Team Members

Investment Professional
Ryosuke Iinuma Representative Director & Executive Officer for Buyout Investment and AI・DX Support

Ryosuke Iinuma is the Executive Officer and Managing Partner for the Private Equity Investment team as well as the Representative Director & President of Ant Capital Partners. He joined Ant Capital in August 2001, and has played a key role in the organization’s development to date, including the acquisition of Wit Capital Japan. In the Catalyzer series of funds, He leads the team of 15 investment professionals in their investment and hands-on support activities, with a focus on corporate management and business strategy. He has also served as the Director for portfolio companies; CAA,Checker Motors, Golf Partner, Miyano Machinery Inc (now CITIZEN MACHINERY), Willplus Holdings, Vario Secure Networks (now Vario Secure),Casa,MoonStar,Apple World,allos one,Newokubo,Amicus,Softbrain,Rasin,Beeline,SOMPO Aux, and as the Auditor for Fujisey and MEC. He started his career in 1994 in the Technology Division of Mitsubishi Corp., where he was in charge of market and business development for foreign software vendors and distributors in Japan. From 2023 he has been the Chairman of the Japan Private Equity Association. He graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Business and Commerce.

Kenichi Ueda Managing Partner

Kenichi Ueda has been involved with direct private equity investments, including sourcing, negotiation, and hands-on support of CAA, Checker Motors, Activision, Willplus Holdings, Muginoho Holdings, Japan Relief, Maruboshi, Casa, Sokan, Marusaya, Entre, Designword, JULIA IVY, C.yell, Preanfa, etc. He joined Ant Capital in 2002 through the acquisition of Wit Capital Japan, where he was involved with M&A advisory services and corporate strategic consulting focused on the automotive industry. He started his career in 1990 at First Finance, a subsidiary of Recruit where he was in charge of fund operation and business development in the Finance Division, and then he worked on debt collection. After that, he was engaged in legal work related to corporate and debt collection in the Legal Department. In 1998, He was seconded to the Finance Division of Recruit where he was in charge of project planning. He graduated with Kyoto University, Faculty of Economics.

Tomoyuki Imaizumi Managing Partner

Currently, Tomoyuki Imaizumi has been seconded to Muginoho and served as the Representative Director from 2011. He joined Ant Capital in 2003 and has been involved with providing management administration, and leading due diligence and hands-on support activities for investments in Honma Golf, Muginoho, Willplus Holdings, FENIX INTERNATIONAL, Entre, Amicus, VS Technology, Apex Holdings etc. Prior to joining Ant Capital, he worked at the Business Development Division of Transcosmos where he was in charge of management administration for strategic affiliates. There, he was engaged in the development of business plans, execution of strategic corporate restructuring thorough M&A, due diligence for investment projects, as well as IPO support. He started his career in 1992 at Ohta Showa (now Ernst & Young ShinNihon) where he audited public companies and provided IPO support services for private companies. He graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Business and Commerce. He is accredited as a Certified Public Accountant.

Naoki Ito Managing Partner

Naoki Ito joined Ant Capital in 2003 and has been also engaged in hands-on support as the Director for MoonStar, menue (now Beaglee), Activision, CAA and Amino, as the President for Japan Relief, Sprout Investment, Trance Media GP and as the Advisor for Honma Golf and as the Auditor for SOMPO Aux. As a Managing Executive Officer of CAA, he took charge of business development and M&A, and provided comprehensive management support including strengthening managerial and administrative systems. Among other accomplishments, he played a key role in executing the capital and business alliance with Toyota Motors. From 2000 to 2003, he worked at Ohmae Business Developments, a private consulting firm of Kenichi Ohmae, Japan’s leading business strategist, as a project manager. He started his career in 1998 as a strategic consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton (now Strategy&). He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Tokyo, School of Engineering.

Kazuki Norose Partner

Kazuki Norose joined Ant Capital in 2013. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at Apple World, Allos One, FENIX INTERNATIONAL and Softbrain. He started his career in 2008 as a consultant at Nomura Research Institute, where he was in charge of projects for overseas expansion or M&A advisory services for clients from various large enterprises; domestic & international manufactures, plant engineering, transportation, aviation, trading firms, etc. He was also involved with projects for formulation of industrial policy or financial policy for domestic & international public offices and public institutions. He graduated from Waseda University, School of Education. Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.

Toshihiko Ishigami Senior Director

Toshihiko Ishigami joined Ant Capital in 2008 and has an active role to play in investment and hands-on management support teams at Fujisey, MoonStar, Marusaya, Sprout Investment, Amino, Rasin, Trance Media GP and Beeline. Prior to joining Ant Capital, he worked at KPMG FAS and provided due diligence and M&A advisory services for manufacturing, retail and service-type industries. He started his career in 2000 at Century Ota Showa (now Ernst & Young ShinNihon) and transferred to KPMG AZSA following their reorganization. He is accredited as a Certified Public Accountant, and has conducted financial audits in compliance with Japan GAAP, US GAAP and IFRS guidelines. He has also supported IPO registrations and assessed internal controls for Japanese companies. He graduated from Rikkyo University, Faculty of Economics.

Takato Ogi Senior Director

Takato Ogi started his career in 1996 at Nikko Securities (now SMBC Nikko Securities) where he was engaged in business administration, business strategy, marketing and the like. He made significant contributions to the company’s securities business and marketplace expansion. After that, he worked at Nikko Citi Holdings (now Citigroup Japan Holdings) where he was in charge of M&A business consisting of investment strategies and sale of affiliated companies for group-wide restructuring. He subsequently joined Ant Capital in 2009. He had overall responsibility over administration for the Group from 2011 where he made improvements to the finance and accounting systems along with implementing changes of business administration such as restructuring the human resources system. In 2013, he took up the post of Executive Officer for the Corporate Administration Office and concurrently serves as an investment professional in the Private Equity Investment Group. He has been involved with investment, hands-on management support and spearheading EXIT negotiations as Representative Director for Apple world and Newokubo, Auditor for Sokan, Director for Entre, Auditor for Willfu, Director for APEX Holdings, Director for APEX, Director for APEX International, Director for APEX International Tokyo and Auditor for APEX International Niigata. He graduated from the Waseda University, School of Political Science and Economics, and earned an MBA from the Boston University School of Management. He is a US Certified Public Accountant, Certified International Investment Analyst, Certified Financial Planner, Class 1 Health Officer, and Medical Management Specialist, Second Grade.

Toshiki Taninouchi Director

Joined Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) in 2009 and worked in corporate sales at the Nagoya Corporate Banking Division. Joined SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. in 2011 and worked in M&A advisory and funding for the energy, transportation, and telecommunications/media/technology sectors at the Investment Banking Division. Joined our company in 2017. He has been an active member of the investment and management support teams for Allos One, Entre, Softbrain and MEC. Graduated from Nagoya University School of Health Sciences. Earned an MBA at the University of California San Diego.

Masaya Yamada Director

Masaya Yamada joined Mizuho Securities in 2012. In the Advisory Group he was involved in M&A advisory services, focused on cross-border projects for Japanese major corporate clients in the technology, media, and telecom sector. He was transferred to Mizuho Securities USA LLC in 2016 and in charge of M&A advisory activities for Japan/US cross-border projects for a wide range of industries. He joined Ant Capital in 2018. He has been an active member of the investment and management support teams for FENIX INTERNATIONAL, Amino, VS Technology and SOMPO Aux . He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Takayuki Ido Director

Takayuki Ido joined Ant Capital in 2019. He started his career in 2009 at Itochu Corporation, where he took the lead of investment and hands-on management support team of domestic and cross-border M&A projects for a wide range of automotive industries such as manufacturing, trading, retails, finance, logistics and surrounding value-chain business. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at Amicus, TS Tokyo ,MEC, Designword, JULIA IVY, C.yell and Preanfa. He graduated from Ritsumeikan University, College of Policy Science.

Takahiro Nakamura Principal

Takahiro Nakamura joined Ant Capital in 2022. Before joining Ant Capital, he worked for Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., which is a Japanese comprehensive real estate developer, for 10 years. For the first four years at Mitsubishi Estate, he was involved in a wide variety of real estate businesses (investment, project management (development), asset management and proposal-based sourcing for landowners). From 2016, he was seconded to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (based on a personnel exchange system between the government sector and private enterprises), and in charge of urban policy planning (tax system). From 2018, he was seconded to Mitsubishi Estate Asia Pte., Ltd., and was engaged in supporting Mitsubishi Estate Group’s entry into the Philippine market (macro-economic survey, research of potential joint venture partners and investment execution). From 2020, he was involved in M&A projects and capital & business alliance projects at the headquarters. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at Amino,Beeline. He graduated from Waseda University, School of Political Science and Economics.

Shuzo Yamada Principal

Joined Ant Capital in May 2022. Prior to joining Ant Capital, worked at IGPI where was engaged in numerous projects such as planning growth strategies and turnaround plans for medium to large sized corporate clients, hands-on management support, M&A advisory services, and equity investment at an investment subsidiary. Started the career in 2013 at Sumitomo Mitsui banking Corporation, where was in charge of corporate loan and international businesses such as working at Manila branch and planning business strategies in Southeast Asia. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at MEC, RASIN, Designword, JULIA IVY, C.yell and Preanfa. Graduated from Keio University.

Keisuke Morita Principal

Keisuke Morita joined Ant Capital in 2022. Before joining Ant Capital, he worked for Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., which is a Japanese think tank, for 10 years. He was involved in a wide variety of management consulting project (Corporate Strategy Planning, New Business Development, Management Accounting Upgrading, BPR). From 2020, he was involved in DX Strategy Planning, Data Driven Management. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at Sprout Investment, Trance Media GP, AMICUS, TS Tokyo. He graduated from Osaka University, school of Engineering Science, and graduated from Kyoto University, Graduate School of Informatics. He is a Certified Public Accountant (associate member), Certified Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant.

Yu Aiso Principal

Yu Aiso joined Nihon Unisys (now BIPROGY) in 2012. After working as a system engineer for distribution and BI systems, he was mainly engaged in M&A and various business unit support in the Corporate Planning Department. He joined Deloitte Tohmatsu Financial Advisory in 2019. Mainly engaged in M&A advisory services such as stock valuation, intangible asset valuation, and business planning support. He joined the Company in 2023. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at Designword, JULIA IVY, C.yell and Preanfa. Graduated from Sophia University, Faculty of Science and Engineering. Earned an MBA at the Waseda University. He is a certified Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant. He is a certified analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan.

Ken Nakamura Principal

Ken Nakamura joined Ant Capital in 2023. Prior to joining Ant Capital, he worked at Nomura Securities and provided M&A advisory services since 2021. He started his career at Mizuho Bank as corporate sales in 2016 and transferred to Mizuho Securities in 2019 and was involved in structured finance. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at SOMPO Aux. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Yuki Fujiwara Principal

Yuki Fujiwara started his career at Nomura Securities in 2019. He worked in the coverage team which covers companies classified in Consumer, Retail & Service sectors. After moving to the M&A team, he was responsible for many projects in various sectors. He joined Ant Capital in 2023. He graduated from Keio University with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Satoshi Yanagisawa Principal

Satoshi Yanagisawa Joined Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank in 2012. After working in corporate sales and LBO finance, he was seconded to the Private Equity fund for 4 years from 2018 to 2022. At the PE fund, He worked in charge of investment execution and hands-on support for domestic business succession and going-private projects. After returning to Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank in 2022, he was engaged in co-investment with PE funds and venture capital firms. He Joined Ant Capital in January 2024. He graduated from Keio University , Faculty of Business and Commerce.

Kohei Kato Principal

Joined Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting in 2015.Engaged in a wide range of projects for major clients in the consumer goods, services, and manufacturing industries, including business strategy planning, business portfolio restructuring, M&A for overseas market entry, and sales transformation initiatives. Joined A.T. Kearney in 2019. Focused on business due diligence and post-investment value creation planning for large and mid-sized companies on behalf of buyout funds. Additionally involved in a wide range of projects for major clients in the consumer goods and services industries, including mid-term management planning, business strategy, planning, business portfolio restructuring, and sales transformation initiatives. Joined Ant Capital in 2024. Graduated from the University of Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

Kohei Kodama Principal

Kohei Kodama joined The Norinchukin Bank in 2020 and involved in corporate sales focusing on the livestock industry at the Nagasaki Corporate Banking Division. He was seconded to Ant Capital in 2023. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at RASIN and SOMPO Aux. He graduated from Waseda University, School of Political Science and Economics.

Kosuke Kusuhara Principal

Kosuke Kusuhara joined MITSUI & CO., LTD. in 2012. After working at Food Business Unit, where he was in charge of trading of food ingredients and establishment and PMI of dairy manufacturing and dairy business in Indonesia, he was involved in start-up investments and exits in the mobility sector and approximately $100 million fund raising of venture capital fund in the U.S. at Corporate Development Business Unit. He was seconded to Ant Capital in 2024. He has been engaged in investment and hands-on management support team at Amicus and TS Tokyo. He graduated from Keio University, Faculty of Law, Department of Law.

Operations Professional
Nobutaku Omiya Operation Expert

Nobutaku Omiya joined Ant Capital in 2005, where he has played an active role in investment and hands-on management support for Myprint, Japan Bike Auction, Fujisey, Sokan, Allos One, MEC and Beeline. From 2000 to 2005, he worked at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) as a consultant in the Financial Sector group, and he was engaged in various projects including business strategy, operational restructuring, client service planning and IT strategy for insurance, credit card and leasing companies. He holds a Master’s degree from Keio University, School of Science and Technology.

Hiroshi Takahashi Operation Expert

Hiroshi Takahashi joined Ant Capital in 2023 as an operations expert in charge of planning and deployment DX strategies for investee companies. Before joining Ant Capital, He was as an executive officer of traditional metal hand tool manufacturer branded KTC from 2014, mainly responsible for branding & marketing, intellectual property strategy, and overseas sales. also was in charge of business transformation by development of system products and value-added services with next -generation tools equipped with IoT capability. In 2006 Joined Mitsubishi UFJ Capital as a venture capitalist, he was in charge of investment and hands-on support such as business development and strengthening management. His expertise is in software and ICT services. In 2001, joined Oracle Japan and was in charge of B2B products marketing, skill development for sales consultants. In 1998, he was in charge of research emerging business and technology at Silicon Valley, and introduction into Japan in Mitsubishi Office Machinery (now Tata Consultants Services Japan). Originally he had experience as systems engineer of the development and project management of manufacturing production control system from 1986. He graduated from the Faculty of Sociology, Kwansei Gakuin University.

Takehiro Yoshimura Operation Expert

Takehiro Yoshimura joined Ant Capital In 2023 as an operations expert whose mission is to develop and execute digital marketing and e-commerce expansion strategies for portfolio companies. Before joining Ant Capital, He was the Head of Ecommerce Business at Pieroth Japan from 2022, where he developed the digital marketing infrastructure to maximize sales and improve the User Interface/User eXperience (UI/UX) of the online store. In 2014 joined GU, transferred to FAST RETAILING in 2019. Responsible for launching EC at GU China and Taiwan business, developing smartphone apps for GU Korea business, promoting smartphone app development and CRM system building project at GU Japan business, developing and operating all group CRM systems at FAST RETAILING for global use, and promoting In charge of promoting the project to build a customer data platform for global use. In 2007 joined Recruit, He was in charge of product planning and digital marketing for Jalan.net, Hot Pepper, Hot Pepper Beauty, and product sales business. He was in charge of planning and operating customer attraction strategies for websites with large scale customers, as well as building and operating CRM systems utilizing large scale customer data. In 2003 joined Triumph International (Japan). Promoted IT renewal projects focusing on electronic transactions with department stores and chain stores. He was in charge of EC support in a project to revamp the Warehouse Management System (WMS) of the company’s distribution warehouse. He graduated from the Department of Industrial & Management Systems Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University.