Forest Digital Appoints Gaku Yamada as EVP for Contents & Partnerships

Forest Digital Welcomes Gaku Yamada as EVP for Contents & Partnerships

Forest Digital Inc., headquartered in Tokachi-Urahoro, Hokkaido, is excited to announce that Gaku Yamada has been appointed as Executive Vice President for Contents & Partnerships. With over 20 years of experience in the sports and digital content industry, Yamada brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the company.

Background of the Appointment

Yamada's career has seen him excel in key roles including CEO of Sports Navi and Executive Vice President at DAZN Japan, where he played a pivotal role in establishing and growing Japan’s sports streaming services. His expertise in building strategic partnerships with both domestic and international content holders and major corporations makes him a valuable asset for the growth ambitions of Forest Digital.

In 2024, Yamada will begin his involvement with Forest Digital as an advisor, focusing on business development and alliance strategies centered around the sports sector. His official appointment as EVP for Contents & Partnerships marks a significant step towards accelerating business expansion for the company.

Innovative Experience with uralaa

Forest Digital's flagship product, uralaa, is an immersive viewing platform designed to provide exciting new experiences through sports, music, and entertainment. Utilizing 360-degree live streaming and multi-angle immersive projections, uralaa aims to deliver an unparalleled feeling of presence, enabling audiences to experience events as if they were right there, even if they can’t attend in person.

Particularly within the sports and entertainment sectors, there are growing market opportunities driven by the demand for away viewing experiences, regional fan communities, and the next-generation public viewing market. Major developments in this area are noted internationally with companies like COSM and Sphere paving the way.

Yamada's strategic insights and leadership will help strengthen connections with leagues, clubs, broadcasters, content providers, and sponsors, aiming to firmly establish uralaa as synonymous with immersive viewing experiences.

Yamada's Vision for the Future

In his comments, Yamada emphasized the transformative potential of sharing intense experiences through sports. He stated, “The value of sports goes beyond just 'watching' – it's about 'sharing the enthusiasm.' What uralaa seeks to achieve is the next generation of sports experience. We’re not just delivering images; we’re delivering entire environments filled with possibilities that traditional streaming services cannot offer.”

Expressing a deep potential for innovation, he noted his enthusiasm for developing a new viewing culture originating from Japan by connecting sports, entertainment, and communities to forge new industries.

CEO Yuji Tsujiki's Remarks

CEO Yuji Tsujiki also shared his thoughts on this appointment, stating, “The transition from simply 'watching' to 'being there' is a change that has already begun globally. To bring this immersive experience to life in Japan, we need strong relationships with content holders, in-depth knowledge of distribution, and the capability to realize large-scale visions. Yamada is a rare talent who possesses all of these attributes.”

CEO Tsujiki has confidence in Yamada's abilities to help design and establish this new norm, stating, “We are firmly committed to making immersive viewing synonymous with uralaa.”

About Gaku Yamada

With over 20 years in the sports and digital content sector, Yamada has a proven track record in launching and growing a range of video streaming services along with facilitating partnerships with various content providers. He transitioned to Forest Digital as an advisor in 2024 and quickly climbed to the role of EVP for Contents & Partnerships in 2026, leading initiatives like the immersive viewing experiences in various events including the upcoming Osaka/Kansai Expo 2025.

About Forest Digital Inc.

Forest Digital is dedicated to delivering “wow! n happiness anywhere in the world” through its immersive viewing platform, uralaa. By providing diverse experiences across sports, music, entertainment, and nature, the company aims to redefine viewing experiences for the next generation. Under the banner of “Immersive Viewing is uralaa,” Forest Digital is set to expand a new wave of live entertainment originating from Japan.

For more information, visit: Forest Digital