David Ha
Co-founder and CEO, Sakana AI
Builder
Why they matterRuns Sakana AI, a Tokyo lab building nature-inspired models, valued at $2.65B in Nov 2025.
Nov 2025: Sakana AI Series B
Who’s shaping AI in Japan
The builders, researchers, policymakers, investors, explainers and critics moving AI forward in Japan. Every entry links to a source and to the moments on our timeline.
- People
- 6
- Global leaders from here
- 1
- Last checked
- 2 Oct 2026
Masashi Sugiyama 杉山将
Director, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project
Researcher
Why they matterDirects Japan's national AI research centre. Known for learning from noisy labels.
Checked 2 Oct 2026
Kimi Onoda 小野田紀美
Minister of State for AI Strategy
Policymaker
Why they matterThe cabinet minister holding Japan's AI strategy brief under PM Takaichi.
Jul 2026: 5th AI Strategy HQ meeting
Kathy Matsui
General Partner, MPower Partners
Investor
Why they matterHer fund invested in Sakana AI, calling it Japan's frontier AI bet.
Checked 2 Oct 2026
Shota Imai 今井翔太
Professor, JAIST. CEO, GenesisAI
Explainer
Why they matterWrote a bestseller on how generative AI will change the world. Regular AI commentator on NHK.
Checked 2 Oct 2026
Arisa Ema 江間有沙
Tokyo College, University of Tokyo
Critic & watchdog
Why they matterResearches AI ethics and governance. Has flagged gender gaps in Japan's AI policy bodies.
Checked 2 Oct 2026
Global leaders from Japan
On the AIooze timeline
Moments these people shaped
Nothing on our timeline names these people yet. Key moments are on each profile.