Jacob is a veteran member of the Israeli hi-tech market. He began his professional career as project manager at DEC (Digital Equipment Corp) and then moved on to serve as a member of Orbotech’s global management team (www.Orbotech.com; NASDAQ: ORBK). Jacob was based in Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Brussels, he served as the General Manger for Orbotech Taiwan, CO-President for Orbotech Japan, VP PCB Division for Orbotech Asia and then President of Orbotech Europe. Ever the entrepreneur, since 2007 Jacob has been a member of the founding teams of Ayehu Software Technologies Ltd. (www.ayehu.com) and Vcodes CPS Ltd. (www.vcodes.tv), helping to initiate the companies’ strategy, sales and fundraising.

Alongside his other roles, Jacob served as CEO of Blue I Water Technologies Ltd. (www.blueitechnologies.com), leading a shift in business focus and completing three investment rounds for four years, until the company was acquired at the end of 2014.

GB Trade & Marketing Ltd. is a renowned second-generation global jewelry manufacturer.

Since its inception, GB’s experienced staff has been active in both European and Japanese markets, supplying some of the most prestigious jewelers in several capital cities. Our philosophy is built on a foundation of constant innovation, the development of special models, and maintaining regular contact with our customers.

In recent times, the company has enhanced its ability to create custom designs tailored to each customer and order. By leveraging the latest technology and tools in the field, we are able to meet any exclusive request.

Ambassador Yaffe Ben-Ari – retired ambassador and honorary member of the board of the Israel Japan Chamber of Commerce.

Yaffe Ben-Ari is a diplomat with a 40-year career in the foreign service. Served in Asia, Europe, USA and Africa.

Among her most prominent positions, she served as Israel’s Ambassador to Japan (2017-2021), Deputy Director General, Head of the Economic department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2017-2014), Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2007) and Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000-2002).

Over the years, Mrs. Ben-Ari has faced Israel’s branding and marketing challenges while promoting the state political, economic and cultural ties in various countries.

In her role as Israel’s Ambassador to Japan, aside from fostering political relations, Ben-Ari focused on upgrading the economic ties that gained momentum within the framework of promoting joint decisions of the two governments. The various actions led by the embassy in the economic and marketing-branding field led to an extraordinary take-off in Japanese investments in Israel. As part of the activity, she even initiated and assisted the decision of the El-Al Airline to launch direct flights between Tel Aviv and Tokyo, the opening of which in 2020 was postponed due to the Corona epidemic.

The collaborations in the fields of culture and academia contributed greatly to the overall improvement of Israel’s image in Japan.

Recognizing the importance of exhibitions and fairs as a lever for building a national image and promoting Israel’s economy, she established, and very successfully fulfilled, an innovative role at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: managing Israel’s participation in the World Expo in Shanghai, China 2010 and the International Expo in Yeosu Korea 2012. As part of the Yearly Outstanding Employee contest, she was chosen as the outstanding manager of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 2010 with an emphasis on extraordinary achievements in the management of the Expo project and excellence as a way of life. During 2011, Ben-Ari was leading an office think tank to create a new system for public diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the same time served as a professional consultant in the tender processes for the establishment of the Israel Pavilion in Floriyada (Venlo, Holland, 2012). At the end of 2012, she also served as a consultant for Israel’s participation in the Milan Expo 2015.

Yaffa Ben-Ari has a BA degree (1977) in Political Science from Tel Aviv University and MA (1999) in Public Administration with honors from Haifa University. In 2010, Ben-Ari completed a additional master’s degree in business administration (EMBA) at Bar-Ilan University. At the beginning of 2010, her students team won first place in proposing an innovative solution to the business dilemma of the El-Al airline , in a competition for Master’s degree students in Business Administration Case Study of Dan David and “The Marker”.

Honorary President of the Israel-Japan Friendship Society and Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Roni Bornstein is a businessman and entrepreneur active in the Japanese market for decades. He chaired The Israel-Japan Friendship Society and Chamber of Commerce from 1998 to 2006, and then again from 2009 to 2016. Bornstein was decorated with “The Order of the Rising Sun” awarded by the Emperor of Japan and Japan’s Prime Minister. He further received a medal from the Foreign Ministry of Japan for his work in promoting and developing the relations between Israel and Japan. Nominated as the Ambassador of Good Will for the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

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Bornstein is the importer of Kikkoman soy sauce and hundreds of other Japanese products through Rakuto Diplomat International. Additionally, he is a shareholder of Bio Dalia Microbiological Technologies located in Kibutz Dalia and a manufacturer of Biopesticides for agriculture and public health. Bio Dalia is a provider of large-scale fermentation services. In addition, he is a shareholder in Gramse Pharmaceuticals, an importer and distributor of pharmaceuticals and food Supplements.

Initiates and promotes trade and tourism relations with Japan.
Real estate entrepreneur and agent.
Board member of Israel – Japan Chamber of Commerce.
Former Treasurer at Israel – Japan Chamber of Commerce (IJCC).
Embassy of Israel, Japan:
Chief of the Ambassador’s Secretariat from 2003 to 2010.

Holds a BA in East Asian studies and Japanese language, Tel Aviv University.
Microsoft, Purchasing Manager.
Studied Japanese in Hiroo Japanese Center, Tokyo.
Japanese speaker.
Lived in Japan between 2001-2011.

Co-Founder & COO/CIO at Jakore, Inc.

Yony specializes in finance and marketing strategies, with a deep knowledge of the startup ecosystem, acting as a leader in creating bridges between Israeli startups and Japanese companies.

Yony lived in Japan for 3 years, where he learned about the Japanese language and culture, working as an English teacher.

Yony also worked with Japanese businessmen with their initiatives to go global and expand their operations.

Prior to living in Japan, Yony worked at Shopping.com as a testing manager (IPO in 2004 and was acquired by eBay in 2005).

Yony also held a position in Bank Leumi, where he was responsible for executing a variety of deals including: M&A, Venture Capital, and Growth Equity.

In 2015, he joined Samurai Incubate, creating and leading the Israel business platform, where he successfully invested in 30 Israeli companies, building many programs such as POC and a Hackathon for Japanese companies.

Mr. Harel is an Investment banker, active in establishing economic ties between Israel and Japan since the 1980s. Board member of the Israel Japan Chamber of Commerce since 1982.

Served as chairmen between 1988 to 1996 and since then, holds the title of Honorary President.

In 2004 he was the first Israeli businessman to receive the “The Order of the Rising Sun” award by the Emperor of Japan and Japan’s Prime Minister.

Harel holds a B. A from the Hebrew University and holds a master’s degree in East Asian Studies from Tel Aviv University.

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Harel-Hertz Investments House Ltd (HIH) is a business development consulting company and investment boutique that specializes in setting up and promoting business activity between Japan and Israel. At HIH, we assist Japanese and non-Japanese parties in establishing and expanding market presence in Japan and Israel, and enable our clients to bridge all cultural gaps. At HIH, we are proud of our profound knowledge of the Japanese culture and business etiquette, vast experience and a wide network of connections within Japan’s leading business and financial firms, and a proven record of achievements.

Specialties: Promoting business between Japan and Israel.
Fundraising for private placements
M & A Deals between Israel and Japan 

Active in the Asian markets since 1989. Resident in Japan for about 5 years. Graduated from Kyoto University in Japan. Speaks Japanese.

Worked as an intern in the law office Wakabayashi & Watanabe, Tokyo, Japan. During that time, he led transactions between Japanese corporations, and corporations from China, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Upon his return to Israel, he managed, led and conducted the Israel International Fund (IIF) – the first Israeli investment fund versus investments from Japan.
David currently leads the overall activities of Vertex Asia.
CEO of The Japan Committee and Korea Committee of the High Tech Industry Association (HTIA) in Israel, Member in The China Committee of the HTIA.

Guy is a Partner, Co-Chair of the IL Hi-Tech Practice Group and Head of the Japan & Germany Desks at Pearl Cohen law firm. He advises clients on ongoing legal needs; financing transactions, cross-border strategic and commercial transactions, joint ventures, and global expansion. His practice focuses on hi-tech, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and commercial law.

Guy has gained substantial experience representing emerging growth companies and their investors, from the early stages of their development through their expansion and exit transactions. He represents various VC and CVC investors on their investment transactions, from pre-seed to pre-IPO, with emphasis on enterprise-related venture investments from corporations in Japan, Germany, and the USA. He leads a large number of financing deals annually in a very diverse portfolio and on a wide spectrum of deal types, including early-stage financing, VC, debt and venture lending transactions, combined commercial and CVC investments, M&A of all types, and other exit transactions.

Guy also serves as a lecturer and mentor at a wide range of accelerators and entrepreneurial programs promoted by Israel’s leading academic and private institutions. He is a member of the Reichman University School of Entrepreneurship faculty, teaching a course on Hi-Tech Law, and provides various conferences and seminars annually on various other forums.

You can refer to KIN-Japan organization’s departments with 3 aspects:
* KIN-industry: IND 4.0 & Agri products- as this is our foundation
* KIN-TECH: M&As, VC, matching partners, investors, startups…roadshows, seminars, conferences – as this is our dreams and visions
* KIN-TOUR: boutique hotels, restaurant, bar, tour guide services etc.. – as this is our spirit & soul

Mr. Nakar is one of the most prolific serial entrepreneurs in Israel. He Founded & Co-founded several Hi-Tech companies. Mr. Nakar also acted as a seed investor, mentor, and chairman in several startups beyond those he had founded.

Mr. Nakar is a recipient of the “Israel Defense Award,” bestowed annually by the President of Israel, for the development of high-tech systems in the field of intelligence for the Israeli Defense.

Mr. Nakar served in Israel’s Air Forces where he has reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

Mr. Nakar was elected as a Board member of the Israel-Japan chamber of Commerce.

He received his B.Sc. in Computer Science from Bar Ilan University in 1982, and an MBA from Tel-Aviv University in 1984.

Selected by Calcalist for the 50 most influential Cyber people in Israel: www.calcalist.co.il

Mr. Nakar Founded NIR4YOU Capital Investment, a privately held company specializing in early-stage investment high–tech companies with Corporation with SunTrust  Japanese VC. NIR is a private equity investment firm building on an 18+ year experience history of providing equity and strategic support to experienced management teams and growing companies. NIR invests in companies with strong business franchises led by experienced executives who aspire to achieve industry leadership. ​

Ira Prigat is a Med-Tech entrepreneur, a visionary, and an expert in Japan’s business world. Ira is the Founder and CEO of Network in Motion Ltd., a business consulting firm that specializes in creating business opportunities for Israeli med-tech companies in Japan. Ira is a board member of the Israel-Japan Chamber of Commerce. He serves as an executive, consultant, and representative in various technological firms in both Israel and Japan. From 2014, Ira served as Itamar Medical President of Japan & China, which was acquired by Zoll Medical, in 2021. Prior to that Ira was the President and CEO of Light Instruments Ltd. From 2010 – 2014, a global leader in dental & aesthetic laser technologies (a subsidiary of Syneron Medical (NASDAQ: ELOS). Ira is an invited speaker and a panelist in various international conferences, such as NEDO, ITAC, US-Japan Med-Tech Innovation Forum in Japan, Med-in-Israel, and Israel Ministry of Defense & Foreign Affairs. Ira has over 50 related appearances & interviews in global media. Ira holds a BA in Japanese studies from the East Asia Faculty and Social Sciences of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is a Tokyo University research alumnus in the faculty of Social Science and a graduate of the JMEC business administration program in Japan.  

Based in Israel, Globalconn, established in 2002, is focused on building strategic connections between Israeli companies and foreign entities, with an expertise in the Japanese Market. Our focus is to create business opportunities as well as to bring investment from strategic investors, angels and pertinent financial groups for Israeli technologies.

Globalconn works with its Japanese partner, MTC – Mutli-Task Company, in full cooperation to carry out the business, being our ‘long arm’ in Japan. MTC’s staff are coming from the leading Japanese industry, expertising in the various fields of our operation.

Shmuel Schnitzer served as president of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) from 1998 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2015, and after serving in this position, he was awarded the title of Lifelong Honorary President of the Israel Diamond Exchange.

Shmuel Schnitzer was president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) from 2002 to 2006, and after his resignation, he was awarded the title of Honorary Life President of the WFDB.

In addition, Shmuel Schnitzer holds a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Diamond Dealers Club (DDC) and is honorary president of the Israel Precious Stones & Diamonds Exchange.

Schnitzer has been vice-president of the Israel–Japan Chamber of Commerce since 2012 & the Chairman of the Israel Japan Excellency Award Committee.

Adv. Zeev Weiss is Honorary President (former Chairman) of Israel Japan Chamber of Commerce and Friendship Society, and a board member of the Chamber for over a decade.

Adv. Weiss was decorated (Autumn 2022) with the Government of Japan’s Imperial Decoration, Order of the Rising Sun [旭日章, Kyokujitsu-shō], in recognition of his contribution to the enhancement of economic relations between Japan and Israel.

Adv. Weiss is the founder and senior partner at Weiss Porat & Co., an Israeli based international law firm.

Adv. Weiss and the law firm have extensive of experience of over 30 years working with Japan and representing Japanese clients in various matters, including investment and operation in Israel, technology and startups, M&A, litigation, trade, setting-up in Israel etc.

Adv. Weiss’ Japanese clients include large corporations, SMEs and institutions as well as the Japanese Government. Adv. Weiss also advises Israeli clients regarding Japan-related matters.

Adv. Weiss visits Japan frequently. He published articles in Israeli and Japanese magazines about Japan Israel business and legal issues. Zeev also lectures regularly to Japanese and Israeli members of the business community on legal aspects and cultural gaps between Israel and Japan and how to overcome them.

Adv. Weiss also serves as Vice Chairman of the Israeli Federation of Bi-National Chambers of Commerce & Industry.