#Japan #GLOBIS #Mito #Asuka Conference #Alumni Award

Celebrating Innovation and Transformation: The 22nd Globis Alumni Award Ceremony

On July 4-5, 2026, the Globis Graduate School of Management hosted the 22nd Globis Alumni Award ceremony at the Mito Citizens' Hall in Ibaraki Prefecture as part of the Asuka Conference 2026. This prestigious event recognized the outstanding contributions of five alumni across three categories: Creativity, Transformation, and Social Impact.

The Globis Alumni Award is designed to celebrate graduates who have made significant strides in starting businesses, launching new ventures, or transforming existing organizations. The selection criteria go beyond financial performance; they also emphasize the enhancement of social value and the personal charisma of the leaders.

Asuka Conference 2026

The Asuka Conference is an annual gathering that brings together top leaders from various industries with students and faculty from Globis. This enriching conference aims to provide a platform for sustainable development in leadership skills, ambitions, and personal networking, highlighting the school’s educational philosophy. In its 22nd edition, the Asuka Conference attracted approximately 1,400 participants in Mito, Ibaraki, fostering a unique environment for sharing knowledge and experiences among peers.

Award Winners 2026:

Creativity Category

• - Jun Taro Mukai, Executive Officer and CMO at FUNDINNO, graduated in 2020. Mukai has played a pivotal role in promoting Japan's first equity crowdfunding platform, enhancing its reputation and expanding awareness. He has collaborated with megabanks and advocated for regulatory reforms to support unlisted markets, significantly contributing to the development of Japan's startup ecosystem.

• - Kazuya Monobe, Representative Director of Synergy, graduated in 2022. Since founding Synergy in 2006, he has developed a focused expansion strategy and shown remarkable growth, increasing sales from 1.1 billion yen in 2016 to 6.6 billion yen recently. Monobe has also addressed labor issues within the industry by enhancing productivity and improving working conditions.

Transformation Category

• - Megumi Tsuda, Executive Officer at Hitachi Ltd., graduated in 2019. As Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, Tsuda has led sustainability transformation initiatives at Hitachi, striving for a society where environmental sustainability and economic growth coexist harmoniously. Her newly formulated sustainability strategy is set to revolutionize practices across the company.

• - Asuka Miyahashi, President of Takeda Pharmaceutical, graduated in 2017. Miyahashi has led organizational transformations across domestic and Southeast Asian markets, making history as the first woman appointed as President of the Japan Pharmaceutical Business Unit in 2024 and serving in leadership roles in various industry associations.

Social Impact Category

• - Ryota Odo, CEO of Yokagotsu, graduated in 2015. After leaving Marubeni Corporation, Odo established his organization in Itoshima, Fukuoka, focusing on social issues such as student poverty and community engagement. He has created innovative living environments that support the interconnectedness of various generations, successfully implementing multiple community-driven initiatives.

This year's awards reflect the essence of the Globis mission: nurturing leaders who drive innovation and enact positive change in society. The recognition of these five outstanding individuals embodies the spirit of entrepreneurial ambition and commitment to societal betterment.

Conclusion

The Globis Graduate School of Management continues to uphold its mission to cultivate future leaders who will contribute to business innovation and societal transformation. With a growing alumni network of over 14,000 members and campuses across Japan and abroad, Globis aims to enhance its role as a leading business school in the modern education landscape, ensuring that the values instilled in its graduates resonate in their contributions to society and the economy.

For more information about previous recipients and the Globis Alumni Award, please visit Globis Alumnus Awards.