Introduction of Panelists

Keigo Onishi　he
Representative Director, LiLz K.K.

After engaging in platform development for embedded control devices and home appliances as an engineer, he moved to Okinawa and worked on cloud services as a product manager. Currently, while struggling to raise his 3-year-old daughter, he founded LiLz, Inc. in July 2017, specializing in AI/IoT, and is currently developing services utilizing machine learning that can be used in the IoT field. He is a part-time lecturer (service design) at the University of the Ryukyus and a certified tennis instructor by the Japan Sports Association.

Kazuki Morioka　he
Yaeyama Farm, an agricultural production corporation, General Manager of the Livestock Production Department

Ishigaki Island, Yaeyama Farm is responsible for livestock production (cattle and pigs). The farm is located near Ishigaki Airport, and produces Nannu beef, a Japanese black cattle breed, and Nannu pork, an agu pig native to Okinawa. It has been four years since he took charge of the farm, and although he has struggled to make progress as planned due to difficulties in managing the animals' physical condition caused by typhoons and summer heat, he has been working to improve meat quality and prevent leukemia by using fermented feed for the cattle for several years.

Satoshi Sugimura　he
Tenure-track Associate Professor, Department of Bioproduction Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. D. from the Graduate School of Agriculture, Tohoku University. After working as a JSPS Research Fellow at the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the Japan Livestock Breeding Center (JLBC), and a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Abroad (University of Adelaide), he has been in his current position since November 2013. He specializes in animal breeding, particularly in research on the advancement of fertilized egg transplantation technology. He has received the Incentive Award from the Japanese Society of Animal Science, and the Society Award and Encouragement Award from the Japanese Society of Reproductive Biology.

Organizer Introduction

Yuta Kaneshiro　
General Manager, Production Technology Research Institute, Liverness Co.
President and Representative Director, Fukkojo Farm Co.

Born in Nakijin Village, Okinawa Prefecture. His family runs an agricultural production corporation, Kinjo Meat, which is engaged in butchery and pig farming. After graduating from Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, he joined Soganoya Nouko Co., Ltd. to work in the livestock industry in Okinawa Prefecture. In the future, he felt the need for a swine veterinarian and entered the Veterinary Department of Azabu University, graduating in 2015. Graduated in 2015 and obtained his veterinary license. During his studies, he started an internship at Livanes after thinking about what he should do to revitalize the livestock industry. Joined RIVANES in 2015, aiming to become a person who can introduce research related to livestock farming to the production site. 2016 Established Fukkojo Farm Co. Appointed as Representative Director.

Introduction of Panelists

Mr. Masaaki Wada
Director, Marine IT Laboratory, Future University Hakodate

Graduated from the Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University in 1993. Joined Towa Electric Manufacturing Co. D. in 2004 from the Graduate School of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University. D. in Fisheries Science from the Graduate School of Fisheries Science at Hokkaido University in 2004, and was appointed to Future University Hakodate in 2005. He received the Hokkaido Science and Technology Award in 2012, the Hokkaido Bureau of Telecommunications Director-General's Commendation in 2014, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award in 2015, and others. He is also a regional informatization advisor for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. He is the author of "Setting Sail for Marine IT.

Ms. Ayano Ryugo
Representative Director and Interim CEO, Muska Inc.

Born in 1990, mother of two. After working in public relations for a venture company, she became an independent freelance publicist. In September 2017, she became an executive officer of Basisz. In September 2017, he was appointed as an executive officer of Basis', and in November of the same year, he was appointed by Basis' to join Musca's management as an executive officer.

Hideki Takahashi　he
General Manager, Bio Innovation Center, Central Research Laboratory, Yanmar Co.

Born in Okayama City, graduated from the Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University. Engaged in the development of technology to remove DXNs from incinerator exhaust gas and Pu from radioactive liquid waste using new adsorbents, and also worked on the development of water treatment technology using membranes and promoted the introduction of wastewater recycling facilities. Later, he was in charge of the development of breeding water purification technology in the development of land-based aquaculture systems. 2007-present: in charge of planning and management of new businesses; current position since April 2017.

Organizer Introduction

Takashi Okazaki
General Manager, Human Resource Development Division, Liverness, Inc.

D. from Osaka University. After working as a special researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), he joined LIVERNESS. In addition to his diverse research experience at universities, major textile manufacturers, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), he has also been involved in science and technology promotion planning at a local government affiliated organization. He has been involved mainly in local seed discovery, human resource development, and local acceleration work in Okinawa Prefecture since 2010.

Controlled-environment agriculture technology, as typified by solar-powered plant factories and fully artificial light-emitting plant factories, has many advantages in terms of land use, production efficiency, and food mileage, and is expected to be deployed in subtropical regions. Leading experts from within and outside of the prefecture will discuss how to solve these issues and the potential for development in subtropical regions.

Introduction of Panelists
Mr. Masahiro Kitajima
Representative Director, Farm Ship Co.

In 2014, he and Mizuki Yasuda founded Farmship Co. He is a representative and board member of affiliated companies Fujiyama Green Farm Co, Ocean Co, Discovery Line Co, and MGC Farmix Co. He is in charge of overall group management as well as production technology development, distribution business, and human resource development business. He has experience in establishing and operating five large-scale plant factories throughout Japan. He is involved in the development of production areas where food processing, energy creation/re-energy generation, and environment-related businesses are integrated with agriculture, and also serves as a member of the Shizuoka Prefecture "Council for Creating a Rich Life Supported by Food and Agriculture.

Mr. Kotaro Takayama
Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University; Specially Appointed Professor, Center for Advanced Agricultural and Biotechnology Research, Toyohashi University of Technology

After completing the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, he was hired as an assistant at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University in 2004. After serving as Assistant Professor, Lecturer, and Associate Professor, he assumed his current position in 2017. He has also served as a specially appointed professor at the Center for Advanced Agricultural and Biotechnology Research, Toyohashi University of Technology since 2018. His area of expertise is plant diagnostic and measurement engineering. He is promoting social implementation of smart agriculture based on advanced plant sensing technology and is the Principal Investigator of the "Artificial Intelligence Future Agriculture Creation Project" of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan.

Mr. Tokuo Kagurada
Representative Director, Kagurada Corporation

Born in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture in 1952.
In 1971, he joined Matsushita Electric (now Panasonic Corporation) as an overseas personnel. In 1975, he was assigned to Belgium as a Panasonic Sales Engineer for 8 years. In 1983, he was in charge of sales of electronic components to overseas car manufacturers in Japan, Europe, and the United States. In 1996, he moved to GE's consumer electronics and medical equipment division. Moved to Interroll Japan in 2000 as the first President. 2006 Moved to SGS as International Sales Manager.

Organizer Introduction

Mr. Shuhei Tsukada
General Manager, Strategic Development Division, Liverness, Inc.

D. in Applied Biotechnology from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo, he joined LIVERNESS in 2009 and has been the General Manager of the Regional Development Division since November 2010. He has been involved in the launch of the plant factory business since he first joined the company. In July 2010, he promoted the Store Production for Store Consumption Project with Subway Japan, Inc. and installed the world's first plant factory attached to a store as a chain store in the Marunouchi Building. In addition to providing support for the launch of large-scale plant factories, he is also promoting research and development related to next-generation agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, including the development of a land-based aquaculture system and a system for supplying functional agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.