Hyper Interdisciplinary Conference Tokyo 2026

Speakers

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  Shigeki Ishiguro
  • DAIKEN Corporation General Manager, Development Planning Office, R&D Center
  Joined Daiken Industries, Ltd. in 2004. Assigned to the R&D department, he was involved in the development of wood interior construction materials and the research and development of interior construction materials that contribute to energy conservation and comfort. From 2022, he has been in charge of development planning at his current position, promoting R&D and co-creation activities with universities to realize a regenerative society.

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  Shinya Umegaki
  • DyDo Group Holdings, Inc. Corporate Strategy Department Deputy General Manager, Corporate Strategy Department / Director, Future Co-Creation Institute
  Born in 1976. After joining Daido Drinko in 2012, he worked in the Marketing Department and Corporate Communications Department before assuming his current position in 2022. After leading the identification of Group materiality during the formulation of the Medium-Term Management Plan 2026, he has been engaged in building a management foundation for the realization of sustainability management. 2023 he will concurrently serve in the Strategic Investment Group, and in 2025 he will launch the Future Co-Creation Institute, focusing on the creation of new value for the entire Group as its director.

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  Kim, Rin-Ki
  • Kitasato University Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy
  D. from Kitasato University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. D. from Kitasato University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Michigan, an Assistant Professor at the University of Tsukuba, a Research Investigator at the University of Michigan, a Senior Scientist at Vedanta Biosciences, Inc. After serving as an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, he has been in his current position since 2024. He is a board member of the Society for Gut Design and an academic advisor to the Short Chain Fatty Acid Society. He has been engaged in research on innate immune receptors, nod-like receptors, and host-pathogen-microbiota interactions. Currently, he is studying disease control by intestinal bacteria.

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  Hisanori Kodama
  • Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. General Manager, Founding Development Division
  General Manager, Founding Development Division. He holds a Master's degree in Fisheries Science from the Graduate School of Marine Life Science, Kitasato University. Specialized in aquatic ecology and planktonic ecology. During his student days, he was engaged in elucidating the causes of mass outbreaks of poisonous jellyfish, while participating in the business development, deployment, and establishment of a venture company. After joining the project, he became a communicator for "Project Ikkaku," a marine litter reduction project, and has been involved in the establishment and promotion of cross-disciplinary mechanisms to pursue the richness of the ocean, including the AIRAS (ASAHI Innovative RAS) Project, TASUKI Project, and TIDAMARI FOUNDATION, AIRAS (ASAHI Innovative RAS Project), TASUKI Project, TIDAMARU Foundation, etc.

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  Noriaki Saegusa
  • Sojo University Professor/Dean of Students/Director of Student Support Center, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology
  Born in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, in 1965. D. in Applied Microbial Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kumamoto Institute of Technology (now Sojo University). D. in Engineering. Specialized in applied microbiology and fermented food science. Under the theme of "upcycling," or "breathing new life into life that would otherwise be lost," he is engaged in research on (1) stress response reactions of microorganisms and their use in new foods, (2) production of plant-derived functional oligosaccharides and their use as food ingredients, and (3) structural modification of anthocyanins and their use as food coloring agents. His hobby is sake brewing. Currently, he is also focusing on spreading Kumamoto's food to France (Dijon) in cooperation with the French city of Dijon. Last year, he launched the "SOJO International Business Promotion Council.

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  Aki Seno
  • Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. General Manager, Research and Development Division
  M.S., Osaka University, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences. Master of Science. After working as a researcher at a public research institute, he joined RIVANES in 2012. He has been involved in the creation of research projects by interdisciplinary teams of researchers, venture companies, companies, local governments, and the next generation, utilizing research platforms such as the REVANES research fund and the Interdisciplinary Association for Research in Humanities and Social Sciences. He has been the General Manager of the Research and Development Division since 2025.

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  Hiroki Takagi
  • Nippon Shokuhin Kako Co. General Manager, Sustainability Promotion Office
  He joined Nippon Shokuhin Kako Co. in 2002. After joining the company, he worked in the research institute and engaged in applied research of food products and research and development of starch and carbohydrates. 2019, he obtained a degree (Agriculture). 2024, he has been in his current position since June 2024.

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  Naoki Takada
  • Hitotsubashi University Lecturer, Faculty of Commerce
  B.A. in Commerce, Hitotsubashi University, 2013; M.A. in Commerce, Hitotsubashi University, 2015; Ph.D. in Commerce, Hitotsubashi University, 2019; current position from 2024. His research interests include individual and group creativity, innovation process and management, and he is currently conducting research on deviant behavior and innovation, team creativity, and management of R&D organizations in large companies.

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  Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Director of Institute of Innovation and Knowledge
  Ph.D. from Yokohama City University in 2009. Ph.D. in Science, focusing on creating new research projects between industry and young researchers, including the launch of the " LNest Research Grant" for young researchers under the age of 40. He has also been involved in the creation of "super interdisciplinary academic societies," a place where individuals can combine their knowledge, skills, and passion for problem solving to create new knowledge without being bound by the framework of academia, and the establishment of real laboratories for knowledge manufacturing, among other activities to create seeds for research and development.

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  Kotaro Takayama
  • Toyohashi University of Technology Graduate School Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
  • Ehime University Professor, Graduate School of Agriculture
  D. in 2004 from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo. D. in 2004 from the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Tokyo, specializing in plant diagnostics and measurement engineering, plant environmental engineering, and agricultural information systems. He has promoted research integrating engineering and agricultural sciences through a cross-appointment as a professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, and at the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Ehime University. He oversees many research projects for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of the Environment, and others, and promotes social implementation of plant bioinformation measurement systems through university-launched ventures. He is a member of the Science Council of Japan, Chairman of the Food Science Committee, Secretary General of the Science Council for Asia, and President of the Japanese Society for Biological and Environmental Engineering.

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  Ryuta Takeda
  • Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Executive Officer
  D. in plant RNA pathogens from Ohio State University, U.S.A. He joined RIVERNESS in 2012 after participating in the launch of RIVERNESS USA in 2011. Since 2013, he has been promoting the overseas expansion of TECH PLANTER, which was launched as a seed acceleration business in Japan. Currently, he is involved in business launches in collaboration with government agencies and ventures, especially in Southeast Asian countries, utilizing his network of key players in the overseas venture ecosystem.

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  Shuhei Tsukada
  • Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. Executive Officer
  D. in Applied Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo. D. in Agriculture. Participated in the management of RIVERNESS since 2003, when the company was in its early stages of establishment. After accumulating practical experience in experimental classes and various types of writing, developed and introduced advanced technologies in the agri-field and launched a project to build an ecosystem for regional startups. Committed to technology and business development in collaboration with large and medium-sized companies, venture companies, researchers, etc. on a field-oriented basis.

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  Ryo Nakaki
  • Rhelixa, Inc. Representative Director, CEO / CTO
  Computational Biologist (Ph.D. in Engineering). D. from the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. He specializes in the development and application of computational algorithms for the analysis of whole genome and epigenome data obtained from next-generation sequencers. In February 2015, he founded Rhelixa Inc. and was elected as a councilor of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine at the 16th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine in recognition of his achievements in the field of anti-aging medicine. He was elected as a councilor of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine.

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  Satoshi Nishiyama
  • Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. General Manager, Research and Development Division/Environmental Planning Office
  Completed graduate studies at the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba. Doctor of Science. During his graduate school days, he specialized in research on the development of gene therapy for mitochondrial diseases, which are rare and intractable diseases. At RIVANES, he has been involved in the development of technology to dramatically accelerate the creation of seafloor topographic maps, the development of technology and processes to produce coal coke from biomass, and the planning and promotion of new research themes at a major corporate research institute. He has also been involved in the planning and promotion of new research themes at a major corporate research institute.

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  Koumei Hamamura
  • DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. Technology Innovation Center
  He joined Daikin Industries, Ltd. in 2019. After studying AI, IoT, and data analysis for two years at the Daikin University of Information Technology, he joined the Technology Innovation Center. From 2025, he will be a member of the team that develops technologies and businesses in the cold chain area, and is in charge of market research and planning. He is currently working hard to launch a new business that will solve social issues such as food loss.

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  Shinji Fukuda
  • Metagen Inc. Representative Director, President and CEO
  • Keio University Professor, Institute of Advanced Life Science
  After completing his PhD in Agriculture at Meiji University in 2006, he worked as a RIKEN Research Fellow before becoming an Associate Professor at Keio University's Institute for Frontier Life Sciences in 2012. He is also a group leader at the Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Industrial Technology, a specially appointed professor at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, a representative director of the Society for Intestinal Design, a representative director of the Short Chain Fatty Acids Association, and a representative director of the Intestinal Environment Health Care Association. In 2024, he was selected for Forbes Japan Entrepreneur Book 400 and Highly Cited Researcher 2024 by Clarivate Analytics.

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  Ken Miki
  • Ryukoku University Professor, Environmental Science Course, School of Advanced Science and Engineering
  D., Ph.D., Kyoto University, Japan, in 2006; led a laboratory at the National Taiwan University Institute of Oceanography for 10 years from 2008 to 2018, when he was transferred to his current position. Based on mathematical biology, he has developed biodiversity research integrating experiments and observations. He has received the Miyachi Award from the Ecological Society of Japan, the Encouragement Award from the Japanese Society for Mathematical Biology, and the Shiga Tech Planter Grand Prix Special Award. Currently, he is working not only on biodiversity assessment, but also on the development and social implementation of indicators to quantify ecosystem resilience and to detect ecosystem change with the smallest possible data. He is scheduled to join the Faculty of Sustainability (tentative name), which is based on the three fields of biodiversity science, environmental engineering, and economics and business administration.

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  Takeshi Mizumoto
  • HiLable, Inc. Founder & CEO
  He graduated from Osaka Prefectural College of Technology in 2006 and completed his PhD in Intelligent Informatics, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University in 2013. D. (Informatics), a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow DC2 since 2011, and a researcher at Honda Research Institute Japan, Inc. from April 2013 to May 2017. He founded HiLable, Inc. in November 2016, and has analyzed discussions with a total of over 6000 people at schools, trainings, and other settings.

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  Eiichiro Mori
  • Nara Medical University Associate Professor, School of Medicine
  • molmir, Inc. CEO
  While a student at Nara Medical University, he engaged in basic research in cell biology. After a clinical residency at the university hospital, studied at the University of Texas, U.S.A., in 2011; worked in the Steven McKnight lab for two years from 2015 to 2017 on Low-complexity (LC) domain research to elucidate the pathogenesis mechanism of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He has been working at Nara Medical University since 2017 as a Project Assistant Professor and Project Lecturer, and will be an Associate Professor in 2019.
  He has worked on several AMED proposals and promoted research on anomalous phase separation through LC domains. In addition, he established MOLMIL Co., Ltd. in June 2022 with Shunsuke Tomita (AIST), Tomohide Saio (University of Tokushima), and Masataka Yamamoto (COO). They are working to realize drug discovery based on molecular dynamics evaluation technology by consolidating the seeds of academia.

Schedule

TIME	THEME	SPEAKER
09:30	Main hall Opening Ceremony
10:00	Main hall Short Pitches by Researchers and Venture Companies "Hyper Interdisciplinary Splash" The name "Splash" comes from the meaning of the word "splash," which means "a splash of water or other substance." Researchers and venture capitalists give 90-second pitches to the audience, telling them what they want to do and what they are looking for from the participants. The aim is to find passionate researchers and to use their pitches as inspiration to come up with new ideas. We then aim to develop the discussions into more in-depth discussions at the poster presentations, leading to the creation of new collaborative research. List of Speakers
11:00	Poster and booth Poster & Booth Core Time Click here for online abstracts
13:00	Main hall Keynote Speech: "Epigenomic Analysis Opens a New Era of Personalized Anti-Aging Session Partners: Rhelixa Corporation President and Representative Director of Rhelixa Corporation. D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo. D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo. D. in Genome Science at the University of Tokyo. He is a computational biologist specializing in the development and application of analysis algorithms for whole genome and epigenome data. In 2015, he founded Rhelixa, Inc. to support omics research. Since its inception, he has supported over 13,000 research projects and is currently leading the research and development of the biological age measurement technology "EpiClock®" and social implementation projects with medical, corporate, and local governments. As a councilor of the Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine and a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering, he also contributes to the fields of aging research and preventive medicine. As a practitioner of co-creative research linking science and society, he is pioneering new possibilities in aging, wellness, and life course medicine. Click here for release	Ryo Nakaki (Rhelixa, Inc.)
13:30	Main hall Session d1m1
	Session Room A The Shape of the Cold Chain Mirai Built through Communication with Microorganisms Session Partners: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD. According to FAO, about 10% of the world's food production is lost during transportation, storage, and other stages before retail, and there has been virtually no improvement in the last decade. Fruits and vegetables, which are considered to have the highest loss rate, are known to be affected by a wide variety of molds. Aiming at new approaches to mold control in addition to existing freezing and refrigeration technologies, this session will discuss the possibility of visualization of molds in transportation and storage environments and microbial control technology using sound waves, which can contribute to maintaining freshness of foods. session release	Koumei Hamamura (Daikin Industries, Ltd.) Noriaki Saegusa (Sojo University) Kotaro Takayama (Graduate School of Toyohashi University of Technology / Ehime University) [Moderator] Aki Seno (Leave a Nest Co.,Ltd.)
	Session Room B Session d1b1
14:40	Main hall Questioning the Meaning of Succession to Abundance Session Partners: Focus Systems Co. As early as three years have passed since the "Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework" came into effect in December 2022, the time has come for the world to think about what a "society in harmony with nature" means, and for companies to act accordingly. At the same time, we are beginning to question who and with what intention will continue to protect the land that is the subject of conservation and regeneration, and the meaning of "inheriting abundance". We will ask about the significance of promoting sustainable development that goes beyond the human habitat and looks at the ecosystem of the entire planet.	Takeshi Mizumoto (HiLable, Inc.) Ken Miki (Ryukoku University) [Moderator] Hisanori Kodama (Leave a Nest Co.,Ltd.)
	Session Room A Continued Gut Design Studies - Mixing and Creating All Biotics® for Everyone's Gut Session Partners: Metagen Inc. With the spread of intestinal bacteria tests for the general public, it has become possible to easily learn the characteristics of one's own intestinal microflora. Using this information, attempts to "design" the intestinal environment through diet and lifestyle habits are becoming a reality. There are two ways to design the intestinal environment: "personalization," which pursues individual optimization, and "Allbiotics®," which aims for broad efficacy. This session will focus on the latter and discuss it with the aim of creating new co-creation projects.	Kim, Rin-Ki (Kitasato University) Hiroki Takagi (Nippon Shokuhin Kako Co.) [Moderator] Shinji Fukuda (Metagen Corporation / Keio University)
	Session Room B Session d1b2
15:50	Main hall Session d1m3
	Session Room A Session d1a3
	Session Room B Session d1b3
17:00	Main hall Knowledge Manufacturing Ignition Workshop Session Partners: Japan Tobacco Inc., Teral Corporation, Lipidome Labs Inc. Knowledge Manufacturing Ignition (Ignition: ignition, ignition) is a project prototyping program that brings together researchers, ventures, business companies, and producers from different fields who gather on site. During the workshop, partners and RIVANES communicators will join in the discussion and follow up on the collaboration ideas that emerge from the dialogue among the participants to materialize and enter them. <Submission Theme Create Fulfilling Life for the future Hypothesis for collaboration to create a "Fulfilling Life" that has not yet been seen / Japan Tobacco Inc. New value created by water and air flow Collaborative hypothesis for "controlling", "using up", and "re-creating" the flow / Teral Co. ・Collaboration hypothesis for creating new value in "food x health x lipid" / Lipidome Labs, Inc. Hypothesis of collaboration for the development of science and technology and contribution to the earth / LIBERNESS Co.
	Session Room B TECH PLANTER World Communication At TECH PLANTER, the largest deep tech venture ecosystem in Asia, hosted and operated by RIVANES, 10 teams selected at Demo Days in 7 areas held in September and October 2025 will pitch for the right to be invited to TECH PLANTER Asia Final The 10 teams selected at the Demo Days in the 7 areas held in September and October 2025 will pitch for the right to be invited to TECH PLANTER Asia Final in Malaysia in August 2026. We will connect Japan and Southeast Asia to accelerate effective collaboration in order to solve issues for all mankind beyond national borders. Speaker Team (Theme) SYNCHROA Corporation (Optical technology that can provide true DXing of manufacturing sites worldwide) SulfurScience (from discarded sulfur to recyclable materials of the future) Carbon Cryo-Capture Corporation (world's cheapest ($7/t-CO₂) CO₂ separation and capture technology) UMIAILE Corporation (Protecting a peaceful and abundant planet through "visualization of the oceans") Midori-Navi (AI-enabled highly accurate, wide-area "forest infrastructure map") WAKU Corporation (Research on glutathione, a plant stress signaling substance) Alteonus Inc. (Saving the world's toothpaste weaklings with toothpaste sweets) Pyrozyme (providing new value with the world's best thermostable protease) Craftide Corporation (Sustainable Agriculture Pioneered by Peptide Farming) Interbeing Corporation (voice analysis technology that visualizes the quality of relationships from the voice)
18:00	Main hall get-together

TIME	THEME	SPEAKER
09:30	Main hall Opening Ceremony
10:00	Main hall Short Pitches by Researchers and Venture Companies "Hyper Interdisciplinary Splash" The name "Splash" comes from the meaning of the word "splash," which means "a splash of water or other substance." Researchers and venture capitalists give 90-second pitches to the audience, telling them what they want to do and what they are looking for from the participants. The aim is to find passionate researchers and to use their pitches as inspiration to come up with new ideas. We then aim to develop the discussions into more in-depth discussions at the poster presentations, leading to the creation of new collaborative research. List of Speakers
11:00	Poster and booth Poster & Booth Core Time Click here for online abstracts
13:00	Main hall Rivanes Research Award 2026 Award Ceremony & Keynote Speech "Seeing Molecules in Motion! The LIBERNESS Research Award is a system to recognize researchers who are passionate about their own research, carry out original research, and are making great strides right now while expanding the boundaries of their own research, as role models for the next generation of researchers. Award recipients are selected annually from past recipients of the LIBERNESS Research Grant. At the RIHN Tokyo 2026, the award ceremony for the RIHN Research Award 2026 will be held, and keynote speeches will be delivered by the winners of the Advanced Research Promotion Division. Outline of Lecture In the 2000s, the human genome analysis revealed information about the genes in the human genome, and in the 2010s, the shape of the proteins that result from the translation of genes was revealed in considerable detail by techniques such as X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. and cryo-electron microscopy. Still, not all proteins are visible. Many human proteins have parts that do not have a definite shape, and these parts are not easy to see because they involve movement. Molecules that can be crystallized or frozen and observed can be seen, but molecules in motion are difficult to see. We cannot see them, but they are difficult to see! I want to see!" In the 2020s, my desire to "see molecules in motion! I would like to introduce my research on the movement of molecules. I would like to introduce my efforts to see the movement of molecules. Click here for release	Eiichiro Mori (Nara Medical University / MOLMIL Co.)
13:30	Main hall Knowledge Manufacturing Ignition Co-Creation Pitch Session Partners: Japan Tobacco Inc., Teral Corporation, Lipidome Labs Inc. Knowledge Manufacturing Ignition (Ignition: ignition, ignition) is a project prototyping program that brings together researchers, ventures, business companies, and producers from different fields who gather on site. Selected teams will present from the entries gathered on day 1. <Submission Theme Create Fulfilling Life for the future Hypothesis for collaboration to create a "Fulfilling Life" that has not yet been seen / Japan Tobacco Inc. New value created by water and air flow Collaborative hypothesis for "controlling", "using up", and "re-creating" the flow / Teral Co. ・Collaboration hypothesis for creating new value in "food x health x lipid" / Lipidome Labs, Inc. Hypothesis of collaboration for the development of science and technology and contribution to the earth / LIBERNESS Co.
	Session Room A The main scene of a co-creative research organization that creates themes through dialogue with people outside the company. Session Partners: DyDo Group Holdings, Inc. Corporate Strategy Department With the growing complexity of social issues and the increasing sophistication of technology, there is an increased interest in open innovation research organizations where companies collaborate with external parties for research and development. However, there is no established methodology for establishing and operating such organizations, and many are still in the process of trial and error. In this session, two companies that have established R&D themes through dialogue with external parties and a researcher who analyzes corporate R&D processes will take the stage. While sharing the background of internal and external challenges and decisions faced when promoting co-creation, the panelists will discuss how to implement co-creation in corporate research. Click here to view the session release.	Shinya Umegaki (DAIDOH LIMITED) Shigeki Ishiguro (DAIKEN Corporation) Naoki Takada (Hitotsubashi University/) [Moderator] Satoshi Nishiyama (Leave a Nest Co.,Ltd.)
	Session Room B Session d2b1
14:40	Main hall Session d2m2
	Session Room A Session d2a2
	Session Room B Session d2b2
15:50	Main hall Session d2m3
	Session Room A Session d2a3
	Session Room B Session d2b3
17:00	Main hall Closing Ceremony and Awards Ceremony