STAFF
Introducing a group of air mobility technology professionals
*Analysts are listed in alphabetical order.
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Mitsuo Umezu
Born in Oita Prefecture in 1951. After majoring in aeronautical engineering at the University of Tokyo in 1975, he joined Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., where he worked in the maintenance department, handling production management, supply management, budget management, and human resources and general affairs management. He was seconded to the Japan Center for Economic Research, where he researched Japan's economic trends and co-authored "Verification of the Oil Shock," published by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. He then worked in the management of an MRO company with Lockheed in the United States before retiring. In 2012, he established a staffing company focusing on engineers. He also founded the Mie Aerospace Industry Promotion Council, and served as its vice-chairman. In order to revitalize Japan's aviation industry, he established Tech Fellows Co., Ltd. in 2023. In addition to dispatching engineers, he is also involved in the development of next-generation aerospace.
We are challenging the development of mobility.
Shinji Suzuki
Born in Gifu Prefecture in 1953. Graduated with a master's degree from the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering in 1979. After working at Toyota Central R&D Labs., he retired as a professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering, and is now a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and a specially appointed professor at the University of Tokyo Future Initiatives Institute (current position). He holds a PhD in Engineering and specializes in aeronautical engineering. He is currently involved in developing the aviation industry through his roles as chairman and director of various aviation-related organizations. He is the president of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences (43rd term) and president of the International Federation of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS). His books include "Airplane Stories" (Chikuma Shobo), "Modern Aviation Theory" (edited by University of Tokyo Press), and "The Challenge to Uncrashable Airplanes" (Kagaku Dojinsha).
Yoshikazu Sugino
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1956. After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in 1980, he joined a city bank. In 1983, he was seconded to the Japan Center for Economic Research, and in 1985, he was dispatched to the Conference Board Institute in New York. In 1989, he was dispatched to Barclays Trust Bank of New York, and was then stationed in the United States when the bank was established. In 1995, he became the bank's domestic branch manager. In the banking division, he also had experience in headquarters departments such as securities, international planning, research, and auditing, and is well-versed in banking operations. He then went independent, and currently consults and advises financial institutions.
Kazuhiro Shirai
Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1959. After graduating from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Nihon University in 1983, he joined Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., where he worked on cabin/electrical design projects in the maintenance operations and technical departments. He participated in the design of the 777 at Boeing in the United States, and then worked in the aircraft and equipment technical department, maintenance management department, and government aircraft technical department, before becoming head of maintenance management at the Napa Aircraft Training Center in the United States. After serving as a director of the JAL Group, he was involved in maintenance audits. He then served as head of the safety management promotion office, deputy head of the maintenance department, and head of operations at a business jet operating company. He currently works in MRO consulting, is a professor at Hosei University's Faculty of Science and Technology, is a visiting researcher at the Urban Air Mobility Institute at the same university, and is an auditor for HIEN Aero Technologies. He is a member of SAE and a member of the ASTM F37/F38/F39/F44 subcommittee.
Hideo Hiramoto
Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1950. After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Osaka University in 1973, he joined Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., where he was involved in the maintenance and technical work of system equipment in the maintenance department. In 1984, he was stationed in Seattle, USA, where he was responsible for aircraft specification adjustment and aircraft acceptance inspection. He continued to be in charge of a wide range of technical work in the maintenance and technical department and became an auditor for the company. Since 2014, he has worked as an aircraft industry consultant, supporting SMEs in entering the aircraft industry and receiving consulting orders from various clients. He is involved in research on legal requirements such as airworthiness standards for unpiloted aircraft and AAMs.
Toru Kubota
Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1948. After graduating from the Department of Aeronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 1971, he joined Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. In the maintenance department, he was involved in system technology, maintenance-related regulations, maintenance time extension, changes to the 747 aircraft maintenance method, and retirement planning.
He was in charge of creating simulator data for the flight control system. After returning to Japan, he worked in the Corporate Planning Office, the Anchorage Airport Branch, and the Maintenance and Training Department, and was involved in management, operation, and maintenance-related supervision at AGP and JEX.
Since 2010, he has provided aviation technology consulting services and lectured on human factors, aviation English, and airworthiness management at the Japan Aviation Technology Association, Takushoku University, JAL Consulting, and NS Aviation Technology Research Institute.
Takashi Saito
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1953. After graduating from the Department of Aeronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 1975, he joined Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., where he worked in the flight operations and maintenance departments, and was responsible for flight operations and maintenance technology. He also served as technical director and deputy director of the maintenance headquarters. While employed at Japan Airlines, he was involved in autopilot control law design and flight testing at Boeing in the United States. Since 2013, he has been in charge of operations and safety for a domestic cargo airline. Since 2019, he has been engaged in consulting work such as cybersecurity and integrated product support. He holds an FAA commercial pilot license and a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism second-class unmanned aerial vehicle pilot license.
Akira Sato
Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1960. After graduating from the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University in 1982, he joined Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., where he was involved in research into jet engines and the development of control devices for unmanned helicopters. In 2003, he received the Ichimura Industrial Award for Contribution for his work on "Usu Volcano Observation Using an Autonomous Control Unmanned Helicopter." In 2019, he received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Commendation for Science and Technology for his work on "Development of a Control Device for an Industrial Unmanned Helicopter." Doctor of Engineering (Kyoto University)
In 2018, he became a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Shizuoka Institute of Science and Technology. He served as chairman of the Shizuoka Prefecture Next Generation Air Mobility Working Group from 2023 to 2024. He served as chairman of the Japan Helicopter Association from 2023 to 2025, and is currently a director of the Japan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Inspection Organization and an advisor to the Japan Industrial Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Association.
Haruo Kohroku
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1956. After graduating from the Department of Applied Physics at the National Defense Academy in 1980, he joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. After serving as a Tactical Airman (TACCO) for anti-submarine patrol aircraft, he completed the Officer Specialized Course in Information Processing (ASWOC Program) and graduated from the National Defense Academy in 1991 as a member of the Department of Communications at the Defense Department of the Maritime Staff Office.
He worked on the development of satellite communications (Superbird) in the Air Force and the Research and Development Force.
In 2008, he served as Chief of Staff of the Self-Defense Fleet Command and Communications Division, and in 2009 he served as Commander of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Command and Communications Development Unit before retiring. After retiring, he worked at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation's communications equipment manufacturing plant, where he was mainly involved in defense-related communications networks and system integration. He also supported the work of retired Ministry of Defense officials.
Gaku Minorikawa
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1956. After graduating from the Department of Applied Physics at the National Defense Academy in 1980, he joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. After serving as a Tactical Airman (TACCO) for anti-submarine patrol aircraft, he completed the Officer Specialized Course in Information Processing (ASWOC Program) and graduated from the National Defense Academy in 1991 as a member of the Department of Communications at the Defense Department of the Maritime Staff Office.
He worked on the development of satellite communications (Superbird) in the Air Force and the Research and Development Force.
In 2008, he served as Chief of Staff of the Self-Defense Fleet Command and Communications Division, and in 2009 he served as Commander of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Command and Communications Development Unit before retiring. After retiring, he worked at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation's communications equipment manufacturing plant, where he was mainly involved in defense-related communications networks and system integration. He also supported the work of retired Ministry of Defense officials.
Toshihiko Yoshioka
Born in Tokushima Prefecture in 1955. After graduating from the Department of Aeronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 1979, he joined Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., where he mainly worked on engine-related tasks in the maintenance operations and technical departments. While at Japan Airlines, he worked at Pratt & Whitney in the US, where he was involved in performance analysis of the PW4000 engine and customer support engineering. He also developed a remote aircraft monitoring system. He later served as the operations manager of the engine maintenance business and the operations director of the Japan Aeronautical Engineering Association, and after retiring from Japan Airlines, he worked at Kinzoku Giken Co., Ltd., where he was the manager of the engine repair certification business for JCAB, EASA, and FAA.
Takeshi Tsuchiya
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1970. Graduated from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Tokyo in 2000, receiving a Ph.D. in Engineering. In the same year, he became a researcher at the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (now JAXA). In 2002, he became a full-time lecturer at the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Tokyo. In 2007, he became an assistant professor (later an associate professor), and in 2015, he became a professor. He is engaged in education and research on aircraft flight dynamics and flight control. In theory, he studies control theory, optimization theory, and multidisciplinary optimization. In application, he conducts research on improving aircraft flight safety (crashing aircraft) and efficiency. His research includes hypersonic aircraft flying at Mach 5, research and development of future space transportation systems (aircraft that can fly into space, spaceplanes), and flying robots (drones, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft, multicopters, etc.), among others.
Shigeru Saito
Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1952. After completing his doctorate in aeronautical engineering at the University of Tokyo in 1980, he worked as a helicopter pilot at the NASA Ames Research Center.
After returning to Japan, he worked as an assistant in the Department of Aeronautics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo, before joining the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
His research focuses on aerodynamics, control science, and flight mechanics, and he received the Minister of Science and Technology Agency Award for his aerodynamic analysis method using CFD technology.
Deputy Director of the Planning and Management Office of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Chairman of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Chairman of the Japan Helicopter Association, etc.
He has held numerous positions, and is currently the chairman of the Performance Certification Division of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Aviation Association and a technical advisor to the Japan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Association.
His books include "How Helicopters Work" (Fukuinkan Shoten).
Yoshifumi Kawakami
Born in Tokushima Prefecture in 1953. After completing a Master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Tokyo Graduate School in 1977, he joined Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd. He was responsible for production technology in the aircraft manufacturing division, and then for propeller technology in the aircraft technology division. He also served as head of the Amagasaki branch of the Next Generation Aircraft Technology Research Institute, which aimed to develop high-speed propeller technology. He then participated in a new engine project at Pratt & Whitney in the US, and was seconded to Hamilton Standard in the US, where he worked on design. After returning to Japan, he worked on the practical development of cooling fans for helicopter engines and composite propellers for ships. He became a permanent auditor in 2011. His publications include "The New Age of Propellers and Jets" (serialized in Agne's Metals magazine).
Aurora Brien
Born in 1982 in Paris, France. Graduated with a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of La Sorbonne in 2005, followed by an MBA in 2012. In 2006, received the Award “Robert Guillain Reporter in Japan”. Take professional experience includes roles at Nintendo of Europe and CAPCOM Japan. In 2017, joined the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA) as Manager of International Relations and Development, responsible for conducting research in UAM/AAM sector including unmanned UAS and eVTOLs, including to lead international promotion efforts for Japan Drone/IAAM that is the largest UAS/UAM trade exhibition in Japan. And also jointed as senior research specialist of JAM-RI and international promotion support for HIEN Aero Technologies and others.