36^th Award of Honor Gala

As a representative of YouTube Japan, Akiko has been overseeing YouTube Japan since July 2017, working closely with creators, artists, and media partners to support their success and reach a wide range of people of different ages for various purposes beyond borders.  Her priority is also to ensure commitment to responsibly protecting our community. YouTube has been selected as the number one ranked brand in Japan in the general consumer category of  the “Brand Japan” in three years consecutively for the first time in its history starting from 2020.

She is a member of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) Broadcast Programs Council (2020-), and serves as a councilor of Waseda University (2022-).

Before her current position, after joining Google in April 2013, she was responsible for advertising sales including entertainment and technology industries followed by launches of Asia-Pacific Google PartnerPlex where Google helps partners develop their innovative visions, strategies, and digitization.

Prior to Google, after working for broadcasters as an anchor person, Akiko served for Bloomberg L.P. as President/Head of Asia Pacific of Bloomberg Television K.K., then was appointed as Head of Sales/Deputy Representative of Bloomberg L.P in Japan.

Akiko also served society via NPOs and NGOs including IPPF, the second largest global NPO, as one of six external advisors and as an advisory board member of the World Assembly for Women in Tokyo (WAW! 2015-2021), hosted by the Government of Japan.

She has a BA in Political Science and Economics from Waseda University and an MBA from The University of Chicago. Akiko also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. She is the co-author of award-winning “The Class Moves the World” with Harvard Business School Professor Richard H.K. Vietor (2010).

She lives in Tokyo with her husband, two sons, and a puppy.