# Top 50 Education Angel Investors in Japan in June 2026

## Hidetoshi Takano
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Information Technology, Content

Joined Intelligence in 1999. Established Key Players Inc. in 2005. Consultation with more than 3,000 managers and career counseling for more than 10,000 individuals. In addition, we have invested in more than 55 outside directors, advisors and angels in Silicon Valley and Bangladesh in Japan. Over 100 lectures on careers, entrepreneurship andstartups.

## Robert Huang
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Diego, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Series A
- Focus: Education, E-Learning, Language Learning

Mr. Huang founded SYNNEX in 1980 and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Prior to this, Mr. Huang was the International Sales Manager at Advanced Micro Devices. Mr. Huang holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Kyushyu University, Japan, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester and an M.S. inManagement Science from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.

## Kotaro Chiba
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Internet, Drones, Travel

Kotaro Chiba is the founder of ChibaDojo Fund. Kotaro Chiba attended Keio University.

## Narita Shuzo
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, Content, Internet

Narita Shuzo is a Executive Vice President/COO, CrowdWorks Inc.

## Mamoru Taniya
- Type: Angel
- Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Apps, Content, FinTech

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined Solomon Brothers, where he became the youngest managing director in Asia, where he was in charge of Asian investment. After that, he created one of the largest independent Asuka assets. He also launched Japan's first independent online life insurance company,LifeNet Life Insurance, and inspired Japan's first International.

## Shintaro Yamada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Finance, Content

During his years at Waseda University, Shintaro worked at Japan’s biggest e-commerce mall, Rakuten, Inc. On August 1st 2001, Shintaro established “Unoh Inc.” after graduating university. At Unoh he was responsible for designing and developing several web services, one of which was the online magazine subscription . Services provided by Unohinclude planning, development and management of the film enthusiast community site “Movie Life” (acquired by PIA Corporation) as well as “Sugu.CC” , “NeoAd” (both acquired by GMOAP) and the photo sharing site “Photozou” (acquired by Digital Garage).In 2009 Unoh entered into social gaming, creating multiple successful social games. Among these games, “Machitsuku!” has been its biggest hit with over 5 million users. On August 3rd 2010, Unoh joined Zynga and Shintaro became General Manager of Zynga Japan. He resigned on January 2012. After traveling around the world, He established the new company “Mercari, Inc.” on February 2013 and released the resale shopping app “Mercari” on July 2013 in Japan.He is a true Internet geek, spending a lot of time on the Internet and boasts around 180,000 followers on Twitter.

## Tatsuo Sakamoto
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 2
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Information Technology, Content, Education

Tatsuo Sakamoto is a Head of Sales, Japan at MOLOCO. He Attended The University of Tokyo.

## Kiyoshi Ayabe
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 2
- Focus: Content, Education, E-Learning

Kiyoshi Ayabe is the President and Founder of KIYO Learning.

## Shunsuke Sasaki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Content, Social Media, SNS

Shunsuke Sasaki - Executive officer @ Jiraffe

## Shigeru Urushibara
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A, Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, Artificial Intelligence, Video

Shigeru Urushibara - President & CEO @ UL Systems

## Wensceslao Casares
- Type: Angel
- Location: Palo Alto, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Mobile, Internet, E-Commerce

Wences Casares is a technology entrepreneur with global business experience specializing in technology and financial ventures. He is an advocate of the Bitcoin revolution and he has said he believes that Bitcoin will be bigger than the internet.He is the founder and CEO of Xapo, a Bitcoin wallet startup based in Palo Alto, California. Xapo issaid to be the largest custodian of bitcoin in the world. Xapo has raised $40 million from leading Silicon Valley venture capital firms.

## Yasuyoshi Yanagisawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Post-IPO Equity
- Focus: Media and Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Content

Yasuyoshi Yanagisawa - President & CEO @ FAN Communications

## Tetsuro Kouda
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Gaming, Social, Sports

Tetsuro Kouda was born in Sasebo, Nagasaki prefecture in 1985.After graduating from Sasebo National College of Technology, Kouda was admitted to the University of Tsukuba for systems engineering.After graduation, Kouda was hired by Accenture to work in management consultation. Kouda worked with electrical manufacturing in major companies,high-tech business strategy, marketing, and IT consultation. Upon retirement, Kouda and Shiota co-founded Akatsuki.

## Toru Shimada
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Task Management, Content

Toru Shimada is a Senior Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten. Mr. Shimada is a Director of Rakuten Baseball, Inc., and Head of Asia Regional Headquarters Office of the Company.Mr. Shimada joined Rakuten in 2004. Prior to joining Rakuten, Mr. Shimada was founder and Director of INTELLIGENCE, LTD from 1989 to 2004. Prior to INTELLIGENCE, LTD.Mr. Shimada worked at RECRUIT CO., LTD. from 1987 to 1989.

## Ayataro Nakagawa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Software, Content

2011 At university, participated in the founding period as a director of Atcole Co., Ltd., and started the web service experience.2012 Founded Peroli Co., Ltd.,
which operates a curation platform for women "MERY" .2014 Founded Peroli
Co., Ltd. Sold to DeNA
2015 Jointly established Tokyo Founders Fund as an angel investor and startedinvesting in startups in Japan and overseas
2019 Appointed outside director of FIREBUG Co., Ltd.

## Daisuke Takanashi
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: SNS, Content, Finance

Daisuke Takanashi is an angel investor.

## Sagehashi Yuki
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel, Seed
- Focus: Content, FinTech, Finance

Sagehashi Yuki

## Masahiro Kotosaka
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel
- Focus: Education, EdTech, Fashion

Masahiro Kotosaka is an Associate Professor at Keio University and an Associate Fellow of The School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences. He is an expert in Internationalization strategy and early stage business development, and advisor to several global start-up companies. Before moving to Keio, he was an associate professor ofmultinational management at Ritsumeikan University, a teaching & research associate at the University of Oxford, and a consultant at McKinsey & Company based in Frankfurt and Tokyo. As a practitioner, he worked for strategy/marketing projects with sixteen client organizations across nine industries and nine countries and spent four years running three profitable IT/Retail businesses before joining McKinsey. He graduated from the University of Oxford with D.Phil. (Ph.D) in Management Studies and MSc in Management Research with Distinction.

## Jun Ogawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Software, Education, Information Technology

Jun Ogawa is the Managing Director at Pixie Dust Technologies. He was a former Country Manager at Kaizen Platform.

## Cheng Tao
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Telecommunications, Content, Internet

Tao Cheng currently works as Chief Executive Officer and Founder of popIn.

## Keisuke Honda
- Type: Angel
- Location: Chuo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Series A, Seed, Series B
- Focus: FinTech, Software, Financial Services

Keisuke Honda is the Founder & CEO of Now Do.

## Alex Zubillaga
- Type: Angel
- Location: New York, New York, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series B, Series A
- Focus: E-Commerce, Apps, Music

Alex Zubillaga is the founder of 14W, a New York-based, venture capital firm focused on consumer Mobile, Web, E-commerce, CPG, and Media.Previously, Alex was Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development at Warner Music Group (WMG). Prior to WMG, Alex founded Net Uno, a leading Venezuelan cable television and broadbandoperator where he served as CEO and Chairman.

## Naruhisa Nakagawa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Agriculture, Manufacturing, AgTech

Naruhisa Nakagawa is a Founder & Chief Investment Officer at Caygan Capital.

## Hiroki Nakamura
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, Web Design, Content

After joining DENTSU, I initially produced only banner advertising, but it is expected to be active, and I will be able to work on a number of digital campaigns. In 2011, he became independent and founded PARTY with four members. Cannes Lions Young Competition, Japan's Cyber Division, 2nd place in the world. He has received more than 250advertising awards in Japan and abroad. Recent masterpieces include Lady Gaga's life-size hearing aids “GAGADOLL”, “UNIQLO / UT Picks”, “Suntory / Intensive Regain”, “TOYOTA / TOWN”, such as “Shizukita-” all digital campaigns. TOKYO FM Radio “Sawamoto Gonpachi will end soon.” Guest Personality.

## Fumiaki Koizumi
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Internet, E-Commerce, Information Technology

Fumiaki Koizumi - Executive Director @ Mercari

## Nobuhiro Ariyasu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Finance, Content, Internet

Nobuhiro Ariyasu is the CEO at Coach United.

## Takashi Sato
- Type: Angel
- Location: Menlo Park, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: FinTech, Software, Analytics

Takashi Sato is a Managing Partner at MS&AD Ventures.

## Hirofumi Miki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Content, Internet, Software

After JTB Co., Ltd. and CYBIRD Co., Ltd. as an initial member of Glee Co., Ltd. is responsible for business development. Currently, he is mainly engaged in venture support in the Internet area, investing in venture and venture capital, and served as management advisor for dozens of companies. Hands-on business development, growth strategydevelopment, financing advice, HR organization design support, partner referral and Recruit Support. He is also engaged in business support for ventures in the healthcare and university venture fields. He served as Digital Health Meetup Advisor, NEDOTCP Mentor and Future 2016 Mentor.

## Seiji Kurokoshi
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Sports, Travel, Fashion

Seiji Kurokoshi (黒越誠治) is an angel investor.

## Justin Waldron
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Software, Internet, E-Commerce

Justin Waldron is Co-Founder & President of Playco, and previously Co-Founder / EVP of Product of Zynga, the world's largest mobile game company. Zynga IPO'd in 2011 with a $10 billion valuation and over $1b in annual revenue. Justin is an angel investor in Lambda School, Substack, and 60+ other companies. He mentors youngentrepreneurs at The Thiel Foundation's Thiel Fellowship program.

## Taki Toshio
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Legal, Finance, Education

Taki Toshio is the Founder at Money Forward .

## Yuzuru Honda
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Information Technology, SNS, Internet

Yuzuru Honda is a Founder & Global CEO of FreakOut.

## Dai Tamesue
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel, Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Apps, Sports, Health Care

Dai Tamesue is the Chief Marketing Officer of Miekuru.

## Takato Hiroshi
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel
- Focus: Health Care, Legal, Beauty

Takato Hiroshi - CEO @ M0mentum

## Shuuichi Wada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Reservations, Content, Social Media

Shuuichi Wada - CTO @ alu Japan

## Kengo Suzuki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: EdTech, Education, Service Industry

Kengo Suzuki is the Co-Founder of Glocalink Singapore. Kengo attended The University of Tokyo.

## Ken Fuse
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Education, Employment, Human Resources

Ken Fuse is a Representative Director at Letters Co., Ltd.

## Seiya Koide
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: E-Learning, Communities, Graphic Design

After experiencing CG designer, freelance, image director etc, joined KLab Corporation as an art director in May 2012. Business promotion and management skills are appreciated, and he joined the creative department manager in 1 year of joining the company and as the youngest executive officer in April 2014. In March 2015 he served concurrently asmarketing director and organized management of several divisions, he was active in a wide range of scenes. We are also focusing on developing creative events for new graduates and planning creative events for regular graduates and giving lectures for students. FiNC led the overall branding and service design while operating the organization as CCO Creative Director.

## Daisuke Yamashita
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel
- Focus: Medical, Internet, Education

Daisuke Yamashita - CEO @ Next Innovation

## Yoichi Aso
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: E-Commerce, Apparel, Digital Media

Yoichi Aso is the President and CEO at Alpha Drive.

## Hikaru Kashida
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Consulting, E-Learning, Communities

Hikaru Kashida is a data scientist and is currently working at Mercari Inc., Japan.

## Etsuji Otsuka
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Apps, Software, Training

Etsuji Otsuka - Co-founder and CIO @ TRUIM Partners

## Naoki Yamada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Information Technology, Software, Sports

Naoki Yamada

## Hiroaki Kitano
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Debt Financing
- Focus: Health Care, Information Technology, Fitness

Hiroaki Kitano is the SVP at Softbank Mobile. He attended Waseda University.

## Tetsuro Yoshimatsu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Legal, Sales, Biofuel

Tetsuro Yoshimatsu is the President and Chief Executive Officer of istyle.

## Daisuke Kitami
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed
- Focus: Education, Employment, Human Resources

Daisuke Kitami is the Representative of Wavy.

## Yusuke Sato
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Internet, Food and Beverage

Yusuke Sato is the Co-Representative and Co-Founder of Pulit.

## Kensuke Furukawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Social Media, Media and Entertainment

Kensuke Furukawa was born in June 2, 1981. He graduated Waseda University majoring Political Science and Economics, and in 2000, he launched "Milkcafe", a student community, which has grown to a site with 10 million PV per month. In 2004, he became the CEO of Media Clip, which operates a rental bulletin board service "ShitarabaBBS". After that year, he had transfer "Shitaraba BBS" to Livedoor, and took charge of starting up the Consumer Generated Media sector. In 2006, he joined Recruit, and took charge of starting up a new business at Business development sector. In June of 2009, he left Recruit, and became the CEO of nanapi （formerly Rocket Start), which operates the How-to Site "nanapi".

## Kenji Niwa
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Marketplace, Software, Information Technology

Founder CEO at Firstcard. Entrepreneur and Investor.

## Nishiki Takashi
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 1
- Stages: Angel
- Focus: Content, Education, Social Media

Nishiki Takashi - Outside Director @ aucfan Co.,Ltd.

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