Our Team

Member

President and CEO / CCO (Chief Communication Officer)

Naoko Okada

Driven by the belief in “maximizing value through communication,” we consistently undertake and advance brand strategy and its execution, closely supporting corporate growth and transformation.

In July 2009, I established Network Communications Co., Ltd. As President and CEO, I have consistently provided corporate communication strategy development and practical support to companies at various stages, including startups, foreign-affiliated firms, and listed companies.

Since its founding, the company has supported over 150 companies with their public relations, investor relations, and internal and external communications. In recent years, I have also served as an Outside Director for several listed companies and startups, acting as a bridge connecting management with dialogue, and branding with governance.

With a mission to “transform companies’ ‘intangible assets’ into market value through communication,” we primarily support B2B companies in strengthening their public relations capabilities. Furthermore, through speaking engagements at graduate schools and economic organizations, we are also dedicated to educational activities aimed at raising branding awareness across Japanese companies as a whole.

Graduated from Kobe College, Faculty of Letters, Department of English Language and Literature.
Completed MBA at Rikkyo University Graduate School of Business Design. Hails from Hiroshima Prefecture.

Biography

  • President and CEO, Network Communications Co., Ltd. (July 2009 – )
  • Outside Director, Roland D.G. Co., Ltd. (TSE Prime) (April 2020 – September 2024)
  • Outside Director, Retrieva Co., Ltd. (September 2021 – )
  • Outside Director, Nittoku Construction Co., Ltd. (TSE Prime) (June 2022 – )
  • Director and COO, Continuum Social Co., Ltd. (September 2024 – )
  • Director, Open Source License Institute (General Incorporated Association) (June 2011 – )

Vise President / CSO (Chief Strategy Officer)

Toshiharu Uwai

A practitioner equipped with both technological expertise and business management acumen.
Guides the re-establishment of corporate value, from the manufacturing floor up.

Possessing backgrounds in both Master of Engineering (Applied Chemistry) and Master of Business Administration, they have practical experience supporting companies from both technological and managerial perspectives.

At material manufacturer Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd., they were involved in core manufacturing areas such as R&D, production, technology, and quality assurance. Furthermore, they gained experience in managing both domestic and international subsidiaries, demonstrating strong leadership.

Subsequently, they joined Roland D.G. Corporation, a global machinery manufacturer with over 90% of its sales from overseas, as a Director, participating in management. They promoted company-wide reforms by overseeing both production and administrative divisions, contributing to a V-shaped recovery in business performance and corporate value.

Convinced that numerous B2B companies in Japan possess highly valuable yet insufficiently recognized technologies and strengths, they joined Network Communications Co., Ltd. in 2024.
Their aim is to visualize these “intangible assets” through the “power of communication” and maximize their value. Currently, as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), they serve as a bridge between industry and society.

Born in 1963.
Completed Master’s program at Keio University Graduate School.

Biography

  • Joined Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. (April 1987)
  • Director, Tanoura Plant Manager & Tanoura Research Lab Director, Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd. (March 2015)
  • Director, Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd., concurrently Representative Director, Oriental Sangyo Co., Ltd. (March 2016)
  • Executive Officer, Head of Corporate Division, Roland D.G. Corporation (TSE Prime) (July 2017)
  • Director, Roland D.G. Corporation (March 2019)
  • Director and Senior Executive Officer, Roland D.G. Corporation (March 2022)
  • Senior Executive, Network Communications Co., Ltd. (September 2024)
  • Vice President, CSO, Network Communications Co., Ltd. (January 2025 – Present)

PR Consultant / PRSJ Certified Planner

Mayuko Takeda

A hands-on PR consultant who, with a field-oriented approach and the ability to empathize, also supports “solo PR” practitioners.

While in university, they studied abroad in Washington D.C. and interned at a local TV station.
In 2019, they joined a major travel agency, where they were responsible for arranging business trips for foreign-affiliated companies. They joined Network Communications Co., Ltd. in 2021.

Currently, they handle a wide range of tasks, including supporting PR operations, advising PR managers, and fostering their growth.
They are especially highly regarded for their approach of empathizing with the anxieties and isolation faced by “solo PR” practitioners, offering both immediately actionable know-how and support that leads to medium-to-long-term growth.

Leveraging their English and Chinese language skills, they are also involved in corporate PR for global IT companies and TSE Prime-listed firms, as well as PR strategy development for rapidly growing ventures. They swiftly and meticulously handle various practical tasks supporting PR operations, including information research, media relations, and interview coordination. They have earned the trust of both media and clients as a “reliable right-hand person in PR.”

Graduated from Waseda University, School of International Liberal Studies.
Hails from Chiba Prefecture.

PR Consultant / PRSJ Certified Planner

Reimi Kojima

A strategist who designs brand “empathy” and delivers narratives.
Bridges culture and economy across both Japan and the U.S.

For approximately 15 years, they have provided comprehensive communication support to clients of various industries and sizes, ranging from brand story development to media relations building and the planning and operation of PR events. Among these, they excel at designing storytelling centered on deep empathy with a company’s vision and values.

From 2016, they relocated to the U.S. East Coast, engaging in grassroots community building through the promotion of Japanese food culture.
They have achieved both cultural dissemination and business results, including supporting the planning of annual sake tasting events for 300 participants and implementing sales-boosting measures through a members-only newsletter (achieving a 60% open rate).

Additionally, they have built a strong track record in public-private partnerships, engaging in activities such as planning and supporting U.S.-Japan friendship events for government officials, organizing PR events aimed at expanding sales channels for Tohoku ingredients, and conducting research related to Cool Japan policies.

From 2023, they temporarily relocated their base to Okinawa to support the global expansion of a lifestyle brand dealing in traditional Japanese crafts.
They focus on international PR support that integrates storytelling and digital utilization, having contributed to achieving 300% of the fundraising goal in overseas crowdfunding.

They continue their activities with a mission to deliver the charm of Japanese craftsmanship and lifestyle to the daily lives of people worldwide.

Graduated from Tsuda University, Faculty of Letters, Department of English Language and Literature.
Resides in Okinawa.

Partner

President and CEO, Orient Co., Ltd.

Hideki Ninomiya

– Cybersecurity & Digital Governance Strategist
– Business & Operational Strategist

A practitioner who supports corporate transformation and trust through the dual wheels of strategy and execution.

As President and Representative Director of Orient Co., Ltd., specializing in cybersecurity and digital governance, they are highly regarded as a practitioner who deeply engages in the realm of business strategy, driving initiatives from conception to implementation.
This is in addition to their extensive track record as a CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) and external advisor.

As a Director of the Cybercrime Investigation Knowledge Forum (CIKF), a neutral organization that formulates international standards for cybercrime investigation, they are also dedicated to promoting “CIBOK,” the global body of knowledge on cybersecurity. Leveraging this expertise, they provide multifaceted support for corporate internal controls, digital risk response, and internal governance design.

Beyond just “defensive security,” they also possess digital strategy and implementation capabilities that contribute to business growth.
As a “security expert who can speak the language of management,” they have earned the trust of both management and on-site teams.

At Network Communications Co., Ltd., they participate as a partner who supports the sustainable improvement of corporate value by bridging the gap between management and technology, and by building an environment where organizations can confidently take on challenges.

Editor-in-Chief, “Jitsugyo no Nihon Forum”

Shintaro Ikeda

– Geopolitics and Geo-economics Expert

Joined Nikkei BP in 2000. Began working for Nikkei Business in 2006. In January 2012, launched Nikkei Digital and became its first Editor-in-Chief.

In September 2012, he became a special correspondent for the Hong Kong Bureau, covering Southeast Asia, China, Turkey, and Africa.
While reporting on the “Umbrella Revolution” democracy protests in Hong Kong, he foresaw the resurgence of the geopolitical era.

From January 2015, he served as Editor-in-Chief of Nikkei Business Online, acting as Project Manager for the integrated renewal project of Nikkei Business Digital and Nikkei Business Online. In January 2019, he launched Nikkei Business Electronic Edition.

In the same year, he once again reported on the Hong Kong protests from the ground, realizing the frontline of the U.S.-China confrontation. In the same month, he assumed the position of Editor-in-Chief for the electronic edition.
In 2022, he transferred to Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha and became the Editor-in-Chief of Jitsugyo no Nihon Forum.

President and CEO, ZEUS Consulting Co., Ltd. / Advisor, Association of Risk Management / Director, Risk Communication Institute Of Japan

Kuniyoshi Shirai

– Risk Management
– Risk and Crisis Consultant

A specialist who thoroughly understands crises and quietly resolves them.
With experience in over 3,000 on-site cases, they are at the forefront of corporate risk response.

They started their career at AIU Insurance Company (now AIG General Insurance), serving as the first Head of the Crisis Management Consulting Office and as the Head of Crisis Management for the Asia region. They have handled over 3,100 consulting cases in the fields of risk management, business continuity, compliance, and corporate turnaround support.

In 2004, as AIG’s first BCP Officer (Business Continuity Plan Officer), they oversaw crisis response across the entire Asia region.
They have a proven track record in restoring trust and de-escalating situations for diverse stakeholders, including shareholders, government bodies, media, employees, and the judiciary, primarily with organizations like the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan and listed companies.

In 2017, they established Zeus Consulting Co., Ltd., and currently support approximately 1,000 companies, including about 400 listed companies.

They have also overseen crisis management for numerous TV dramas, including “Harassment Game” (TV Tokyo, 2018) and “Ima Koko Ni Aru Kiki to Boku no Kokando Ni Tsuite” (NHK, 2021). For “Risk no Kamisama” (Fuji TV), they provided original ideas and supervision based on real-world cases.
They are widely trusted as an individual who seamlessly navigates between theory and practice, and between different sectors of society, by offering their expertise to media, academia, and industry associations.

President and CEO, CFA J-Phoenix Research Co., Ltd. / Chartered Financial Analyst

Osamu Miyashita

– Investor Relations Professional

After graduating from Waseda University’s Faculty of Political Science and Economics, they earned an MBA (specializing in Finance) from Bayes Business School, City, University of London. They further completed a Master’s program in Economics and Statistics at the University of Konstanz in Germany.

In 1989, they joined Nomura Research Institute, engaging in capital market research and financial advisory services. Subsequently, they worked at Stern Stewart as the first Japanese EVA® consultant, assisting Kao in introducing the EVA management system. They then engaged in investment banking at Merrill Lynch Japan Securities, and in 2005, joined J-Phoenix Research.

Since 2009, they have served as the Representative Director of the same company. They have contributed to enhancing the corporate value of numerous listed companies, including Sanrio, RIZAP, KITO, AD Works, and Mipox, through systematic advice based on shareholder value theory.

From 2013 to 2016, they concurrently served as a Senior Executive Officer at UT Group, where they achieved a fourfold increase in stock price through the formulation and execution of a mid-term management plan.

Currently, they also serve as CSO of RIKKA Inc., which develops “RYX,” visualization software aimed at integrating human capital management and shareholder value.

At Network Communications Co., Ltd., they jointly provide support that bridges management and communication, offering expertise in enhancing corporate value from a perspective that connects both financial and non-financial aspects.

President and CEO, AUBE Kotoha Co., Ltd.

Motoko Kakizaki

– Media Training

Speech Consultant / Caster / University Lecturer
Completed Master’s program at Waseda University Graduate School of Finance (Finance MBA).

After starting their career as an announcer at Aomori Broadcasting, they served as a caster and announcer for various domestic and international news and economic programs, including TV Tokyo, NHK-BS, and Bloomberg TV. They are highly regarded for their accurate pronunciation and articulation, as well as their precise word choice, and have earned the trust of viewers with their gentle yet intelligent speaking style.

Subsequently, they served as a director and news editor for NHK Radio’s “My Asa!” business segment and in the news department at Nippon Broadcasting, deepening their perspective on reporting, production, and composition. Furthermore, they have excelled as a speech advisor for executives across diverse industries, including LINE, Uber, Box, and MLB (Major League Baseball).

Currently, they provide presentation coaching and media training to clients including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, foreign investment banks, Amazon, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, major real estate companies, EY ShinNihon LLC, and IT service companies.

They are highly regarded for their unique coaching method, which blends their experience as an announcer with their finance education to connect business and communication.

At Network Communications Co., Ltd., they participate as a partner specializing in language and voice.
They are responsible for designing dialogue and providing expression support to enhance the credibility and communication power of companies and their management.