WHAT ABOUT KANSAI KEIZAI DOYUKAI

Kansai Keizai Doyukai (Kansai Association of Corporate Executives) was founded in 1946 by the initiative of a group of young members of the business community in the Kansai region. It was just when the social, economic and industrial activities in the region and throughout the nation were still seriously plagued by the devastation immediately after the end of the World War II. Those young businessmen set themselves out of ruin and convulsion to advocate the cause of restoring and reconstructing the Japanese economy and putting its industrial and fiscal activities on a sound track for steady and sustained expansion and growth. Since its foundation, the Doyukai has maintained an incessant approach to address the serious discussions on major issues which give or may give impacts to individual business enterprises and the national economy.

One of the unique features of this organization is that its members, who are in most cases executive officers and board directors of business and industrial firms, do not represent in any way the interests of the enterprises and industries they are working for. Instead, they volunteer to participate in public discussions in the capacity of individual leaders in the business and industrial sector of the society and help to formulate recommendations on matters of social and economic concern of great importance. Through these voluntary processes, they try to look at things in a broader perspective and with gifted wisdom and insight so that they may uphold the principles of democratic free-enterprise economy. The Doyukai's efforts and activities usually result in the form of specific or public recommendations to the society, the population and the Government.

In order to conduct a variety of activities and action programs, the Doyukai sets up a number of committees, research groups and forums which are respectively responsible for investigation of problems, preparation for reports and other related functions. The Doyukai adopts their conclusions as arrived at after repeated discussions and reviews in these organized sessions, and releases them as its public statements. Records show that these statements have always been motivated by the member's deep sense of responsibility or accountability to the society. Therefore, the statements released from the Doyukai are very often termed and valued as much of insight or trend-setting, by the policy-makers in governments, industry, the media, academic and other segments of the community.

Another main area of the activities by the Doyukai is to promote the international exchange programs with political, business and financial leaders in the rest of the world. The programs include, for instance, exchange or study missions to other nations, international conferences or symposiums. As the role Japan can play in the global community will certainly become larger, the Doyukai's international programs are expected to be increasingly more important.

As most of its activities are rooted in the communities in and around Osaka and the Kansai region, the Doyukai has always continued and will continue to help stimulate and vitalize the economy in the region. A large number of varied proposals to promote region-wide projects have already been considered, planned, initiated and implemented. In addition, the Doyukai makes it a point to maintain active and closer contacts with local governments, labor unions and organizations, and consumers groups.

The Doyukai is affiliated with a national network of similar committees throughout Japan, and collaborate closely with such organizations to meet common objectives. However, each of these Doyukai's implements its own programs independently and individually.

As outlined above, the Doyukai is, in short, a group of business leaders who meet in committees to propose, discuss, recommend and act. It is the organization's goal to strive to be open-minded and fresh and flexible-thinking as well as encouraging positive involvement for the society.

Organization

【Creating a Society for the Next Generation】

  • Committee on Corporate Management
  • Committee on Future Drivers of Business Growth
  • Committee on the Environment and Energy
  • Committee on National Security
  • Committee on Economic Policy
  • Committee on Education Issues
  • Committee on Local Autonomy Research
  • Committee on Women’s Empowerment
  • Working Group on Research of Happiness and Values in the New Era

【Sustainable Development of the Kansai Region】

  • Committee on “EXPO 2025 OSAKA, KANSAI”
  • Committee on MICE & IR
  • Committee on Ecosystem of Global Ventures
  • Promotion Committee on Kansai Bridging Forum
  • Committee on Kansai City Resilience Promotion
  • Committee on Extensive Sightseeing
  • Committee on Sport and Health
  • Committee on Arts & Culture Values
  • Committee on Osaka Food Culture
  • Committee on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

【Study / Interaction】

  • Management Seminars
  • Committee on Overseas Exchange
  • Members Fellowship Meetings
  • Young Members’ Association

【Overall / Support】

  • Council on Policy Issues
  • Committee on Research and Planning
  • Support Committee on “Global Tekijuku”
  • Support Committee on Water-Drawing Festival
  • Partnership Council for Associations of Corporate Executives

Executive Members As of May 11, 2021

Co-Chairpersons [Representative Directors]:

Mr. Takeshi Furuichi*
Vice Chairman
Nippon Life Insurance Company
Ms. Kyoco Ikoma*
Chief Executive Officer
Proassist, Ltd.

Managing Directors:

Ms. Rieko Ueda
President
Mothernet Co., Ltd.
Ms. Taeko Uemura
President
KYONAN SOUKO CO., LTD.
Mr. Tatsuya Okahashi
Deputy President
Resona Bank, Ltd.
Ms. Kumiko Obino
President
Interact Japan Inc.
Mr. Keiji Kakumoto*
Director and Deputy President
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Mr. Yoshifumi Kato
Chairman & CEO
Keihan Holdings Co., Ltd.
Mr. Eiichi Sakamoto*
Senior Executive Vice President
NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE WEST CORPORATION
Mr. Jun Sato
Chairman and CEO
Showa Marutsutsu Co., Ltd.
Mr. Yusuke Saraya
President
Saraya Co., Ltd.
Mr. Motomitsu Shirakawa
President
SOPPRA Corporation
Mr. Yoshihisa Suzuki
Vice Chairman, Member of the Board
ITOCHU Corporation
Mr. Koichi Takahashi*
Senior Executive Officer
General Manager, Finance and Accounting Div.
Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Mr. Keiji Tanaka
Managing Executive Officer
General Manager for Japan Region
General Manager, Kansai Office
SUMITOMO CORPORATION
Mr. Muneya Taniguchi
Member of the Board of Directors, Deputy President
Western Region of Japan
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Mr. Ryuichi Hasegawa
Senior Adviser
TAKENAKA CORPORATION
Mr. Makoto Hidetaka*
Senior Managing Executive Officer
General Manager, Building Construction Division
Osaka Main Office, Obayashi Corporation
Mr. Shigeo Hirose*
Managing Director, Secretary General
Kansai Keizai Doyukai
Mr. Seiji Manabe
Chairman of the Board of Directors
WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
Mr. Tadashi Miyagawa
Executive Vice President
Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Mr. Yoshiyuki Miyabe
Senior Managing Executive Officer
Panasonic Corporation
Mr. Nozomu Mori
Executive Vice President
Renewable Energy Division
Community Energy Division
The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
Mr. Ryuichi Morotomi
Director
Hankyu Corporation

*Executive Directors

Contact

KANSAI KEIZAI DOYUKAI
(Kansai Association of Corporate Executives) Nakanoshima Center Bldg.,
2-27, 6-chome, Nakanoshima, Kita-ku Osaka 530-6691 Japan
Phone:+81-6-6441-1031 Fax:+81-6-6441-1030