Yumiko Aoyagi is an award-winning Japanese writer and producer known for her work in Japan and the U.S. She has created over 20 network TV series and films. In 2022, she wrote the first international co-production for TBS and Keshet International, “DCU: Deep Crime Unit,” which was a major hit with over 30 million viewers. In 2003, she became the youngest writer for NHK’s asadora slot with “Kokoro,” achieving a 21.3% average viewer rating and winning the Chairman’s Award.

Raised in Los Angeles, Yumiko now focuses on bringing Japanese stories to Hollywood and adapting Japanese IPs for international audiences. She has previously adapted global hits like HBO’s “In Treatment” and BBC’s “Orphan Black” for Japan. Her work on “LonelyGirl15” contributed to YouTube’s growth. Represented by CAA, Yumiko continues to bridge cultural gaps with her storytelling.

Ryosuke Watanabe is a seasoned producer in the Japanese entertainment industry. He graduated from Waseda University and joined Daiei Television. Watanabe has produced notable dramas for TBS, including “High Achievers Exam,” “The Ship of Theseus,” “TOKYO MER,” and “My Family.” He also produced “NO ACTIVITY” for Amazon.

Watanabe has received several accolades, including a nomination for the International Emmy Awards for TBS’s “Real Escape Game TV” and the Tokyo Drama Award in 2014 for WOWOW’s “Chicken Race.” He also won the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association Award in 2014 for WOWOW’s “And Then, We Live.” His production “TOKYO MER” received the Content Asia Awards 2022 for Best Asian Drama and was adapted into a successful movie, earning 4.5 billion yen.

Misako Saka is a distinguished film producer and currently serves as the Senior Executive Director of OLM and Representative Director of OLM Digital. With over a decade of experience in VFX at NHK, she honed her technical expertise, which continues to inform her work in film production.

Throughout her career, Misako has produced over 30 films in collaboration with Auteur Director Takashi Miike, playing a pivotal role in bringing his unique vision to life. Additionally, she has contributed to around 40 projects as a VFX producer, showcasing her ability to merge technology with creative storytelling.

At OLM, the company behind the globally acclaimed Pokémon franchise, Misako’s leadership has been instrumental in driving the company’s success in film production. While her earlier work in VFX informs her approach, her current focus is on broader production leadership, where her blend of creative vision and strategic insight has made her a key figure in Japanese cinema.

Matt is a bilingual Japanese & English producer/director with extensive experience in TV, feature films, global events, and exhibitions. He collaborates with Kyushu governments to support foreign filmmakers in Japan. Matt has been a Japanese Technical Advisor for HBO, Head of Content for Red Bull, and the first foreign producer/director of a nationwide TV series in Japan.

He led the TITANIC Search & Recovery Missions, discovering the “Hosono-Letter,” registered in the U.S. Library of Congress, and influencing the movie TITANIC’s Tokyo premiere. His work has been featured in TIME Magazine and over 800 newspapers. Matt is a Director and Producer with IY Global, showcasing Japan’s unique culture from a foreign perspective.

Ko Iwagami was mesmerized by Hollywood films as a child, and decided to move to the US after graduating from middle school. While in the US, he began working in productions and was involved in the making of films such as “Due Date”, “The Avengers”, “Breaking Bad”, and “The Wolverine.“ In 2015, after coming back to Tokyo and focusing his career on casting, he established KAIJU inc. with the mission of introducing Japanese talent to the world stage.

He has been focusing on international productions of films, TV Series, and Global Commercials. The Hollywood Reporter and The Japan Times have described him as “A bridge between the worlds that transcends existing frameworks.”  In 2022, he was hired by Amazon Studios as Head of Casting Japan overseeing Prime Video Original’s casting. In 2024 May, he returned to KAIJU inc.

Sandeep Casi is a visionary entertainment technologist and entrepreneur, building in and from Japan. He is bringing the latest of XR technology to Japan while architecting next generation production workflow using AI. He has come full circle to do for XR what he once did for green screen.

Starting as a Systems Engineer at GM, Sandeep developed VR technologies for automotive design and crash analysis. At Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), he led digital animation rendering and video engineering for dozens of commercials and 29 films, including Jurassic Park, Mars Attacks, Titanic and Star Wars I. He later served as Chief Architect at Sekani, architecting media asset management for CNN and BBC, before joining Fuji Xerox Palo Alto Labs as a Research Scientist.

Currently, Sandeep is the founder and CEO of Cinemacraft Studios, where he is building XR and REMI studios in Japan and capturing 360° 20K XR background plates of iconic Japanese landscapes and cityscapes..

Sherwin Faden is an accomplished international operations and business executive with extensive startup experience. Fluent in Japanese, he has helped establish and expand Silicon Valley companies like Visa, VeriSign, and Tapjoy in Japan. 

He advises startups on customer acquisition, partnership development, and strategic growth. As an investor at NetCONNECT Co., Ltd., he contributes to IoT solutions and co-patented innovations. Sherwin has held leadership roles including COO and Board Director at Orb Inc., COO at Cinemacraft Inc., and GM at Tapjoy Japan K.K., driving revenue growth and market entry strategies. He co-founded Japan’s first online lead generation company and has invested in over 20 startups. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sophia University in Tokyo.