Roger Porter and Takeo Obayashi.
Program Chair Roger Porter
with former Doyukai Senior
Co-Chair Takeo Obayashi

Kansai Keizai Doyukai Program

The Kansai Keizai Doyukai is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization comprised of leading corporations in the Osaka region of Japan. It was formed in 1946 by business leaders who shared a common desire to contribute to the reconstruction of the Japanese economy. Its members share the belief that corporate managers should be key players in a broad range of political, economic, and social issues. One of the Doyukai’s missions is to examine critical issues that relate to Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. In 1999, the Doyukai signed a partnership agreement with CBG to provide funding for an annual one-day symposium in Cambridge, the placement of fellows, and research on topics of joint interest.

Recent Symposia

  • November 17, 2023  | agenda
  • November 8, 2022 | agenda
  • November 12, 2021 | held remotely
  • November 20, 2020 | held remotely
  • November 15, 2019 | agenda
  • November 2, 2018 | agenda
  • October 23, 2017 | agenda
  • November 28, 2016 | agenda
  • October 28, 2015 | agenda
  • November 10, 2014 | agenda
  • November 18, 2013 | agenda
  • November 19, 2012 | agenda | papers

Doyukai Fellows

Doyukai fellows are in residence at M-RCBG for one year and conduct research on a variety of topics. Recent topics have included energy sector restructuring, project management within the current global economy, and the development of appropriate enterprise risk management models for utility companies.

Ryotaro Ichikawa headshot Fall 2022 - Spring 2023: Ryotaro Ichikawa is the 2022-2023 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. Mr. Ichikawa is a member of the Construction Administration Department at Obayashi Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Tokyo with a BA in economics.

 

Yoshi Oshima headshot.Fall 2019-Spring 2020: Yoshihito Oshima is M-RCBG's 2019-2020 Doyukai Fellow. Mr. Oshima is an officer of the Consolidated Accounting Group in the Finance and Accounting Office at Kansai Electric Power. Mr. Oshima graduated from Kyoto University with a degree in economics.

 

Hiroshi Yamanoh headshot.Fall 2018-Spring 2019: Hiroshi Yamanoh is the 2018-2019 Doyukai Fellow. Mr. Yamanoh is the Chief of City Attraction Research Station in the Regional Development Department of the Osaka Gas Company. He is a graduate of Tokyo University.

 

Masaaki Ozaki headshot.Fall 2017 - Spring 2018: Masaaki Ozaki is the 2017-2018 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He comes to the center from Obayashi Corporation’s Tokyo Headquarters where he serves as Chief of Marketing Planning in the Building Construction Division. Mr. Ozaki is a graduate of the Kyoto University of Law.

Fall 2016 - Spring 2017

  • Shinya Kawabe headshot.Shinya Kawabe is a 2016-2017 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He comes to the Center from the Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc., where he is the assistant manager of the LNG Contracting Group, Office of Fossil Fuel. Mr. Kawabe is a graduate of The University of Osaka, Faculty of Law.
  • Kotaro Nara headshot.Kotaro Nara is a 2016-2017 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He comes to the Center from the Takenaka Corporation, where he is an engineer, in the Construction and Engineering Department in the Osaka Main Office. Mr. Nara is a graduate of Kobe University with a Master’s degree in Engineering.

Keita Niiho headshot.Fall 2015 - Spring 2016: Keita Niiho is the 2015-2016 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He comes to the center from Osaka Gas, a major energy supplier with a core natural gas supply business in Japan, where he is a researcher on international energy markets. Mr. Niiho is a graduate of Tokyo University with a BA in economics.

Mitsuhiro Seiwa headshot.Fall 2014 - Spring 2015: Mitsuhiro Seiwa is the 2014-2015 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He works on the Construction Project Staff at the Tokyo branch of the Obayashi Corporation, where he handles finance and company contracts. Mr. Seiwa is a graduate of Chuo University with a B.A. in Law and major in International Politics.

Keisuke Shimizu headshot.Fall 2013 - Spring 2014: Keisuke Shimizu is the 2013-2014 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He is Manager of the Planning/Investor relations Section of the Accounting and Finance Department at Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. His research will explore the portfolio of electric power sources in Japan after Fukushima Daiichi Accident from political and social perspectives. Mr. Shimizu is a graduate of The University of Tokyo, where he studied law, and a Certified Public Accountant (Japan).

Ichiro Shimomukai headshot.Fall 2012 - Spring 2013: Ichiro Shimomukai is the 2012-2013 Doyukai Fellow in residence at M-RCBG. He is a member of the LNG Trading Department in the Energy Resources and International Business Unit of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. His research explores two areas: the role of liquefied natural Gas (LNG) in Japan’s energy policy after the Fukushima Shock, and the impact of shale gas production on the global petrochemical industry and international politics. Mr. Shimomukai is a graduate of Tokyo University where he studied law.

Tomohiro Gomibuchi headshot.Fall 2011 - Spring 2012: Tomohiro Gomibuchi is a member of the Human Resources Department of the Obayashi Corporation. While at M-RCBG, his research will explore two questions: the role of public-private partnerships and alliances among private sector firms in organizing and developing human resources in foreign markets, and how globalization shapes the training needs of Japanese companies. Mr. Gomibuchi is a graduate of Keio University where he studied business and commerce.

Satoshi Kakemoto headshot.Fall 2010 - Spring 2011: Satoshi Kakemoto is the Coordinator, Fuel Solution Group of the Office of Fossil Fuel The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. He graduated from the Faculty of Law, Hitotsubashi University in 2001. While at the M-RCBG, his research examined the independency and sustainability of U.S. natural gas market through an analysis of the possibility of domestic natural gas developments from the energy security and environmental viewpoints.

Yoshikazu Kawanishi headshot.Fall 2009 - Spring 2010: Yoshikazu Kawanishi is a staff member in the Gas Pipeline & Facilities Engineering Dept. of Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd in Japan. He is engaged in designing new gas pipelines and determining the most cost effective pipeline routes. His research explored the most efficient energy investment strategies consistent with reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Mr. Kawanishi has a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Osaka University, Japan.

Fall 2009 - Spring 2008: Yosuke Yokozawa is a member of the Corporate Planning Section, Corporate Management Planning Department, of the Obayashi Corporation. He holds a degree from the Department of Economics, Hitotsubashi University.

Koji Aoyama headshot.Fall 2007 - Spring 2008: Koji Aoyama was a staff member of the Nuclear Fuel Contact Strategy Group in Osaka, Japan. He received his BA in law from Kyoto University in 1999. While at the MRCBG, Koji conducted research in the area of enterprise risk management.

Fall 2006 - Spring 2007

  • Masaomi Tanaka was a senior coordinator and researcher, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Global Strategy Research Institute. While at HKS, he researched U.S. industrial policy.
  • Megumu Tsuda was the project manager, LNG Contract Negotiations, Energy Resources Business Unit, Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. Tsuda researched U.S. energy policy and how it impacts natural gas demand and supply.
  • Seigo Kakehi was the manager of personnel development for the Takenaka Corp. Seigo’s research involved a comparative examination of personnel systems.

Fall 2005 - Spring 2006

  • Hironori Kakiguchi was a staff member in the Planning/IR Group of the Kasai Electric Power Co. Inc in Osaka Japan. His responsibilities include the development of financial strategies and to manage investor relations especially related to foreign investors. His research focused on developing appropriate enterprise risk management models for utility companies. He also looked at the merits and demerits of deregulations of utilities. He holds a BA in Economics for Keio University in Tokyo, Japan.
  • Katsunori Nomura was the chief administrator for the Human Resources Department of the Obayashi Corporation, Japan's fourth largest construction firm, Nomura is responsible for a new retirement salary system as well union negotiations. He holds a BA in Economics from Tokyo University. Under the sponsorship of Tony Saich and Asia Programs, Nomura explored the implications of low Japanese birth rate and an aging population on human resource management in the Japanese workforce.

Fall 2004 - Spring 2005

  • Daisuke Yamakawa was an Engineer for the Information and Communication Systems Department at Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. in Japan. He is responsible for planning and development of computer systems of Osaka Gas and its affiliates. He works to support and establish a competitive advantage in the Japanese energy market as deregulation and regulatory reforms continue. Mr. Yamakawa joined CBG as a Kansai Doyukai Fellow and conducted research on strategies of energy businesses to adapt to a more competitive environment.
  • Akihiro Tanii was a senior representative of the International Affairs Group for the Matsuhita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd. His research concerned trade and investment strategy of the U.S. government.

Fall 2003 - Spring 2004

  • Jun Uesaka came to CBG a member of the executive team at the Kansai Electric Power Company in Osaka, Japan. During his time as a CBG Fellow, Mr. Uesaka researched energy sector restructuring and policy issues.
  • Susumu Matsuo was a construction engineer with the Takenaka Corporation in Japan. He has experience working on a broad range of projects including high-rise buildings, government offices, shopping malls, and warehouses. He also worked on an international bid for the international airport in Singapore. Mr. Matsuo's research interests include improving organization and working practices within companies, and the future of construction companies in international markets. While at CBG, he will work on researching project management within the current global economy.

Fall 2001 - Spring 2002: Akifumi Morimoto was in the position of Assistant Manager of the Kansai Electric Power Company when he came to the CBG for his fellowship. His research topic was the future of nuclear power generation.