Visual EXPO by BRANDED SHORTS

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1970. At Dentsu Inc., he worked on global corporate branding, nation and regional branding, and international business development. After serving as an Executive Officer at Dentsu, he became independent in 2024 and now provides creative direction that integrates business development and branding. He is President and CEO of Keiichi Higuchi Office Inc.; Representative Director of the Creative Education Research Institute; Director of the 100-Year Life Design Council; and Advisor to the University of Tokyo. He has received numerous awards in Japan and internationally, including a Gold Lion at Cannes, and has served on numerous award juries. His major publications include The Art of Ideation, Where Is Creative Work?, Navigating the Adolescence of Working Life, and The Adventure Called Work. He also hosts the podcast Creative Break Room.

Film Director Born in 1982 in Aichi, Japan. After graduating from university, she worked at Recruit before pursuing a career in filmmaking. Her short films have been selected for and won awards at numerous film festivals, including the Pia Film Festival. Her feature film "Mrs. Noisy" was released in 2019 and enjoyed a successful theatrical run. In 2025, "Sato and Sato" was released and won the Best Screenplay Award at the Japan Film Critics Awards. Her latest film, "Magical Secret Tour", was released in 2026. As a screenwriter, she has worked on projects including the animated series "Kamiusagi Rope" (CX), "He's Expecting" (Netflix), and "Tengu no Daidokoro" (BS-TBS).

Chief Development Director of Black Cat White Cat Music Timo grew up between Germany and Japan. In his early 20s, he decided Tokyo was where he wanted to be. He cut his teeth at the small Japanese production firm Ame before moving to Creative Hybrid, a production company aimed at bringing the best of east and west together in Tokyo. After Hybrid he took a position at Japan’s largest production company, Tohokushinsha and was the company’s international producer. Trilingual in Japanese, English and German, Timo handled any project with an international element. In 2012, he then joined Cutters and helped open the company’s Tokyo studio changing and influencing the Post-production landscape in Japan. He was greatly responsible for the deep influence and grand reputation the company has garnered on the Japanese market. And in 2018 he opened a new company named Connection (Production&Post) and is trying to change the landscape in the production field. Now part of Black Cat White Cat Music a new challenge has arise to influence the Asian Market and beyond.

Professor, Keio University School of Medicine Completed a Master’s Program in Health Sciences and Nursing at the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, in 2003, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Health Sciences from the same institution. After serving as a Research Associate at the Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Healthcare Quality Assessment at the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, he was appointed Associate Professor in the same department in April 2009 and Professor in April 2014. From May 2015, he continued in that role on a part-time basis while taking up his current position as Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Keio University School of Medicine. He also serves as a Special Advisor to Co-Innovation University, which opened in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, in April 2026. In this role, he is involved in envisioning and advancing a co-creation ecosystem that brings together local communities, industry, and other stakeholders. In addition, he established the Co-Innovation Ecosystem as a platform for co-creation extending beyond the boundaries of universities and serves as its Representative Director.

Hakuhodo Creative Director / Commercial Planner Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1986. After graduating from the Department of Design at Tokyo Polytechnic University, he joined Hakuhodo. He has worked with clients including Suntory, Nissin, Google, Recruit, Shiseido, JT, Tokyo Gas, and Open House. His honors include the ACC Awards, TCC Awards, TCC Newcomer Award, Creator of the Year Medalist, Dentsu Advertising Awards, Asahi Advertising Awards, Mainichi Advertising Design Awards, Galaxy Awards, MVA Best Video, and an Excellence Award at the Japan Media Arts Festival.