# Top 50 Software Angel Investors in Japan in June 2026

## Kotaro Chiba
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 19
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Content, Information Technology, Travel

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

## Ayataro Nakagawa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 19
- 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.

## Kensuke Furukawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 17
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, SNS, Software

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".

## Hirofumi Miki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan
- Relevant deals: 15
- 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.

## Yusuke Sato
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 14
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Internet, Food and Beverage

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

## Nobuhiro Ariyasu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 13
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Finance, Content, Internet

Nobuhiro Ariyasu is the CEO at Coach United.

## Hidetoshi Takano
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 11
- 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.

## Yu Akasaka
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 10
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Food and Beverage, Apps

During Hosei University student, and intern at Hakuhodo C & D. After joining the Image-net, I do media monetization of EC site as a media planner. Then, new business, engaged in Alliance. Launched a crowdsourcing site "MILLION DESIGNS" of design in the individual, sold to Ransazu Corporation. Established the Eureka Co., Ltd., wasappointed Representative Director CEO.

## Mamoru Taniya
- Type: Angel
- Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
- Relevant deals: 9
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- 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.

## Masao Ito
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 9
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Content, Social Media, Information Technology

Masao Ito is a Founder & CEO at User Local.

## Tatsuo Sakamoto
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 8
- 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.

## Yoshinori Fukushima
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 7
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Internet, Software, Marketing

Yoshinori Fukushima - CEO @ LayerX

## Shunsuke Oyu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 7
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Internet, Media and Entertainment

Shunsuke Oyu is the co-founder of Connehito Inc. 
Started an online Q&A platform “mamari” which is the largest platform for moms in Japan. Connehito was acquired by one of the telecom giant KDDI in 2016.
Selected as a “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia” at consumer technology department. Angel-investing 50+ companies globally.

## Toru Shimada
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 7
- 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.

## Yuichi Kawasaki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 6
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Apps, Finance, Internet

Yuichi Kawasaki Prior joining SmartNews, I was COO at mixi, Founder & CEO at kamado, Executive Vice President at Hatena. I started my career at Cisco Systems G.K.

## Hironao Kunimitsu
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 6
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Content, Virtual Reality, Gaming

Hironao Kunimitsu was born in Hyogo, Japan. After graduating from Okayama High School, he spent several years traveling around the world. He visited over 30 countries including the US, China, India, Canada, and others in Central and South America.In 1996 he entered Fudan University in China, and then later went on to study at Santa MonicaCollege in the US. In 2004 he entered Atmovie Inc. where he produced movies and televised dramas, and was appointed company director in the same year. In 2007 he founded gumi Inc., and it started listing on first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December, 2014.

## Shintaro Yamada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 5
- 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.

## Masanori Sugiyama
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 5
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Internet, Software, Web Design

He graduated from Kansai University in 1988. He was enrolled in Ljoma while he was in college. 2002 Vice President of Practice (now index lights). In 2004, he became president of zappallas. Listed on the TSE Mothers in the second year of his appointment, and in 2010 he was listed in part of the TSE. In 2011 he became the CEO of enish. Listed on apart of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Thereafter, he served as outside directors such as Nikkatsu and JibannetHD.

## Noguchi Keito
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 5
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Content

Noguchi Keito - Founder @ Vapes

## Naoki Aoyagi
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 5
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Fashion, Internet, Software

Naoki Aoyagi is a Senior Vice President at GREE, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of GREE International, Inc. He joined GREE, Inc. in March 2006 from Deutsche Bank, where he had specialized in tech and media sector IPOs and M&A advisory work. At GREE, Aoyagi oversaw the Company's partnership with KDDI and its IPO before leading thedevelopment of GREE’s global operations, a role he continues today. Aoyagi earned a bachelor's degree in policy management from Keio University in 2002.

## Noboru Miyata
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 5
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Software, Apps, SaaS

Noboru Miyata is the Founder at SmartHR .

## Soichiro Kawai
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 5
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Internet, Mobile Apps, Human Resources

Soichiro Kawai - CEO @ ReBoost

## Narita Shuzo
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, Content, Internet

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

## Hiroki Nakamura
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- 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.

## Shogo Kawada
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Software, SaaS, Apps

Shogo Kawada is Co-founder and Adviser of DeNA, a global Internet company focused on a social games platform, social games, e-commerce and other Web services for mobile devices and PCs.

## Tomohito Ebine
- Type: Angel
- Location: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Consulting, SaaS, Home Services

Tomohito Ebine is non-executive Director at Owls Co., Ltd.

## Taizo Son
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Angel
- Focus: Financial Services, Information Technology, Apps

Taizo Son is the Co-Founder of VIVITA. Taizo Son attended the University of Tokyo.

## Kazuma Ieiri
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Content, Fashion, FinTech

Born in 1978 and raised in Fukuoka prefecture, Kazuma founded paperboy&co. inc. (currently GMO Pepabo) and went on to become the youngest CEO ever (at the time) to take a company public in Japan by taking paperboy&co. public on the JASDAQ Japanese stock exchange. After leaving paperboy&co, he continued his startup trail by foundingBASE, CAMPFIRE, and XIMERA. Kazuma also dabbled in the food services industry via the founding of On The Corner (a cafe) and is active in the startup investment scene. He also started the Liverty-house project which attempts to create shared housing for young people in need.

## Yoshitsune Ido
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Series A, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Robotics, Information Technology, B2C

Yoshitsune Ido

## Yutaka Matsuo
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Artificial Intelligence, SaaS, Robotics

1997 Graduated from Tokyo University, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering. In 2002, he completed the doctoral program at the same graduate school. Ph.D. (Engineering) He was a researcher at the Institute of Industrial Science and Technology since the same year. After working as a visiting researcher at Stanford University in August2005, Associate Professor of Technology Management Strategy, Institute of Research, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 2007. Co-Representative, Associate Professor, Global Consumption Intelligence Donation Course, Department of Technology Management Strategy, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University. Professor from 2019, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Engineering, Department of Technology Management Strategy. He specializes in artificial intelligence, web mining, big data analytics. The Society of Artificial Intelligence received the Paper Award (2002), the 20th Anniversary Project Award (2006), the Field Innovation Award (2011), and the Merit Award (2013). At the Society of Artificial Intelligence, he has been a student editorial committee and an editorial committee, and vice chair/director since 2010. Chairman of Ethics from 2014 to 2018. Chairman of Japan Deep Learning Association since 2017.

## Kiyoshi Nishikawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed
- Focus: News, Social Media, Big Data

After working at KDD Corporation （Currently known as KDDI Corporation）, Kiyoshi Nishikawa next went to work at Arthur D. Little Inc. in the United States, where he became inspired to start his own company. After returning to Japan, he established a Japanese corporation of the world’s largest Internet company, America On Line, LLC. Later andbased on this experience and the relationships he developed, he founded the first Internet business incubator, NETAGE, Inc. After serving as the President and CEO of NETAGE Group, he later became and still serves as the Chairman of ngi group, inc. Kiyoshi was one of the main entrepreneurs responsible for proposing and realization of “Shibuya Bit Valley Concept” and is well known for his various speeches and writings. He is a graduate of the Department of Education at Tokyo University.

## Kenji Kasahara
- Type: Angel
- Location: Shibuya, Kanagawa, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series A
- Focus: Information Technology, Aerospace, Education

Born in 1975, Kenji Kasahara grew up in Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Economics at the University of Tokyo.
Inspired by the case studies of IT business he studied in a university seminar on management strategy and by the rapid rise of Internet business in Silicon Valley in the USA, he started up “Find Job !”, an online jobinformation site, in 1997. In 1999 Kasahara established eMercury, Inc. (mixi, Inc.) and assumed the post of representative director.

## Yasuyuki Kin
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 4
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Media and Entertainment, Recruiting, Career Planning

Yasuyuki Kin

## Chihiro Asano
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Content, Legal, FinTech

Chief Technology Officer at Money Forward.

## Makoto Takano
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Series B, Angel
- Focus: Content, Sports, Human Resources

Makoto Takano is CEO of atomixmedia, inc., publisher and editor-in-chief of Forbes Japan and Rolling Stone Japan since June, 2014. Prior to joining Atomixmedia, Inc., he was Managing Director and President of PIMCO Japan Ltd. Before joining PIMCO in 2001, he was head of marketing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Makoto's prior experiencealso includes work at Daiwa Securities where he was head of the strategists team at Daiwa Institute of Research. He has published extensively on the capital markets. In 1992, he was awarded Securities Analysts Journal Prize by the Securities Analyst Association of Japan. He has also given lectures on asset management at Waseda University and Kyoto University. He holds master’s and undergraduate degrees in engineering from Waseda University. Makoto serves as Director of Nippon Finance Association and Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation.

## Yuki Naito
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Series B
- Focus: Internet, Manufacturing, SNS

Yuki Naito - CEO,President @ Drecom

## Masaru Sunagawa
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Artificial Intelligence, SNS, Music

After joining Mitsubishi Corporation, he studied at Harvard Business School. After graduating, he joined Globespan Capital Partners, an independent United States VC, and worked as a director of investment. He started LocationValue after the company's representative in Japan. Joined Google after selling the company to NTT DOCOMO. He served asDirector of Product Development for Google Maps and General Manager for Android. He left Google in February 2018 and started Smartround Co., Ltd. in May.

## 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.

## Takaya Shinozuka
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Series A
- Focus: Internet, Local, Sports

Takaya Shinozuka is the President, CEO, and Founder at Reiwa Travel.

## Yuzuru Honda
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Information Technology, SNS, Internet

Yuzuru Honda is a Founder & Global CEO of FreakOut.

## Hiroshi Tomishima
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Series A
- Focus: Big Data, Internet, E-Commerce

Hiroshi Tomishima is the President and Founder of Zkyuun Entertainment and an Executive Director at Mercari.

## Shunsuke Sasaki
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel, Pre-Seed
- Focus: Content, Social Media, SNS

Shunsuke Sasaki - Executive officer @ Jiraffe

## Mizuki Inoue
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: CRM, Finance, Security

Mizuki Inoue - Director @ Kudan

## Sotaro Karasawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Pre-Seed, Angel
- Focus: Software, Blockchain, Art

Sotaro Karasawa - Chief Technology Officer @ STAR FESTIVAL

## Jun Ogawa
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- 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.

## Masahiko Inada
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Angel, Seed
- Focus: SNS, Content, Finance

Masahiko Inada is the Venture Advisor at DNX Ventures. He was Founder and Chairman at Kabuku Inc. He attended The University of Tokyo.

## Shigeru Urushibara
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Series A, Seed, Angel
- Focus: Task Management, Artificial Intelligence, Video

Shigeru Urushibara - President & CEO @ UL Systems

## Shuichi Takenaga
- Type: Angel
- Location: Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: Marketing, Financial Services, Management Consulting

Takenaga Shuuichi is an individual investor.

## Daisuke Takanashi
- Type: Angel
- Relevant deals: 3
- Stages: Seed, Angel
- Focus: SNS, Content, Finance

Daisuke Takanashi is an angel investor.

## Justin Waldron
- Type: Angel
- Location: San Francisco, California, United States
- Relevant deals: 3
- 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.

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