Team Members

Former Representative and CEO of Standard Chartered Bank in Japan. Yasunori Takeuchi has nearly 40 years of international banking experience in Asia,Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with Japanese and global financial institutions.He holds a B.A. in Law from the University of Tokyo.

Akira Nakamura is a finance and management professional with extensive knowledge of the structure and strategies of global companies. He has nearly 40 years of experience in various financial services, including corporate finance and asset management at a Japanese bank and international conglomerates. He has a wide network across the financial industry, including serving as a board member of the CFA Society Japan. Nakamura completed the sustainable finance program at the University of Cambridge CISL, and obtained the CFA Sustainable Investing Certificate. He graduated from Waseda University’s Faculty of Law, and earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management.

Takeo Omori is the former Head of the Sustainable Investment Group at Asset Management One, with over 25 years of experience in the asset and investment management sector. Throughout his career, he has served as a member of advisory groups for several leading global initiatives. His areas of expertise include equity analysis, ESG engagement, proxy voting, and the net-zero transition, among others. Omori holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.

Former Managing Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management. During his nearly 40 years at the Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Akiyoshi Nagashima served as an Executive Officer at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank before assuming this role. His broad practical experience ranges from banking ALM and risk management to asset management and investment strategy. He earned an MBA from the University of Tsukuba in 2024, researching Japan’s green transition policy. Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.

Mayumi Ueno oversees CAJ’s overall branding and strategic communications. As former international civil servant working within the United Nations system (UNDP, UN Women, IOM) and the Government of Japan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Office) for a total of 20 years, Ms Ueno has a proven track record in developing high-level diplomatic relationships, partnership building and project/programme development in the field of humanitarian assistance, development, gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) and peace building. Ms Ueno holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government with distinction, where she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship from the U.S. Government (Fulbright scholar) and the Harvard Kennedy School grant (tuition waiver).

Naomi Kato is responsible for corporate/sector research and engagement. She spent over 10 years at Japan’s leading financial data firms, where she served corporate clients with ESG market analysis and advisory, including corporate disclosure standards such as CDP. She holds an MBA from the University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Noriko Kusumi is responsible for corporate/sector research and engagement. She has previously worked in ESG and proxy advisory firms, as well as in academic institutions as a researcher and educator in the United States. “The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations (D’Amato et al., eds., 2022)” is among her publications. Noriko holds a Ph.D. in Social Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Having worked for a Japanese consulting firm, Dr. Mariko Shiohata spent years advancing development and humanitarian assistance across the Global South, primarily in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Most recently, she has driven efforts to decarbonize the transport sector with a leading international environmental NGO. Alongside her practical work, Dr. Shiohata concurrently serves as a part-time lecturer at Sophia University’s Faculty of Global Studies. She was conferred with a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Sussex in the U.K.  

Reiko Yamada is responsible for corporate/sector research and analysis. She has previously worked as a research analyst for socially responsible investment and as a practitioner at international cooperation organizations. Reiko holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Melbourne.

Yuzuki Sawai is an experienced business consultant, having worked for a securities firm where she conducted underwriting reviews, and then, joined EY Strategy and Consulting (EYSC) as a consultant. At EYSC, Ms. Sawai delivered internal audit, sustainability, and carbon credit (J-Credit and voluntary credit) advisory services, as well as leading research projects for financial institution clients. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a globally recognized credential issued by PMI. Ms. Sawai holds a bachelor’s degree from Waseda University’s School of International Liberal Studies.