[Japan Weeks 2026] Japan’s New Exit Era: Rethinking Alternative Investments Growth Beyond IPOs

Japan’s alternative investment ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth and transformation. Following the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s revised listing requirements, portfolio companies and fund managers are increasingly rethinking traditional IPO-driven exit strategies and exploring alternative pathways such as M&A and secondary transactions.

Against this backdrop, this event brings together alternative investment leaders, fund operators, finance professionals, and international investors to discuss how the market is evolving and what it means for the future of venture investing in Japan.

The event will explore the shifting dynamics of liquidity, valuation, fund operations, and cross-border opportunities, while offering practical insights into how GPs, fund controllers, and ecosystem stakeholders can adapt to a changing investment environment. Through two focused panel discussions, attendees will gain perspectives from industry leaders on the future of exits, operational challenges, and the growing role of international capital in Japan’s innovation economy.

Agenda

2:00 PM

Registration and Welcome Reception

2:30 PM

Panel Discussion 1 (Japanese) Beyond the ¥10Bn IPO: How Japan’s Alternative Investment Exit Playbook Is Changing

  • The impact of Tokyo Stock Exchange reforms on startups, growth companies and buyout target
  • Why traditional IPO pathways are becoming less viable for privately held companies across the growth spectrum
  • The growing importance of M&A and secondary transactions
  • How GPs are adapting portfolio and exit strategies
  • What international investors and acquirers are watching in Japan
Moderator:
Miki Ito
Miki Ito
Vice President, Strategic Operations & Investor Relations,
Minerva Growth Partners
Panelists:
Gregory R. Hara
Gregory Rokuro Hara
Chief Executive and Managing Partner,
Chairman of the Investment Committee,
J-STAR Co., Ltd.
Hiroyuki Sawamura
Hiroyuki Sawamura
Head of Strategy & Promotion Team,
Innovative Corporate Promotion Department,
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
Takahiro Kanzaki
Takahiro Kanzaki
Founder & CEO,
Kepple Group Inc.
Takeshi Onishi
Takeshi Onishi
Partner,
WiL (World Innovation Lab)

3:15 PM

Networking Break

3:30 PM

Panel Discussion 2 (English) Fund Operations in the New Alternatives Investments Environment

  • How fund operations and back-office infrastructure are adapting to longer alternative investment hold periods
  • Evolving best practices to support NAV facilities, continuation vehicles, and structured transactions
  • What cross-border fund administration, compliance, and regulatory reporting require in a multi-jurisdiction environment
  • How fund controllers and finance teams are scaling as structures grow more complex 
  • Where technology and automation fit into modernizing fund operations for alternative investment vehicles
Moderator:
Henry Lin
Henry Lin
Founder and CEO,
Linnovate Asset Servicing Group
Panelists:
Ken Kuga
Ken Kuga
Founder and CEO,
Diagonal, Inc.
Nariatsu Tanaka
Nariatsu Tanaka
Director of Investor Relations,
Endeavour United Co., Ltd.
Yucheng Fan
Yucheng Fan
Partner,
Harney’s Funds & Asset Management Group

4:15 PM

Networking Cocktail Reception

6:00 PM

Event Ends

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