohama City University. Through fieldwork and interviews, she wrote her graduation thesis from a sociological perspective. She was also involved in volunteer activities to support education, based on her awareness of education-related issues. Currently, she works for Salesforce Japan as an inside sales representative in the regional sales department, promoting DX in Japan, and is also involved in volunteer projects to support career education.
Kohana is from Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Interested in symbiosis with nature and environmental/social values in capitalist societies, she studied abroad in Gothenburg, Sweden during university. After returning to Japan, Kohana was active in environmental youth NGOs such as Climate Youth Japan and ClimateScience. In 2021, she was selected to COP26 as a youth delegate and spoke at the Japan and Korea pavilions. Kohana graduated from the Faculty of Law at Keio University. Since 2022, she has been working at a chemical and precision medical device manufacturer. After experiencing business planning and supply chain management, currently exploring the launch of a renewable energy business in the new business development group.
Haris is a Japan based AI researcher with over 5 years of experience working in Japanese academia and industry in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Human-AI interaction. Haris came to Japan in 2020 as a Japanese government sponsored MEXT scholar to study Masters in AI from Tokyo Institute of Science (Tokyo Tech). He later served as the president of MEXT Scholars Association (MSA), a community of 8000+ international MEXT scholars in Japan where he is currently serving as advisor.
His interests revolve around science, community building and driving change through technology. He is an active part of several tech and non-tech communities in Japan.
Socials: linktr.ee/harisgulzar
Management Consultant
Masako is a Seattle-raised returnee with a strong interest in sustainability and gender issues. While working as a consultant in the field of sustainability, she led the development of in-house SDG solutions and was selected to represent her company at the One Young World Summit for her contributions to sustainability and I&D initiatives.
She has co-authored a report on plastics and actively engaged in discussions on climate change, including participating in dialogues with overseas youth in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
During her student years, Masako studied international politics and gender in Japan and France, engaging in diverse activities such as refugee support and parliamentary work. Masako is fluent in Japanese, English, and French.
Alireza, an engineering consultant based in Tokyo, was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tehran, he moved to Austria, where he worked at Johannes Kepler University.
He later relocated to Japan to pursue graduate studies in Technology and Innovation Management at the University of Tokyo. Alireza’s career spans diverse industries, including automotive, construction, energy, and AI, across settings as varied as a startup in Iran, a university in Austria, and a major consulting firm in Japan. Passionate about leveraging technology to address global challenges and drive societal transformation, he views innovation as a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth. In his free time, Alireza delves into innovation policies, management, and strategies for fostering innovation within society.
The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Department of Socio-Cultural Environmental Studies
Graduated from Yokohama National University, Department of Architecture
SHOCKby, Inc
Yingmei was born in Saitama in 2001. After spending 13 years in Beijing, China until graduating from high school, she attended Shinshu University and Yokohama National University, and began graduate studies at the University of Tokyo from April 2025, who is currently residing in Yokohama. At university and graduate school, she majors in architecture while also being involved with companies and organizations that focus on local community development. She has worked closely with various regions and cherishes every one of them. Her hobbies include classical music as well as performing in an orchestra.
Driven by an interest in urban development and the circular economy, she became the community manager of Sakura WORKS , a coworking space operated by the Yokohama Community Design Lab.
In 2024, she served as an organizer for ”Kannai-Gai OPEN! 16”, an event held by creators active in the Kannai-Gai area of Yokohama.
Currently, leveraging her connections in Yokohama, she is involved in planning and managing domestic and international tours, working to promote local good initiatives.
TMWLP Mentee of 2018-2019、UNDP Movers Community、Ex-Global Shapers Bangkok Volunteer
Born in 1996, from Ginowan, Okinawa, an area surrounded by the US military base. Majored in local tourism since always curious about diverse culture and its coexistence.
Living in Thailand for 5 years after graduating from university.
She is currently working in a customer success division of food tech company, after working as a BtoB sales in Bangkok.
Aside from work, she has been a Movers facilitator under UNDP in order to provide SDGs workshop for youth in APAC. In 2023, she organized SHAPE APAC as a part of Global Shapers Bangkok hub to accommodate 150 participants from all over the world. In 2024, she initiated “The Caring Club” which is first mental health project in Yokohama hub, and working together with Yokohama Mirai Sozo Kaigi to establish the prototype.
Munkhsuuri works as an assistant project manager for a Canadian real estate company in Japan. Previously, he worked as an architect and project manager in Mongolia, where he was involved in various interior design, architectural design, and construction projects. He also ran his own interior design business in Mongolia before pursuing a master's degree in architecture at the Tokyo Institute of Technology on a MEXT scholarship.
Besides his work, he is committed to organizing and participating in English leadership programs, global study workshops, and cultural understanding lectures with Japanese middle and high school students, as well as other international students. He draws on his experience as a teacher at a high school in Mongolia and as an international student in Japan to enhance student’s global education awareness in Japan. Being an active member of the Global Shapers Community Yokohama hub, he also serves as the Vice Head of Externals for the MEXT Scholars Association.
Temuulen (Teka) is a Mongolian girl who is set to earn a Bachelor's degree in Arts in International Relations from Tokyo International University in March 2025. During her studies, she was awarded several scholarships from Jasso, JEES, and MUFG for her great academic performance. Moreover, as a global citizen, she worked as a Resident Assistant at her dormitory to understand and connect with people from diverse backgrounds. Also, she has a strong interest in researching International environmental policy and business impacts of global changes. In addition to this, she pursued elective courses in marketing management and strategy. To improve her academic knowledge and gain practical knowledge, she used to work as an Intern at People In Need Mongolia. Currently, she is on a journey of self-discovery and finding a great way to her life.
Kiyoka Tokumasu is a Japanese American who has lived, studied, and worked in the United States, Japan, and Sweden. These diverse experiences have shaped her worldview and inspired her passion for driving positive social impact through education, youth empowerment, and global citizenship.
Currently, she leads the education programs at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, partnering with academic institutions to provide students with opportunities to explore international business and foster cross-cultural understanding. She collaborates with companies, government agencies, and industry leaders to contribute to advancing the international business ecosystem in Japan.
A graduate of the International Christian University, Kiyoka is an active One Young World Ambassador, World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and US-Japan Council Associate Leader.
Hobbies are sports (having been a former USA Gymnastics Junior Olympics Team Gymnast), taking walks in Kamakura, reading, and embracing new adventures!
Program Lead, Venture Café Tokyo
Kohaku graduated from Babson College (MA, USA) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Administration. While attending an international school in Tokyo, he achieved first place in the WRO JAPAN 2013 Tokyo Regional Competition and third place in the National Presentation Division. He also represented East Japan in the FIRST LEGO LEAGUE 2014 National Finals (while attending elementary school). He then transferred to Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA, USA) in 2017 at the age of 15, where he developed an interest in education and entrepreneurship. In 2020, he enrolled in Babson College, ranked No. 1 in entrepreneurship for 28 consecutive years, and now ranked the 2nd best college in the U.S.
During his university years, he expanded his activities through internships at multiple startups, leadership roles on campus, and as a lecturer and program designer for high schools and universities in Japan and middle schools abroad, focusing on the "entrepreneurial lifestyle." From January to April 2023, he studied abroad at IE Business School in Spain as an exchange student.
In 2023, he joined Venture Café Tokyo and launched "Community Campus," an entrepreneurial education program commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which he currently takes part in.
<Media Coverage and Appearances>
Featured in Chuunichi Shimbun, Toyama Shimbun, Toyama TV, TV Tokyo, Nippon TV, Yahoo! News, and more.
A Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime-listed company
Born in Tokyo in 1997, Hirofumi graduated from the School of Culture, Media and Society at Waseda University. During his university years, he analyzed works of pop culture, including television dramas and films, while also participating in theater club activities and organizing summer schools for high school students. In 2020, he graduated from the university and started working full-time, spending three years in solution sales for restaurants. Currently, he works in the DEI Promotion Department within Human Resources, where he promotes agendas related to SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity), caregiving, and human capital management, while also planning and organizing events such as Family Day.
Outside of work, Hirofumi is passionate about scriptwriting and strength training. He collaborated with Yume Fund and actor Jiei Kabira to write the script for the children's musical "Taiyou ga Waratteru" (The Sun is Smiling), which was performed in Tokyo and Nago, Okinawa, to critical acclaim. His hobbies include watching TV dramas and movies, playing basketball, and drawing. His motto is "Chase two hares."
Student at Yokohama International School
Ambassador at Yokohama Connect, Venture Cafe
Amelia is an English-Danish-Japanese mix, born in 2006 in London, UK, and moved to Japan when she was 2. She went to a local Japanese elementary school for 6 years, a term in Scotland, and then started YIS from middle school. She has a passion for psychology, along with environmental science and various DEI topics (Gender, LGBTQ+, disability etc). Amelia is an ambassador for Yokohama Connect (YC) Venture cafe, and enjoys meeting and connecting with new people. Amelia has engaged in many social events and has assisted in Workshops around organisational change and sustainability. In her free time, she enjoys participating in Spartan Races, martial arts (Aikido, Kali Majapahit), and field hockey.
Ryota Yasui is a graduate from a Master of Arts degree in Social Development at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK, with a strong focus on Japan’s Immigration and Refugee Policy. His main passion is advocating for child and immigrant rights in hosting countries. He is currently working at a UN agency as an internship to gain practical experience and raise awareness about refugee and child rights in the development sector and in Japan. His hobbies include playing tennis, running, enjoying coffee, and practicing Daito Ryu (Japanese martial arts).
Sumire is studying local administration and intercultural communication in the faculty of Political Science and Economy at Meiji university. (Currently taking a two year gap) When she was a high school student, she became cognizant of the prevalent issues surrounding “ the way of school rules” in Japan. Therefore, she participated in a project which is called “ rule making project” from non profit organization KATARIBA to make movements for reforming rules nationwide. Moreover, she established a student organization with her friends in her hometown Kamakura, to make a community based on traditional Japanese houses. She gathered young people to do DIY, paint the walls in those houses, and hold events with the business owners in Kamakura.
After she became a university student, she studied abroad in the Netherlands as a TOBITATE to make her dream come true, which is playing football overseas since she started to play football, and researching the Dutch educational system to find children’s well-being. Besides, she is teaching English as a tutor, belonging to Suzukan Seminar and Global shaper Yokohama hub.
Junior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute and PhD Candidate
Elizabeth Gamarra holds dual master’s degrees in Mental Health (U.S.) and Peace Studies (Japan) and has completed postgraduate studies in Human Rights Diplomacy (Australia). She has previously worked as a therapist at Huntsman Hospital and later as a junior analyst and researcher at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the Academic Council for the United Nations System. Additionally, Elizabeth is a two-time TEDx speaker, Fulbright Scholar at IE University, Rotary Peace Fellow, MEXT Scholar, CWAJ Scholar, and the U.S. Delegate for the Y20/G20 in 2023. She is currently pursuing a PhD in International Relations specializing in discourse analysis and securitization theory. Alongside her doctoral work, she serves as a junior researcher at the Peace Research Institute, a lecturer at Obirin University, and the co-founder of the podcast RadioNatura, which explores the intersections of human rights and the environment.
With a vision of building a society where 'social good' is structurally valued, Midori is currently dedicating her passion to infrastructure finance in her professional work at a Japanese bank, as well as voluntarily and enthusiastically engaged in the Youth Policy Proposal project for TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development).
She majored in Development Economics at university and has relevant experiences, including an internship at an agritech startup in Ghana, attending the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and conducting research on microinsurance involving more than 1,000 people in the Philippines. These experiences now drive her to finance infrastructure, particularly in emerging countries, while raising youth voices with changemakers from Japan, Africa, and around the globe through the Policy Proposal project.
Management Consultant
Chinatsu is a passionate individual who has a strong curiosity about “people and organization.”
Utilizing her experience of living abroad, she taught English to kids 2-8 for more than three years, and studied education policies and language education at university.
After graduation, she works at a management consulting firm and primarily engages with financial sectors over 4 years. Currently, she is joining the L&D team and social-transformation initiative to further pursue her passion.
Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Waseda University. Delegate of One Young World 2023. Global Shaper since 2024.
Born in Danang (Vietnam) in 1999. Linh came to Japan in 2022 as a Japanese Government (MEXT) scholar and just graduated from the Ritsumeikan University, Graduate School of Economics this September.Her research specialties are Foreign Direct Investment, Productivity and Technology Spillover, and Innovation in developing countries. Her goal is to excel in investment banking and firm-level data for strategic thinking with meaningful impact. Now, Linh is currently working in GTN, consulting foreign customers/companies with her company’s related services. Outside of work, Linh is also into book reading, art museums, and the sea.