About the Event
About the Event
Leading the next paradigm of work
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a tool for automation — it is fundamentally rewriting how businesses operate and how talent thrives. But in an era dominated by algorithms, human potential remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
Future Workforce 2026 brings together Tokyo's top visionaries, HR executives, and academic pioneers to explore the intersection of technology and humanity. Discover how to strategically restructure your organization, redefine talent acquisition, and build an AI-driven culture that keeps people at its core.
CEOs, Founders & GMs
01
Get past the AI hype and drill down into actionable frameworks and best practices for workforce optimization.
CEOs, Founders & GMs
02
Learn why static approaches to management no longer drive sustainable competitive advantage and how to approach leadership in a more symbiotic way.
CEOs, Founders & GMs
03
Connect with over 100+ CEOs, CHROs, and industry peers driving Japan's digital and cultural transformation.
About the Event
Leading the next paradigm of work
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a tool for automation — it is fundamentally rewriting how businesses operate and how talent thrives. But in an era dominated by algorithms, human potential remains the ultimate competitive advantage.
Future Workforce 2026 brings together Tokyo's top visionaries, HR executives, and academic pioneers to explore the intersection of technology and humanity. Discover how to strategically restructure your organization, redefine talent acquisition, and build an AI-driven culture that keeps people at its core.
CEOs, Founders & GMs
01
Get past the AI hype and drill down into actionable frameworks and best practices for workforce optimization.
CEOs, Founders & GMs
02
Learn why static approaches to management no longer drive sustainable competitive advantage and how to approach leadership in a more symbiotic way.
CEOs, Founders & GMs
03
Connect with over 100+ CEOs, CHROs, and industry peers driving Japan's digital and cultural transformation.
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Industry leaders
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Industry leaders
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Industry leaders
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Keynotes, panels & networking
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Keynotes, panels & networking
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0hr
Keynotes, panels & networking
Who Attends
Who will you meet?
Designed exclusively for leadership shaping the future of business and talent in Japan.
CEOs,
Founders,
GMs
1
Seeking to drive corporate value and strategic alignment in the AI era.
CEOs,
Founders,
GMs
1
Seeking to drive corporate value and strategic alignment in the AI era.
DX &
Innovation Executives
2
Implementing organizational change and scaling technology with a human touch.
DX &
Innovation Executives
2
Implementing organizational change and scaling technology with a human touch.
CHROs,
HR Directors
3
Designing modern workplace cultures and future-ready workforce strategies.
CHROs,
HR Directors
3
Designing modern workplace cultures and future-ready workforce strategies.
Talent Acquisition Leads
4
Navigating the shift in candidate expectations and AI-driven hiring.
Talent Acquisition Leads
4
Navigating the shift in candidate expectations and AI-driven hiring.
Starts at 18:30
Agenda
Specially curated panels and networking sessions
Specially curated panels and networking sessions
Registration
6:00PM
Door opens, and register yourself.
Registration
6:00PM
Door opens, and register yourself
Registration
6:00PM
Door opens, and register yourself.
Keynote Speech
6:30PM
Keynote speech by Jin Montesano
Keynote Speech
6:30PM
Keynote speech by Jin Montesano
High Tech, High Touch: Redefining Strategic Workforce Planning & Hiring in the Age of AI
7:10PM
As companies and candidates increasingly rely on AI tools, how do we ensure that humans stay in the loop to ensure the best results? This panel covers the end-to-end workforce planning and hiring processes (from planning through onboarding) while emphasizing why human intuition, face-to-face interviews, and panel reviews will become more critical than ever.
High Tech, High Touch: Redefining Strategic Workforce Planning & Hiring in the Age of AI
7:10PM
As companies and candidates increasingly rely on AI tools, how do we ensure that humans stay in the loop to ensure the best results? This panel covers the end-to-end workforce planning and hiring processes (from planning through onboarding) while emphasizing why human intuition, face-to-face interviews, and panel reviews will become more critical than ever.
Tea Break & Networking
7:50PM
Refreshments served. Connect with speakers and peers in a relaxed setting.
Tea Break & Networking
7:50PM
Refreshments served. Connect with speakers and peers in a relaxed setting.
Leading the Shift: How Japanese Traditional Companies (JTCs) can rewire their organizations for success without losing their core identity?
8:10PM
Addressing the critical operating model and leadership gaps in contemporary Japanese enterprises, this session explores why top-down, rigid transformations often alienate the workforce. We will examine how shifting toward a "team-based empowering" leadership model can unlock human potential, keep employees engaged, and successfully navigate large-scale organizational change.
Leading the Shift: How Japanese Traditional Companies (JTCs) can rewire their organizations for success without losing their core identity?
8:10PM
Addressing the critical operating model and leadership gaps in contemporary Japanese enterprises, this session explores why top-down, rigid transformations often alienate the workforce. We will examine how shifting toward a "team-based empowering" leadership model can unlock human potential, keep employees engaged, and successfully navigate large-scale organizational change.
Networking
9:00PM
An hour of dedicated networking over drinks and light bites. The conversations that happen here often matter most.
Networking
9:00PM
An hour of dedicated networking over drinks and light bites. The conversations that happen here often matter most.
Venue is available till 11 pm.
Featured Speakers
Insights from Japan's leading minds
Academic pioneers and corporate leaders shaping how we think about work, talent, and technology.
Keynote speakers
Makiko Eda
Chief Strategy Officer
Sumimoto Corporation
Nearly two decades of experience in the technology industry, including serving as President of Intel Japan from 2013 to 2018, leading innovation and demand creation. From 2018 to 2023, served as Japan Representative at the World Economic Forum, strengthening public-private partnerships and Japan's global presence, before joining Sumitomo Corporation in 2023. A graduate of Waseda University with a Master's from Arkansas State University, with a career spanning the U.S., Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Makiko Eda
Chief Strategy Officer
Sumimoto Corporation
Nearly two decades of experience in the technology industry, including serving as President of Intel Japan from 2013 to 2018, leading innovation and demand creation. From 2018 to 2023, served as Japan Representative at the World Economic Forum, strengthening public-private partnerships and Japan's global presence, before joining Sumitomo Corporation in 2023. A graduate of Waseda University with a Master's from Arkansas State University, with a career spanning the U.S., Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Takuro Nakamura
Executive Officer
Globe-ing
Began a career at a major systems integrator and an electronics manufacturer before spending over 20 years in telecommunications, media, and high-tech, advising on organic and inorganic growth strategy and structural reform. Experience spans both strategy and execution, from launching a consulting business and leading industry practice groups, to cross-border projects with teams across Europe and the U.S. Currently serves as Deputy Chief Technology Officer and Technology Go-to-Market Officer at a major telecommunications company.
Takuro Nakamura
Executive Officer
Globe-ing
Began a career at a major systems integrator and an electronics manufacturer before spending over 20 years in telecommunications, media, and high-tech, advising on organic and inorganic growth strategy and structural reform. Experience spans both strategy and execution, from launching a consulting business and leading industry practice groups, to cross-border projects with teams across Europe and the U.S. Currently serves as Deputy Chief Technology Officer and Technology Go-to-Market Officer at a major telecommunications company.
Jin Montesano
Chief People Officer
LIXIL
A global executive and board director with deep expertise in corporate transformation, organizational culture, diversity and inclusion, and purpose-led leadership. Senior executive roles have spanned global organizations including GSK, GE, Kraft Foods, and LIXIL Corporation, across markets in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Currently serves as an Independent Director of Yamaha Motor Company, chairing the Board's Nomination Committee.
Jin Montesano
Chief People Officer
LIXIL
A global executive and board director with deep expertise in corporate transformation, organizational culture, diversity and inclusion, and purpose-led leadership. Senior executive roles have spanned global organizations including GSK, GE, Kraft Foods, and LIXIL Corporation, across markets in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Currently serves as an Independent Director of Yamaha Motor Company, chairing the Board's Nomination Committee.
Takehiko Aoki
Head of HR
ZooKeep
A graduate of Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics, who joined Bridgestone and relocated to the United States in 1989, spending 15 years at Firestone leading post-merger integration and rebuilding labor relations. Back in Japan, held CHRO roles at Vodafone Asia Pacific, Seiyu, McDonald's Japan, and Toys"R"Us Japan, then led HR through a corporate turnaround as Managing Executive Officer at KKR portfolio company Marelli. Since 2023, has served as an Industry Advisor for KKR, joining ZooKeep in 2025.
Takehiko Aoki
Head of HR
ZooKeep
A graduate of Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics, who joined Bridgestone and relocated to the United States in 1989, spending 15 years at Firestone leading post-merger integration and rebuilding labor relations. Back in Japan, held CHRO roles at Vodafone Asia Pacific, Seiyu, McDonald's Japan, and Toys"R"Us Japan, then led HR through a corporate turnaround as Managing Executive Officer at KKR portfolio company Marelli. Since 2023, has served as an Industry Advisor for KKR, joining ZooKeep in 2025.
Jordan Jarjoura
Head of Product
ZooKeep
Serves as the architect behind the ZooKeep product, drawing on more than 15 years of hands-on experience in corporate and in-house recruiting. That background includes recruiting-operations experience at Google, and those lessons are distilled directly into the product itself. The result is software shaped by firsthand knowledge of how in-house recruiting teams actually work.
Jordan Jarjoura
Head of Product
ZooKeep
Serves as the architect behind the ZooKeep product, drawing on more than 15 years of hands-on experience in corporate and in-house recruiting. That background includes recruiting-operations experience at Google, and those lessons are distilled directly into the product itself. The result is software shaped by firsthand knowledge of how in-house recruiting teams actually work.
Moderators
Yuka Koga
VP of HR
Zeals
Recruitment Manager at ZEALS, having joined Recruit as a new graduate in 2005. Led the company's new-graduate and mid-career recruitment function from 2015 to 2018, focusing on aligning recruitment strategy with mid-to-long-term business goals and designing hiring requirements, selection processes, and placement strategy. Over the course of a career in recruiting, has successfully placed more than 3,000 new graduates and mid-career hires.
Yuka Koga
VP of HR
Zeals
Recruitment Manager at ZEALS, having joined Recruit as a new graduate in 2005. Led the company's new-graduate and mid-career recruitment function from 2015 to 2018, focusing on aligning recruitment strategy with mid-to-long-term business goals and designing hiring requirements, selection processes, and placement strategy. Over the course of a career in recruiting, has successfully placed more than 3,000 new graduates and mid-career hires.
Fuminori Gunji
GTM Advisor
ZooKeep
A career that has spanned strategy consulting, SoftBank Robotics, and Deel's APAC business, providing a front-row view of how Western companies compete for global talent. That firsthand experience on the front lines of talent acquisition created a sense of urgency that became the origin of the decision to join ZooKeep.
Fuminori Gunji
GTM Advisor
ZooKeep
A career that has spanned strategy consulting, SoftBank Robotics, and Deel's APAC business, providing a front-row view of how Western companies compete for global talent. That firsthand experience on the front lines of talent acquisition created a sense of urgency that became the origin of the decision to join ZooKeep.
PRICING
Get tickets
Think Forward® is guaranteed to sell out—register early and benefit from early bird pricing.
General Admission
¥29,999
Enjoy the core Future Forward 2026 experience:
Keynotes and networking
Access to select workshops
Post-event recordings
Where
Venue
Located in the prestigious Gotenyama area, the Tokyo Marriott Hotel provides a sophisticated, high-end business environment perfect for networking and executive learning. Easily accessible from Osaki Station on the Yamanote Line.
Tokyo Marriott Hotel
東京マリオットホテル
4-7-36 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
5 min from Osaki Station
On-site parking available
FAQ
What language will the conference be conducted in?
The primary stage presentations and panels will be in English. However, high-quality simultaneous Japanese interpretation will be provided for all attendees.
Can I get a corporate invoice/receipt for reimbursement?
Yes. Upon purchasing your ticket via our platform (Lu.ma), a formal receipt compliant with Japanese corporate reimbursement standards will be issued automatically.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
Tickets are refundable up to [7 days] before the event. Please contact our support team at [email@zookeep.com] for assistance.