Greetings from the Representative Director
Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi
Representative Director of the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA)
Nice to meet you. I grew up in Tokyo, born to a father from Kyushu and a mother from the start-up powerhouse of Israel.
Good rule design is necessary for technologies and ideas that have the potential to solve social problems to be properly implemented in society, and it is important to increase the presence of Japanese industry at an early stage of international rule discussions. Japan has ideas, human resources, and technologies to improve society: The Cellular Agriculture Research Group, which started in 2019 with more than a dozen volunteer companies, was relaunched in 2022 as the Cellular Agriculture Research Organization, with the support of a large number of industry members.
We would like to further promote social implementation by forming rules in the emerging industry of cellular agriculture for the revitalization of the Japanese economy and reflecting Japanese opinions in international discussions.
一般社団法人細胞農業研究機構 代表理事 吉富愛望アビガイル
Current position
Representative Director of the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA)
Executive Director, Cellular Agriculture WT, Public-Private Partnership Council for Food Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture Visiting Researcher, RCAST, The University of Tokyo
Share information on rule formation to the Bioindustry Association’s Food Bio Plus Study Group and the Cellular Agriculture Association.
Awards
2020 The Forbes Japan list of the 30 under 30 in the world of law and policy.
Work History
2020 – Present
Executive Director, Cellular Agriculture WT, Public-Private Partnership Council for Food Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
2019 – 2022
The Center for Rule-making Strategies of Tama University :Public Relations Chair, Cellular Agriculture Research Association Secretariat
2019 – 2023
European Investment Bank M&A Advisory Division
2017 – 2019
Worked for an R&D startup in the field of blockchain and traditional industry x Opportunity learning.
Academic background
2022 – Present
The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology
2019 – 2020
MBA Rule-Making Strategy Professional, Graduate School of Tama University
2017 – 2018
Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo (Withdrawn)
2013 – 2017
Department of Theoretical Physics, Waseda University
Director・Committee Chair・Auditor
Akira Igata
Director, Japan Association of Cellular Agriculture (JACA)
Project Lecturer, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo (Economic Security Intelligence).
Profile
Project Lecturer, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo (Economic Security Intelligence). He also serves as a fellow or advisor to several international think tanks, including the Center for a New American Security (CNAS, USA), the Pacific Forum (PF, USA), the Australian National University’s National Security College (ANU NSC, Australia), the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI, Australia), the European Values Security Centre (EVC, Czech Republic) and International Parliamentarians for China Affairs (IPAC, UK). Domestically, he is a director of the Cellular Agriculture Research Organisation and the Japan Society for Cultured Food. He also advises the Japanese government, ministries and private companies in various other capacities.
Naoki Tsujimoto
Chairman, Food Labeling Committee
Attorney at Law, Nishimura & Asahi LLC
Profile
2012 – 2017 Ono Sogo Legal Profession Corporation
2017 – 2019 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Food Industry Affairs Bureau, Intellectual Property Division, Assistant Director
2019 – (present) Nishimura & Asahi, Foreign Law Joint Enterprise
Leveraged his experience at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to provide comprehensive support in the agriculture, forestry, and food sectors, with a focus on regulatory compliance, policy recommendations and rule-making, new business development, and contractual matters.
Advised on strategic issues including M&A, joint ventures, business succession, startup financing, intellectual property strategies, and international transactions.
Recognized for innovative work in the Agri-Food Practice, which was selected as “Commended” at the FT Innovative Lawyers Asia-Pacific Awards 2023.
Tomoo Shibano
Chairperson, Intellectual Property Committee
Partner Attorney, TMI Associates
Profile
Entered TMI Associates in 2002
Graduated from the University of Washington School of Law (LL.M., Intellectual Property Law and Policy course) in 2010
Appointed as an Adjunct Teacher at Keio University Law School in 2016 (Intellectual Property Law Workshop Program)
Appointed as Director of Foreign Film Importer-Distributors Association of Japan in June 2022
Appointed as Expert advisor of the Government Solution Service Task Force of the Digital Agency Technical Review Conference in 2022
Appointed as Project Professor at Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University in January 2023
Appointed as Member of the Subcommittee under the Study Committee on the Management and Utilization of Superior Varieties, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan in January 2025
Specializes in legal practice related to intellectual property, information protection, and e-commerce, with extensive experience in litigation and legal consultation for cutting-edge businesses in AI, IoT, IT, internet, advertising, and media.
Advisor
Keisuke Hanyuda
Owls Consulting Group Co., Ltd. Representative Director and CEO
Profile
After working at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (in charge of trade negotiations), Canon, A.T. Kearney, and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting as Executive Officer/Partner, he founded Owls Consulting Group.
He serves as Temporary Special Advisor to the Minister’s Secretariat of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Member of the International Standardization Strategy Committee of the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, Cabinet Office; and Director of the certified NPO Fairtrade Label Japan.
His publications include “Business and Geopolitics / Economic Security”, An Introduction to Business and “Human Rights for All Business People”, and “The Complete Guide to Profitable FTAs” (Nikkei BP).
Selected by Forbes JAPAN as one of “30 Rule Makers of Japan” (2022).
Company Information
This public relations firm contributes to the development of public relations professionals in Japan and the creation of new markets through start-ups, large corporations, long-established companies and regional new ventures, all of which enhance Japan’s international competitiveness. By engaging in dialogue with media outlets and various stakeholders, the firm shares new values with society and supports the resolution of social issues.