Who Should Attend

• CEOs, COOs, and Presidents
• CIOs and CTOs
• VPs and Directors of IT
• VPs, Directors, and Managers of Operations
• VPs, Directors, and Managers of Supply Chain
• VPs, Directors, and Managers of Manufacturing
• VPs, Directors, and Managers of Engineering
• Plant Managers and Supervisors
• Production Managers and Supervisors

Agenda

Following is the preliminary schedule for the Forum sessions.  Times and sessions are subject to change. All times are Japanese Standard Time (JST). Presentations will be made in Japanese. Software trans-lator program will be available.

Featured Speakers & Presentation Summary

The following executives are featured speakers at the Forum.

Osamu Yamaguchi 

Manager, Digital Transformation Planning Dept., Digital Transformation Strategy Headquarters
JFE Steel Corporation,

Having studied control theory at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Osamu joined the company in 1992 with the aspiration of applying advanced theoretical approaches to rolling mill control.He was engaged in research and development until 2022, working on control of steelmaking processes as well as addressing challenges in production and logistics scheduling. Since transferring to the Head Office in 2023, he has been contributing to the promotion of company-wide DX initiatives, focusing on R&D management, support for the introduction of AI and data science technologies, and the development of DX-related human resources.

Abstract::
We introduce JFE Steel’s DX strategy and its promotion organization, concrete DX use cases leveraging cyber-physical systems and robotics toward the realization of an intelligent steelworks, and the employee development system centered on training programs for business innovators, data scientists, and digital designers who drive DX initiatives. In addition, we explain the solution business as a new business domain, through which technologies developed via DX at steelworks are commercialized and sold externally.

Takehiro Ariyama

Information Empowerment Dept. Digital Transformation Div. Digital Domain,
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Joined Ryoka Systems Inc. (currently Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) in 1998. For over 25 years, Takehiro has been extensively involved in the planning, implementation, and management of group-wide systems as a systems engineer. In his current role since 2024, he leads business transformation initiatives leveraging data science and generative AI. He is currently driving various activities to strengthen "Citizen Development" capabilities—empowering the front lines to utilize data autonomously for problem-solving—while practicing hands-on support to establish a data-driven culture.

Abstract:
Mitsubishi Chemical aims to transform its entire workforce into "Smart Employees" who can leverage digital technology and data in their daily work. Since centralized development by the digital department alone cannot keep up with the diverse needs and rapid pace of the front lines, the company is accelerating "Citizen Development" to empower staff to solve their own challenges. To support this on-site autonomy, we provide hands-on assistance through data utilization education programs tailored to skill levels and a general-purpose machine learning application that enables data analysis without specialized knowledge. This presentation will introduce these specific initiatives.

Naruki Akiyama　

Advanced system development group leader, system innovation technology office, technology& engineering center
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.

Naruki Akiyama is responsible for driving Digital Transformation (DX) within the Manufacturing Technology Division at Idemitsu. After joining Showa Shell Sekiyu in 2006, he built a diverse career across the Maintenance, Process, and Systems departments. In 2022, he joined the CDF Team as a leader and is currently spearheading the expansion of CDF initiatives throughout Idemitsu's Manufacturing Technology Division.

Abstract:
Idemitsu Kosan has established the vision "Your Reliable Creative Resilience" for 2030, driving the structural reform of its core businesses and a fundamental shift in its business portfolio. As a key part of this strategy, the company is digitizing and centralizing operational and maintenance data and expertise accumulated across its refineries and complexes. By adopting "Cognite Data Fusion" as an integrated data foundation, Idemitsu is not only reducing the time required for data collection and analysis but also enhancing sophisticated decision-making—creating a system that enables proactive "insights." Furthermore, the company is advancing the use of AI agents that understand on-site contexts and integrate seamlessly with domain expertise. In this session, we will introduce Idemitsu Kosan’s DX strategy and the "Evolution of Data" - our specific approach to data preparation that truly empowers AI utilization.

Akira Sakaino

Secretary, Japan OPC Council, Evangelist
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc.

Akira joined NTT in 1990. in charge of development of internal mission-critical systems. For many years thereafter, he was responsible for public sector consulting, new business development, IoT/M2M, energy management, and data integration.　In 2015, he took up the evangelist in charge of IoT, security and dataspace. In 2019, he was responsible for consulting on solution development for smart factories and smart cities. In 2023, he was Elected as a board member of the International Data Spaces Association (IDSA)

Abstract:
As AI continues to advance and supply chain risks become increasingly apparent, there is growing demand to analyze data from machines and robots on manufacturing and logistics sites using AI, and to share the results with partner companies to improve overall productivity. This presentation provides an overview of OPC UA, an international standard interface that structures machine data to facilitate semantic interpretation by AI and introduces use cases in which OPC UA is leveraged for data sharing and interoperability across organizational boundaries.

Masanobu Ariyoshi

Digital Solutions HQ Systems Business Division, Business Center, Integration Planning Dept.
Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Experience in startup initiatives, project execution, and consulting has involved the implementation of systems within process industry environments. Leveraging existing facilities and technologies, a key strength lies in translating concepts into practical so-lutions that can be effectively operated on site. Currently engaged in creating new val-ue by utilizing diverse field data, including video information, and integrating it with process operations.

Abstract:
In plant operations, labor shortages and the decline of experienced personnel are mak-ing it increasingly difficult to rely on human judgment for equipment monitoring and quality assessment. At the same time, video data, despite its availability, is not being fully utilized and remains a challenge for achieving autonomous operations. As digital trans-formation (DX) drives the need for greater efficiency, this presentation introduces new approaches to leveraging video data in plant environments.

Naoki Miyazaki

Technical Sales Manager
COPA-DATA Japan K.K.

Naoki joined a technology trading company in 2017, where he was involved in the import, sales, and technical support of world-leading technology products. From 2018, he was in charge of COPA-DATA's zenon at the same company, and in 2024, he joined COPA-DATA Japan K.K as a founding member. Currently, as a Technical Sales Manager, he is responsible for sales and implementation support of zenon to various manufacturing customers in Japan, mainly in the life sciences industry. He supports the success of projects by working alongside customers and partners to address regulations and standardization in Europe and the United States.

Abstract:
To easily and flexibly integrate end devices into end-to-end systems, companies in industries such as chemicals, food and beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals are adopting MTP (Module Type Package) for modularizing production processes. MTP pro-vides a vender independent description of end devices and realizing “Plug & Produce”.

Ajinomoto Omnichem has transformed shop-floor flexibility with a modular continuous-flow plant. By leveraging existing assets, deploying equipment trains that can be brought online instantly, and using intuitive orchestration, the company achieves both operational speed and reliability at production scale. This session introduces the core technology, MTP and highlights the “new standard” taking shape on the shop floor.

Li Tianmao, Ph.D

CEO
SUPCON JAPAN Co., Ltd.

Li Tianmao obtained a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Kyushu University in Japan in 2008. From 2015, he gained eight years of purchasing experience at Huawei Japan. He was involved in and contributed to various projects, and since 2023, he has served as President of SUPCON Japan. At SUPCON Japan, he is involved in process automation and works to grow and develop the organization. Leveraging his past experience, he pursues business success and contributes to society while taking on new challenges every day.

Abstract:
Process plants are entering a new era where advances in artificial intelligence, industrial data platforms, and automation architectures are enabling a shift from automated op-erations to autonomous plant operations. While traditional control systems have signifi-cantly improved process stability and efficiency over the last few decades, they still rely heavily on human intervention for troubleshooting, optimization, and decision-making.
This presentation explores how next-generation technologies such as software-defined control systems and industrial artificial intelligence can empower plants to evolve to-ward autonomous operations. By continuously learning from plant data and process dynamics, intelligent systems can detect anomalies, predict process deviations, and au-tonomously recommend or execute corrective actions. During the session, we will explore a practical framework for transitioning from conven-tional automation to higher levels of autonomy. Participants will gain insights into how autonomous operating plants can become a practical reality, unlocking new levels of op-erational excellence in complex industrial facilities.

Koji Tashiro

Octave
Representative Director, Intergraph Japan K.K.

Koji Tashiro joined Intergraph Japan K.K. in 2013. For the oil & gas, chemical, power, and broader plant industries, he has delivered asset lifecycle information management solutions covering O&M, engineering data, and procedure management, supporting customers' digital transformation (DX). Since 2024, as Sales Director, he has led the team while helping customers achieve practical and sustainable digitalization. In May 2026, the business was spun off from Hexagon to form Octave, an independent, software-focused company, with Intergraph Japan K.K. becoming its Japan entity. In July 2026, he was appointed Representative Director.

Yotaro Sen

Presales Manager
Octave

After working on supply chain optimization and supporting the implementation of in-house ERP systems at a mining equipment manufacturing plant in North America, Yotaro joined the former j5Japan in 2016 after working at a consulting firm in North America. After working as a systems engineer and project manager, he was in charge of sales to petrochemical and chemical customers. In 2019, following the M&A of j5Japan by Hexagon's Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) division, he became a member of Intergraph Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Hexagon ALI. Currently, at Octave, a new company spun off from Hexagon, he leads the presales team in the Asia Pacific region, prioritizing the delivery of value to customers and providing practical and sustainable consulting services for digitalization.

Abstract:
Digital transformation is not merely an innovation through system implementation, but rather an initiative aimed at maintaining stable operations and improving market competitiveness. This presentation will address the challenges of integrating IT/OT/AI in plant operations and merging on-site judgment with digital technology and will redefine the approach to optimizing overall operations. In particular, it will explain the foundation for supporting advanced decision-making and the evolution towards autonomous operations by connecting fragmented data and utilizing it as "context." To respond to the rapidly changing market environment, strong will and organizational culture transformation are essential in addition to digital transformation. Octave introduces approaches that support the practical and sustainable establishment of digital technologies by gradually building value from a small start and aiming to create synergies through collaboration with customers' AI strategies.

Yoichi Matsumoto, Ph.D.

Global Sales, Industry 4.0 Evangelist and Sales Lead
Red Hat

Yoichi Matsumoto is a member of Red Hat's global sales team and is promoting business development with major manufacturing and power companies as an Industry 4.0 evangelist and sales lead for the APAC and Japan regions. He has 25 years of research and development and business creation experience at NTT, Intel, and Siemens, and is a strong believer in corporate transformation through open-source technology. He holds a master's degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from the University of Tokyo. His hobbies are oil painting and skiing.

Abstract: 
Are your manufacturing DX tools fragmented and disconnected? In this session, we introduce an integrated platform designed to turn edge data into actionable intelligence. Discover how to break down data silos and achieve a new level of autonomous productivity.

Panelists and Moderator for Panel Discussion

Setsuya Kurahashi

Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Community Studies, Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University
Visiting Professor, Faculty of Business Science, University of Tsukuba

After working for a private company specializing in measurement and control systems, he received his PhD in Systems Management from the Graduate School of Systems Management, University of Tsukuba in 2002. In 2007, he became an associate professor at the Graduate School of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba, and in 2009, he was a visiting researcher at the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and the University of Surrey (UK). In 2016, he became a professor at the Graduate School of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba. In 2024, he became a professor at the Faculty of Management and Information Sciences, Japan International University, and a visiting professor at the Institute of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba. In 2026, he became a specially appointed professor at the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Community Studies, Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University. His main research areas include intelligent informatics, social simulation, management information science, and infectious disease model research.

Yuji Yasui, Ph.D.

Head of Semiconductor Research, Head of Intelligence and Safety Research
Research Center of Excellence Fellow
Honda R&D Co., Ltd.

Yuji joined Honda R&D Co., Ltd in 1994 and has been researching areas including powertrain control for low-emission vehicles and HEVs, traction control for F-1 racing cars, transmission control and device control by using adaptive control, model, predictive control, neural networks, etc. He realized the world’s first ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) and SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) in 1997 and 1999, respectively. In 2026, he was appointed a Fellow at Honda R&D Co., Ltd., where he is responsible for strategic planning of AI-powered intelligent mobility and safety technologies, as well as technical leadership for advanced research in these areas. In February 2026, he assumed the position of President of the Society of Instrument and Control Engineers.

Hiroaki Kanokogi, Ph.D.

President and CEO, Yokogawa Digital Corporation
Executive Officer, Yokogawa Electric Corporation

After earning a Ph.D. in Science from the University of Tokyo Graduate School, Hiroaki joined Microsoft in 1996, where he worked on the development of machine learning applications. In October 2007, he joined Yokogawa Electric Corporation, leading the development, application, and commercialization of AI (machine learning and reinforcement learning) for actual manufacturing sites, including industrial plants. He is one of the developers of the reinforcement learning algorithm FKDPP. After serving as Head of the Information Technology Center in the IA Products & Services Business Headquarters at Yokogawa Electric, he assumed the role of President and CEO of newly established Yokogawa Digital in July 2022. Since April 2026, he has also served as an Executive Officer of Yokogawa Electric. He is the author of “Positive Sum Game” (Discover Twenty-One, 2023), “Realizing an AI-First with Strong AI” (Discover Twenty-One, 2025), and “AGI, the Brain and Manufacturing” (Sounds Good Company Ltd., 2025).
 

Speaking Opportunities

For information on nominating a speaker for the forum, please visit our Speaking Opportunities page or contact Chiaki Itoh, [email protected]. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

For information on opportunities for sponsoring the forum, please contact Chiaki Itoh, [email protected].

Location

The Tokyo Forum is held at KFC Hall & Rooms.

KFC Hall & Rooms  
Kokusai Fashion Center Building
1-6-1 Yokozuna, Sumida-ku
Tokyo 130-0015
Japan 
+81-3-5610-5801

Nearest Station: Ryogoku Station (Exit A1) on the Toei Oedo Line (0-minute walk) / Ryogoku Station (East Exit/West Exit) on the JR Sobu Line (approximately 7-minute walk)