​Michinori Kanokogi, CFA, is Head of Solution Research at Nissay Asset Management. He leads the research and development of digital investment solutions for investors.

​Previously, he led the launch of AQR Capital Management’s Japan business as head of investment management. He also has experience in multi-manager investment at Russell Investments, equity portfolio management at UBS, and management consulting at PwC and Deloitte.

​He translated several finance/AI books, including Advances in Financial Machine Learning, Expected Returns, and Beyond Diversification. He holds a bachelor's of English from the University of Tokyo, a master's of English from Kyoto University, and an MBA from INSEAD. He is a CFA charterholder.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Drew Robbins is the author of the book “When No One's Keeping Score: The Meaningful Moves That Build a Fulfilling Career”, a practical, story-rich guide to finding meaning, building resilience, and making real progress at work—without burning out or waiting for permission.

Drew is a seasoned leader and mentor with over 20 years of experience guiding professionals through the real-world challenges of building meaningful careers. He has led teams at Microsoft and shaped how organizations adopt and apply emerging technologies like Generative AI. 

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Akio Tanaka is a Co-Founder and Partner at Headline Asia. Akio has driven impactful investments in FinTech, E-commerce, and Blockchain, leading to Japan’s No.1 & No.2 FinTech unicorns, freee, and WealthNavi. His expertise spans cross-border digital payment platforms, democratizing private equity access, and nurturing Web3. 

We have recorded this podcast episode to celebrate Headline Asia's USD 145 million Fund V, supporting a new generation of founders building in high-growth sectors including e-commerce, logistics, FinTech, IP and artificial intelligence - domains where Asia is setting new global standards.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: ⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the eXponential Finance Podcast, we explore avenues to create legal entities for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), with a particular focus on the structure set up in the Marshall Islands.

Adam Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MIDAO. Adam is a passionate member of several DAOs such as Purple, Builder DAO, CryptoMondays, and Beaver DAO to name a few. Previously, Adam conducted research on blockchain for emerging technology innovation at Capital Group. 

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: ⁠https://www.fintechobserver.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For this podcast episode, we have picked one of the insightful sessions from the recent TEAMZ Summit in Tokyo, a place where Web3 developers, investors, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts can gather, explore the latest trends, connect with global leaders, and discover business opportunities. This panel of industry leaders discussed “The Future of Bitcoin: Its Role as Digital Gold and Integration into the Financial System.”

Speakers:

Asal Alizade – Blocklogica

Lingling Jiang – DWF Labs

Dmitriy Sheludko – Biconomy

Kyle Ellicott – Stacks Asia Foundation

Tickets for the TEAMZ Summit 2026 are currently available at Ultra Early Bird pricing, for as little as USD 12 for a General Pass:

https://web3.teamz.co.jp/en/tickets-list-2026

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

https://www.fintechobserver.com

In this episode of the eXponential Finance Podcast, we explore the challenges foreign residents face when opening bank accounts in Japan.

Declan Somers, Chief Executive Officer of Mobal Communications, the owner of MobalPay, shares his unique journey to & from Japan to Ireland, working in telecoms, and their impactful work in Malawi.

The discussion dives into the features and impact of their mobile pay product, how it aids the foreign community in Japan, and their charitable coffee business supporting Malawian children.

Key topics include the transition from physical SIM cards to eSIMs, the integration of point systems for payments, and the growing importance of Asian residents in Japan.

Declan also addresses fraud prevention, the benefits of prepaid cards, and the significance of trust and physical presence in financial services.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Blog: https://www.fintechobserver.com

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This panel at the WebX conference held on August 28 & 29 in.Tokyo focuses on the intersection of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and digital assets, exploring the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investment products.

The speakers, representing a diverse range of financial and blockchain companies, discuss the implications of crypto ETFs, the regulatory environment surrounding these products, and the broader impact on both traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem.

They share insights on market trends, investor sentiment, and the potential future of tokenized securities and digital asset investment vehicles.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Medium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://medium.com/tokyo-fintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join us as we dive deep with Chino-san from Binance, exploring the transformation of Japan's financial market through digitalization and cutting-edge technologies.

From his career journey at traditional exchanges to pivotal roles at Kraken and Binance, discover why Binance stands out in revolutionizing the Japanese crypto industry.

Understand the challenges and opportunities within Japan's financial and crypto sectors, including regulatory landscapes, token listings, and the introduction of stablecoins and ETFs.

This episode offers a comprehensive view of the future of digital finance in Japan.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Medium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://medium.com/tokyo-fintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠

Habitto is Japan's first connected money experience, helping people save, grow and protect their money.

​Habitto has become the first company to register as a deposit-taking and electronic financial services intermediary in Japan, using a license type that the FSA made available towards the end of 2021.

Samantha Ghiotti, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, brings over 20 years of unique vantage points and global experience in Technology and Finance to this conversation. Her track record spans banking, investment and insurance across 5 continents, as an investor, entrepreneur and executive.  

Sam led the Singlife team through its exit in 2021, before launching Habitto, her new business in Japan

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Medium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://medium.com/tokyo-fintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠⁠

Jitendra Singh Jaitawat is a Partner & the Founding CTO at Helicap, as well as Co-Founder and CEO at Helix.

Helicap is a Singapore-based FinTech firm providing curated and exclusive private co-investments to a wide network of accredited investors. Through their institutional-grade credit analytics technology, Helicap extracts meaningful credit insights for their risk management framework. This is complemented by Helicap's fully online and MAS licensed investor deal platform, with co-investment opportunities to their exclusive investor base.

HELIX is an institutional RWA protocol connecting on-chain investors to real-world private credit opportunities. It is the answer to the issues plaguing DeFi yields and the TradFi credit financing gap. HELIX aims to provide institutional and accredited investors access to stable yields that are uncorrelated to the broader crypto market volatility through risk managed real-world asset backed loans.

Produced in collaboration with Tokyo FinTech. If you have an interesting story to share with our audience, and would like to appear on the podcast, please contact us via 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We also publish a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, the "Japan FinTech Observer", which we invite you to subscribe to: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7048203270833524736/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

You can also find us on....

Home Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tokyofintech.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyofintech/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/TokyoFinTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Medium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://medium.com/tokyo-fintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/tokyofintech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Meetup: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lu.ma/japanfintechobserver?utm_source=spotify⁠⁠