Directors & Auditor

Tetsuya Handa
President & CEO, CFO

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I was born in Tokyo in 1970 and grew up in the lush, green city of Kichijoji , and moved to Kyoto from university days.
In 1994, I joined a major trust bank in Japan. During my time there, I started my career in retail banking business area including financial consulting, real estate and loan services. After getting experience in international banking operations mainly in charge of foreign exchange transactions, I specialized in global business. Alongside providing various support services for Japanese institutional investors’ foreign securities investments, I also managed overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&A), domestic bank integration projects, and leveraged my expertise in overseas asset management and asset administration. I served as president of local subsidiaries; which are providing global custody services and asset management services in Europe and the Americas. During my tenure as President of the U.S. subsidiary, the company achieved its highest revenue since its establishment in 1987.

With over 15 years of experience living and working abroad and the networks I cultivated during that time, I started my own business in 2024.

My hobbies are skiing, swimming, marathon running, surfing, music, cooking, enjoying all kinds of alcoholic beverages, cameras, writing, fashion, flower arrangement, interior coordination, DIY, space design, driving, touring, cruising, and much more.

Currently, in addition to serving as CEO and CFO of our company and CEO of our US subsidiary, I also serve as CEO and CFO of SpaceGate Infinity Co., Ltd, the No.2 position at SPACE NTK (a space venture company) – Managing Director, CFO, COO, Head of Global Business Sales & Marketing, as well as the position Director, Executive Adviser for strategic global business development at PichiPichi Co., Ltd.; Director and CFO of Gigi Inc.; Director and CFO of ZENON AeroGenesis Inc.; and CFO of Nihon Sogo Advertising LLC.

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Miki Nakamura
Executive Senior Managing Officer

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In 1970, I was born in Tokyo. I spent my high school years with our CEO. After graduating from Tokyo Gakugei University High School in 1989, I entered Tokyo Medical and Dental University, completing a Master’s degree at the Graduate School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine.

After completing graduate school, I joined a television station, where I worked on producing various programs, ranging from news and information shows to entertainment. I held various positions, including producer. During the time at the station, I took a course in health policy at the University of Tokyo, which inspired me to support families accompanying hospitalised children, who face increasing physical, mental and economic burdens. I worked to improve their environment by providing support in the form of essential “goods, food, and information”, and I helped establish and manage an NPO dedicated to advocating for improvements at both societal and national levels.

Later, with a strong determination to bridge the gap between healthcare and media, as well as to revive the essence of “Showa-era entertainment” in the context of an aging society, I co-founded the company with the CEO, sharing the same vision. I currently serve as Founder and Director, playing a key role in the company’s management.

Yutaka Majima
Managing Director and Executive Officer

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Born in 1971 in Mitaka City, Tokyo.

After graduating from Senior high school at Komaba, University of Tsukuba and the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, I joined a major non-life insurance company, where primarily engaged in underwriting corporate insurance, focusing on drafting marine insurance clauses, rate management, and risk management for import-export cargo.
I worked in London, which is the centre of marine insurance, Luxembourg, which is the financial centre of the European continent, and the USA. During the assignment in Luxembourg, I developed a close friendship with our CEO, who is from the same hometown, of the same academic year, and shares mutual friends. Supported the purpose of the company’s establishment and became part of its management.

Etsuko Iwama
Chief Technology Officer

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I was born in 1978 in Nagano Prefecture.
After enrolling in the Department of Mathematics at Shinshu University’s Faculty of Science and completing the Master’s Program in Mathematical Sciences at the Graduate School of Engineering at the same university, I worked as a software engineer at one of Japan’s leading printer manufacturers. There, I was involved in the development of image processing application components and POS printer application development.
While building my career at the company, I developed a desire to support children living overseas, which led me to become a teacher at Japanese schools in Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg. During this time, I became acquainted with the current CEO of the company, who was serving as the school board chairman. Following this encounter, I ventured into the financial sector, taking on risk management duties—primarily focusing on KYC operations—at the overseas branch of a major Japanese financial institution.

My hobbies include playing the clarinet, which I’ve been doing since junior high school (still an active performer), karaoke, drinking (like the CEO, I enjoy all kinds), bouldering, running (planning to take on a full marathon soon), skiing, mountain climbing and trekking, photography, and coffee (I hand-drip every morning), among others — the list keeps growing every day.

I currently serve as Chief Technology Officer at StageGate Japan, Co., Ltd and as a Director at SpaceGate Infinity, Co., Ltd.

Nana Isono
Local Excective Representative

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Born in Tokyo in 1970, I am a graduate of Joshibi University of Fine Art and Design and studied abroad in Seattle before relocating to Hawaii in 1995. My professional relationship with the CEO began during a strategic project for the selection of the company’s Honolulu office, marking the start of a long-standing collaboration.
I launched my real estate career in 2006, quickly establishing herself as a top performer at two leading timeshare firms as a marketing excective. After obtaining my Hawaii Real Estate License, I built a strong track record over seven years in residential sales at a major brokerage. Recognized for my exceptional performance, I was recruited by the president of a luxury real estate firm, where I further specialized in high-end property transactions and earned a loyal international clientele.
Today, I serve as a Real Estate broker sales agent with Corcoran Pacific Properties, representing both luxury and general real estate across the Hawaiian Islands and mainland U.S. markets. I work with a diverse range of clients, including local residents, Japanese investors, and international buyers.

My credentials include: Hawaii Licensed Real Estate Broker, Board Member of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, Member of the Hawaii Association of Realtors, Graduate of the Hawaii Realtors Leadership Academy, GRI and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. I am also certified as a Professional Home Stager and Feng Shui Consultant.
Fluent in both Japanese and English, I balance my career with a rich personal life as a mother of three. I am a licensed “Shihan(head of instructor)” of Ikuta-ryu Koto music and enjoys surfing, yoga, violin, and family time in my free hours. 

Ayako Otake
General Manager of Global Strategic Planning

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I was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1985 and raised in Tokyo.
After moving to the United States in 2006, I spent five years working as a bartender at Shochu Bar Hatchan in New York. In 2011, I earned certification as a Shochu Kikisake-shi (Shochu Sommelier) from the Sake Service Institute (SSI), becoming New York City’s first certified shochu sommelier. Two years later, I opened my own restaurant, Shochu and Tapas AYA, in New York. Since then, I have worn many hats. Alongside writing columns for Japanese-language newspapers in New York, I opened Abuku Tokyo, a shochu and small-plates restaurant in Akasaka, Tokyo. I have also hosted an alcohol-themed radio program on Shibuya Cross-FM and worked as a freelance consultant for food and beverage businesses in both Japan and the United States.
Through these activities, I have been involved in planning and producing events that introduce Japan’s rich drinking culture and traditional national spirits—including shochu—to people around the world.

I first met our CEO through mutual friends in both New York and Tokyo. What resonated deeply with me was StageGate Japan’s vision of sharing the beauty of Japanese culture with people across the globe—and even beyond—through something as universal and human as enjoying a good drink together. Inspired by that vision, I joined the company and became part of its journey.
Today, while shochu remains my specialty, I continue to expand my activities to include other spirits such as rum and whisky. From Japan and the United States to Laos and countries throughout the Caribbean, I am constantly exploring new ways to connect people, cultures, and stories through the world of fine beverages.

At StageGate, I support not only food and beverage initiatives but also our real estate-related projects by drawing on my qualifications as a licensed Real Estate Transaction Specialist.

Yujin Fujiwara
Sound Architect

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I was born in Osaka Prefecture in 1993 and raised in Kanagawa.
After graduating from the Faculty of Business Administration at Yokohama National University, I began my journey as a sound artist, developing my original theory of life acoustics known as “Bioactive Sound.” By deconstructing and reconstructing my own voice into microscopic particles of sound, I create experiences designed to inspire physical and emotional transformation beyond the boundaries of hearing.
My works have taken shape as what I call “Sound Interiors”—invisible sculptures that blend seamlessly into the texture of a space—or as “sound ceramics,” breathing life into architecture, sacred spaces, and environments around the world.
Through a unique synthesis method using my own voice as the source material, I have established a distinctive approach to sound design that bridges scientific evidence and artistic expression. From guiding people into deep sleep and meditation to projects that nurture the sense of comfort and security experienced in the womb, my work explores how subtle vibrations of sound can help harmonize the way we live and exist.

I met our CEO through a mutual acquaintance, and we quickly discovered that we shared a common vision for creating the future on a truly universal—even cosmic—scale. The CEO resonated deeply with the concept I advocate:
“Bringing together a world of diverse individuals through the power of sound.”
This shared philosophy led us to embark on a journey of creating new possibilities together.
I see sound as a form of three-dimensional sculpture. By shaping the energy of a space, the perception of time experienced by those within it, and the emotional colors carried through each passing moment, I create tailor-made soundscapes designed specifically for each individual and environment.

It is this ability to transform sound into a living, immersive experience—crafted uniquely for the people and spaces it touches—that has become my truly unique specialty.

Selected Works & Designs

  • Provided sound sources and creative supervision for “RELAXONIC,” JT’s high-frequency sound eye mask designed for relaxation.
  • Produced immersive Sound Interior experiences for ADD, an exclusive membership-based luxury villa brand.
  • Designed the ambient soundscape for Garan Shimogamo, creating an atmosphere that resonates with the tranquility and timeless elegance of Kyoto.
  • Created the spatial sound design for the Japan Pavilion at the International Horticultural Expo Doha 2023 in Qatar.
  • Composed the theme music for TOBIBITO, the official museum shop of the National Museum located within Haneda Airport Garden.
  • Produced the environmental sound experience for TOKYO CAPITAL CLINIC, a preventive and regenerative medicine clinic.
  • Designed the sauna sound experience for the outdoor air-bathing facilities of Mitsui Fudosan’s HUBHUB.
  • Produced the late-night ambient soundscape for the sauna spaces of LEDIAN SPA.
  • Curated the spatial sound experience for a new collection launch event hosted by A. Lange & Söhne.
  • Produced the brand theme sound for the skincare brand TO.
  • Participated in a variety of collaborative projects with research institutions and organizations in Japan and around the world.

Kazuma Mori
Singer

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I was born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1982.
At the age of 19, I appeared on NHK’s renowned singing competition program, Nodo Jiman, where I won the championship performing Yutaka Ozaki’s “I LOVE YOU.” That experience changed the course of my life. I left my job as a salaryman and decided to pursue a career in music.
I later appeared on the popular variety show Quiz! Hexagon, hosted by Shinsuke Shimada, as well as the music program Momm!!, hosted by former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai. After hearing my performance, Nakai remarked, “If I could sing that well, my life would have turned out differently,” a compliment I have always treasured.

Career Highlights
2018
Performed “Aoki Tōshi” (Blue Fighting Spirit), the official support anthem for the Yamaha Motor Jubilo rugby team.
2019
My song “Me o Tojireba” (When I Close My Eyes) was selected as the theme song for the feature film “Bond – Kono Machi Shika Kimi wo Shiranai” (Bond – The Town That Knows Only You).
2020
Performed at Yokohama Arena, one of Japan’s premier live entertainment venues.
2021
Finished as the Runner-up on TV Tokyo’s nationally televised singing competition, The Karaoke Battle.
2022
Had the honor of performing before Her Imperial Highness Princess Kako of Akishino at the Main Arena of Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

My original song, “Bokura Dake no Mirai” (Our Future Alone), was selected as the image song for SPACE NTK Co., Ltd., Japan’s first company to pioneer space memorial services. Through this connection, I have also expanded my activities as a “Space Vocalist,” sharing music that inspires people to look beyond the horizon and toward the stars.
My cover performance of “Ito” on YouTube has surpassed 1.5 million views, reaching listeners both in Japan and abroad.

Known for my sweet and expressive voice, I perform across a wide range of genres, including enka, kayōkyoku, pop, jazz, chanson, and oldies, earning the support of audiences of all generations. Collaborating with Ryuta Sakamoto, touring bassist for renowned artists such as Nana Mizuki and Shikao Suga, I have released four original albums and three singles.
Beyond my musical career, I host my own radio program, “Kazuma Mori: What Shall We DO on the Radio?” and have worked as a commercial model, a guest lecturer in career education encouraging young people to pursue their dreams, and an advocate for various social causes. My activities include supporting Red Ribbon initiatives, contributing to recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake, and assisting children with disabilities.
Through music and human connection, I hope to continue bringing courage, comfort, and smiles to people wherever they may be.

Hideaki Higuchi
Auditor

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Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1971, I spent four years dedicated to skiing during university alongside our CEO, while also focusing on my studies.

After university, I joined The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, Limited (LTCB), mainly engaged in corporate finance. After LTCB, I worked at Arthur Andersen, Real Estate Business Management, and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC. At GCA Savvian Corporation, I engaged in business restructuring consulting and M&A advisory (deal making, financial/business due diligence, corporate value evaluation, etc.)
Currently, as an independent consultant, I engaged in business revitalization, business succession, M&A advisory, and management planning/execution support in order to solve management issues in cooperation with management and to realize management that survives and develops in the very long term.
Certified Public Accountant, Certified Public Tax Accountant, Master of Business Administration. Representative of Hideaki Higuchi Certified Public Accountant Office, Representative Partner of Idea Tax Corporation.