Team

Shuichiro founded Energy & Environment Investments (EEI), Japan’s first venture capital firm dedicated to the environment and energy sectors, in 2006 and has served as its Representative Director and President ever since. For nearly two decades, he has led investments in renewable energy, circular economy, decarbonization technologies, and sustainable infrastructure, playing a pioneering role in the development of Japan’s environmental and energy venture capital market. Beyond investing, he has supported business growth and venture creation while fostering an innovation ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs, corporations, and financial institutions.

He began his career at the Industrial Bank of Japan in 1989. He later covered the power and energy industries as an analyst in the Industrial Research Department and contributed to Japan’s electricity market reform as a staff member to advisory councils of the Minister of International Trade and Industry. He worked in corporate finance for environmental and energy companies at IBJ Securities (now Mizuho Securities), before going on to found EEI in 2006. Drawing on experience across the public, private, and financial sectors, he has remained committed to advancing Japan’s energy industry.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Outside work, he has played tennis since his student days and has recently taken up the flute.

Naoki joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2016. He focuses on energy-sector investments while overseeing fund formation, investor relations, and the firm’s overall operations.

He started out at Mizuho Securities in 2006, working on financing—including bond underwriting for utilities such as power and gas companies—as well as corporate communications in the headquarters’ planning division. Having grown up in a manufacturing town full of small businesses and family-run factories, he believes deeply in the people on the front lines and in the technologies that underpin industry, and he brings that conviction to his work today.

He holds a Master of Environmental Studies from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo.

Kengo joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2010, overseeing investments and business development.

He cut his teeth in venture investing at Japan Associated Finance Co. (now JAFCO), then took on corporate planning, business development, and sales roles across a range of startups and operating companies in the hardware, entertainment, and internet sectors. His experience spans the full arc from shaping management strategy to executing on the ground. Over 30 years he has dedicated himself to investing and growing numerous startups from both an investor’s and an operator’s perspective.

Tohru joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2008, responsible for investments in technology and data as well as the firm’s overseas investments.

He spent the early part of his career at the Industrial Bank of Japan, in credit analysis and M&A. In 1997, he helped found an image-processing LSI venture in Silicon Valley, building its global business model as Vice President and later leading its overall management as CFO, where he raised substantial capital from local VCs and assembled a seasoned leadership team. After returning to Japan in 2003, he has served as an executive, board member, and advisor at several Japanese and US technology ventures.

He holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He daydreams about getting back to his beloved rugby, sports, and backpacking.

Takahiro joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2008. He is mainly in charge of investment in sectors related to smartification and the circular economy.

Trained as a systems engineer, he went on to help launch an IT venture in 2001. From 2003, at a company owned by a corporate-turnaround private equity firm, he led the revival of a mid-sized advertising agency and helped return it to profitability. From 2006, he gained broad hands-on experience at an M&A advisory firm, handling everything from due diligence to deal closing for small and mid-sized companies.

Outside of work, he is active in wildlife management and ecosystem conservation through hunting, putting his commitment to the local community into practice.

Makoto joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2006, responsible for energy-sector investments and corporate administration.

His career began at Nippon Life Insurance in the Finance Department. From 1997 he moved into venture investing, LP commitments to PE funds, and the management of affiliated VCs within the Equity Department’s Private Equity Section, helping grow the company’s venture investment business. In 2003, he joined Dream Incubator as president of its venture investment subsidiary, where—through fund formation and stronger investment performance—he helped take the company public on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

A devoted “Jirorian” (fan of Ramen Jiro).

Ryusuke joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2020. He leads investments and business development in manufacturing and technology related to electrification—including batteries—with a focus on mobility.

Drawing on a fascination with vehicles that dates back to childhood, he has worked at automakers in Japan and abroad and at a foreign airline. In launching new businesses, he has built broad international experience, from negotiating with national and local governments to developing and executing marketing and sales strategies and managing projects.

True to his motto—“never write something off before trying it; give everything a go at least once”—he keeps taking on new challenges, and always seems to be nursing a scrape or two.

Itaru joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2017, responsible for sourcing and investing in deals across North America.

He began in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and, from 2003, turned to startup investing in the environmental field. His path to his current role took him through carbon-credit trading in Amsterdam, carbon finance at Masdar in Abu Dhabi, and European energy-infrastructure investment at Marubeni. Involved since the earliest days of international emissions trading, he has spent more than 20 years at the forefront of the CO2, climate, and energy fields.

A competitive swimmer in his student days, he has recently picked up exercise again in the seaside town where he lives.

Akifumi joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2018, responsible for business development and energy-sector investments.

He got his start as a consultant at PwC Consultant (now IBM Japan) and went on to work at several companies. In 2012, he joined the energy venture Eneres, where he led new business development, headed the power-marketing division, and experienced an IPO. From 2014, he advised companies entering the electricity business at PricewaterhouseCoopers (now PwC Consulting).

In his free time, he enjoys visiting art museums, museums, and castles.

Taiki joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2024, focusing primarily on investments.

He started his career in venture capital at SBI Investment in 2011. From 2014, he made proprietary investments at Opt and launched its venture arm, Opt Ventures. From 2015, as CFO of an early-stage startup, he led management strategy, fundraising, and corporate operations. In 2018, he returned to venture capital as a partner and investment committee member at Opt Ventures (now Bonds Investment Group), where he built his track record.

He holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Accountancy at Waseda University. Outside of work, he enjoys golf, surfing, and kart racing.

Jun joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2022, leading portfolio and performance management alongside investments.

In 2009, he was due to join a real estate venture straight out of school, but the company went under from a cash crunch before he started—an experience that taught him firsthand how vital finance is to running a company. That set him on a path toward financial and accounting expertise, and from 2011 he carried out financial audits and consulting for investment banks and infrastructure funds, including renewable energy, at a major audit firm. Having also supported venture IPOs and environmental-rating certifications, he is well versed in both accounting and the environment.

He sits on the Bellmark committee at his child’s kindergarten and has lately been busy collecting Bellmark points. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Chihiro joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2024, focusing primarily on investments.

She started out in Japanese and European equity research and institutional sales at UBS Securities. She then joined Frontier Management, providing hands-on turnaround support, value creation, and management strategy for PE fund portfolio companies such as aircraft- and electronic-parts manufacturers, before handling fund-of-funds investments and early- and pre-IPO-stage startup investments at GREE Ventures.

Her interests include seinen manga, novels, the sea, and horse racing—and lately keirin as well.

Kumiko joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2021, focusing on impact strategy and domestic and overseas investments.

She began her career at Euglena where she worked on new business development projects in Ishigaki and Bangladesh and contributed to the company’s IPO. Following its public listing, she supported the company through a period of rapid expansion, during which its market capitalization grew from about ¥10 billion to over ¥100 billion. She later joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Economic Affairs Bureau, where she coordinated policy and international negotiations on resource diplomacy. Drawing on experience across business, government, and investment, she supports the adoption of environmental and energy solutions. Inspired by entrepreneurs’ ability to drive change, she moved into venture capital to back mission-driven founders.

She holds an MBA from Keio University and completed an exchange program at the Wharton School. Raised in Africa, she enjoys playing “keidoro” (tag).

Tomomi joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2023, focusing on impact strategy and domestic and overseas investments.

She started her career at Dentsu, where she worked on Toyota’s media strategy and global brand-transformation projects in the sales division. She then worked for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), managing SDG initiatives, innovation programs, and support for African startups for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Following studies in the UK, she took on Climate Tech and other engagements at Parthenon, the strategy arm of EY’s London office.

She holds an MBA from the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge and the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing. An early-morning runner and seasoned backpacker, she is on a quest to visit 100 countries.

Chie joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2015, where she leads the Administration Department, overseeing fund administration and back-office operations, and led the launch and running of the portfolio management system.

At Japan Asia Investment (JAIC), she administered more than 50 funds in total, including offshore funds and funds of funds, and also took part in venture investments and fund commitments within the investment division. In 2013, she moved to CyberAgent Ventures (now CyberAgent Capital), where she built out the fund administration and operations framework in coordination with eight overseas offices.
She is a Registered CPA (Illinois, inactive). Outside of work, she is a Noh performer of the Kita school and a practitioner of traditional weaving.

Masaki joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2023. Based in Europe, he focuses on overseas investments, market research, and supporting portfolio companies’ international expansion.

At Morgan Stanley, he lead domestic and international equity financing as Head of Equity Capital Markets and a Managing Director. In 2018, he moved to Singapore to join Leapla, where as CFO and an investment committee member he invested in ventures across Southeast Asia and Japan. In June 2023, he relocated to the Netherlands to devote himself to sustainability. Earlier in his career, he also worked in private equity at Advantage Partners.

Outside of work, he practices Muay Thai kickboxing and enjoys losing himself in a good novel.

Tomoko joined Energy & Environment Investments in 2018. Alongside her role as executive assistant to the President, she keeps the organization running smoothly through internal and external coordination and secretariat work.

Earlier in her career, in the HR department of a major retail company and at two consulting firms, she worked in leadership development, organizational change, and business transformation, designing, managing, and consulting on more than 200 projects and developing their programs. She also has wide-ranging experience in research and writing, gained through efforts to promote globally recognized approaches to talent and organizational development.

She holds a Master of Arts in Management Science from the Graduate School of Management Science and Public Policy at the University of Tsukuba and a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. At home, she dotes on her Russian Blue cat.