Event Report: Japan's Largest Accounting and Finance Talent Conference 2026

CPA Excellent Partners Co., Ltd., operating under the mission of "expanding human potential and enriching lives," is dedicated to lifelong support for accounting and finance professionals. This report details the successful execution of the "Accounting and Finance Talent Conference 2026," held on Sunday, July 5, at Tokyo International Forum.

This major conference brought together top leaders and pioneering companies at the forefront of the accounting and finance field to share insights on the industry’s present and future. A total of 20 sessions were conducted across four tracks—A through D—with five sessions each. The intensive one-day event attracted approximately 1,300 attendees, exploring new possibilities for accounting and finance talent.

Keynote Speech (Hiroshi Mikitani, Representative Director, Chairman and President, Rakuten Group, Inc.)

Business Strategies to Overcome Turbulent Times and the Role of Accounting and Finance

The conference featured a keynote address by Hiroshi Mikitani of Rakuten Group, Inc. Under the theme of "Entrepreneurship is what changes the world," he passionately discussed business strategies for succeeding in global markets and the critical role of accounting and finance professionals. Highlighting Rakuten Mobile’s challenges and structural issues within Japan’s startup ecosystem, he emphasized the need for keen insight to navigate diverse financial methods in the AI era, along with the importance of "high ethical standards and determination."

A1. From CFO to CEO: The Career Transition Playbook

Speakers:

Koichi Maruo (Representative Director, Major7th Inc.)

Yusuke Shibata (Representative Director, President & CFO, AirTrip Inc.)

Tomohiro Chiba (Representative Director, President, Macbee Planet Inc.)

Yuichiro Yamada (Representative Director, Chairman, Triple Eyes Inc.)

Toshio Sakamoto (Director and CFO, CPA Excellent Partners Co., Ltd.)

Five experienced professionals discussed the career path from accountant to CFO and ultimately to CEO. They shared concrete examples of how they viewed the accounting qualification not merely as a stable job but as a strategic tool for management, overcoming the intense challenges of IPO preparation, M&A, and investor relations to transition into top executive roles.

A2. "Capital Cost and Stock Price-Aware Management": Practical Strategies for CFOs to Improve PBR

Speakers:

Kenta Muge (Executive Officer, CTrO, Resil Inc.)

Shinobu Ikawa (Executive Officer, Global Investment Banking, Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.)

Takahiko Ohba (Chairman, Minami Fuji Group)

Makoto Noguchi (Representative Director, President, Plutus Consulting Inc.)

Kenji Hirose (Executive Fellow, Rakuten Group, Inc.)

This session explored strategies to improve PBR (Price-to-Book Ratio) from four perspectives: "theory," "large enterprises," "SMEs and listed companies," and "market." Amid increasing disclosure requirements for capital costs by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the session covered the theoretical limitations and practical applications of CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model), solutions to overcome the "conglomerate discount" faced by large corporations, and specific approaches to address unique challenges confronting SMEs.

A3. "Sports × Business": The Potential of Accounting and Finance

Speakers:

Takehiro Okumura (Representative Director, Spokachi Inc.)

Kyoko Iwasaki (Director, Japan Swimming Federation)

Yusuke Okada (Representative Director, Tokyo Dime Inc.)

Keita Suzuki (Representative Director, AuB Inc.)

Ryuji Hata (Representative Director, MR12 Inc.)

The growth strategies and challenges of Japan’s sports business were discussed from an accounting and finance perspective. The rapid growth of the B.League, driven by a profitable platform design, was contrasted with the J.League’s issues of star player exports and low attendance. The panel stressed the urgent need to commercialize amateur sports like swimming and enhance their entertainment value.

A4. The Work Ethic of Global Accounting Talent: Leading Multinational Teams to Success Worldwide

Speakers:

Koji Ando (Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, CPA Excellent Partners Co., Ltd.)

Ken Inoue (Director and CFO, Reazon Holdings Inc.; Representative Director and CEO, FINCHI Inc.)

Taisei Hattori (Former Director and CFO, SHIFT Inc.; Former CFO, Indeed, Inc.)

Yoshihide Hiroto (Representative, AGS Group)

Masahiro Miyahara (Vice Chairman, KPMG Advisory Holdings Co., Ltd.)

Prominent leaders from the accounting and finance industry shared their global career experiences and discussed the essential principles for leading multinational teams to success worldwide. While addressing challenges such as cultural and language barriers and Japan’s tendency toward excessive work practices, they emphasized how Japanese traits like diligence and meticulousness can become competitive advantages.

A5. Practicing Human Capital Management: Enhancing Employee Engagement and Corporate Value

Speakers:

Masami Katagura (Senior Executive Advisor, EY Shin Nihon LLC)

Shunichi Ohno (Director, Link and Motivation Inc.)

Minoru Sengoku (Representative Director, Minami Aoyama Advisory Group Inc.)

Toru Nakamura (Representative Partner, Nihon Claire Tax Accountants)

Shigefumi Wada (Representative Director, President, Obic Business Consultants Inc.)

This session focused on practical human capital management, discussing methods to boost employee engagement and corporate value. As the industrial battleground shifts from hardware to software, a shared understanding emerged that human capital, organizational culture, and visualization through AI and SaaS technologies are key to effective management.

B1. Mindset of a CFO Aiming for IPO

Speakers:

Takashi Morijiri (Director, CFO & Head of Corporate Division, mov Inc.)

Noboru Sato (Senior Managing Director, COO & CFO, e-Guardian Inc.)

Keigo Takegahara (Senior Managing Executive Officer, CFO, Coincheck Inc.)

Hideaki Tatebayashi (Senior Executive Officer, CFO, Globing Inc.)

Ryo Tamaki (CFO, LINEA Innovation Inc.)

In a rapidly changing business environment, what qualities are required of a CFO aiming for IPO? Active CFOs from diverse backgrounds—audit firms, consulting, and securities companies—shared passionate discussions, reflecting on their own careers. The key is the determination not to retreat from the difficulties faced by startups. The session concluded by emphasizing the importance of a supportive network among CFOs, who often face lonely battles.

B2. The Reality and Evolution of Capital Policy in Unlisted Companies

Speakers:

Satoko Suzuki (Executive Officer, Force Startups Inc.)

Hiroshi Okada (Senior Managing Director, Plutus Consulting Inc.)

Takahiro Jinzen (Representative Director, Keppler Group Inc.)

Kosuke Kita (Director, FUNDINNO Inc.)

Hiroyoshi Maekawa (Director, CFO, Fans Inc.)

With rising interest rates drastically changing the funding environment for startups, capital policy is entering an unprecedented turning point. Beyond the traditional path of IPO, companies are increasingly turning to M&A, secondary markets, and the emergence of venture debt