Eric R. Johnson became Representative Director and CEO of JSR Corporation in 2019 and took on the roles of Representative Director, CEO and President in 2023, where he now sets the company’s global vision and strategy, with a special focus on growth, globalization and sustainability.

Prior to becoming CEO, Eric was president of both JSR Micro, Inc. and JSR Life Sciences. In the life sciences business, he set and oversaw global strategy including spearheading the vision and establishment of JSR Life Sciences in 2014.

He also shaped the division’s manufacturing and merger and acquisition strategy, growing JSR Life Sciences to a global group of companies with nearly 2000 employees. From 2005 to 2019, Eric served as president of JSR Micro, Inc. where he was responsible for the day-to-day US operations and development and integration of global strategies. Prior to becoming president, he was chief operating officer and senior vice president of technology. In 2009 he became the first non Japanese corporate officer of JSR Corporation.

Prior to joining JSR, Eric spent more than 13 years at Nikon Precision Inc., most recently as Vice President of Technology. During his time at Nikon, he spent more than a year in Nishi Ooi and Kumagaya, Japan assisting in the development and manufacture of Nikon’s first scanner systems.

Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Stanford University and completed executive training at Harvard University. He holds 2 patents and is the author of several technical publications.

Nozomi Oda is a partner in Morrison Foerster Law Offices. Her practice focuses on cross-border public and private M&A, joint ventures, strategic investments, and capital markets transactions. She has a particular emphasis on advising private equity and life sciences clients. Nozomi serves as co–head of Morrison Foerster’s Asia Private Equity practice.

In addition to her work in private practice, Nozomi previously spent two years with Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) as a deputy director of the corporate disclosure department, where she participated in the drafting of the FSA’s regulations on disclosures regarding tender offers, private placement offerings and director compensation.

Nozomi is a bengoshi admitted to practice in Japan and New York, and is a member of the Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association. She graduated from University of Tokyo with Bachelor of Laws and Harvard Law School with Master of Laws.

Stephen is a leader of our Cross-Border Transactions Group. Stephen was previously associated with top-tier U.S. international law firms for 12 years, and has experience running cross-border transactions on the ground in the United States, Japan, Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Stephen has represented U.S. and non-U.S. buyers and sellers in cross-border corporate transactions in various industries and deal structures, including stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, private equity and venture capital investments, joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Since joining Nishimura & Asahi in 2004, Stephen has represented numerous multi-national clients in connection with their investments into Japan and their ongoing general commercial transactions (including franchising, licensing, employment, corporate governance and commercial real estate leasing matters). Stephen also has extensive experience leading and documenting Japanese and cross-border due diligence exercises with respect to various industries, and representing Japanese clients in connection with their multi-jurisdiction corporate acquisitions. Stephen is frequently praised by clients for providing cutting edge practical solutions.

Stephen also has represented U.S. issuers in the United States, foreign private issuers from numerous jurisdictions in Asia and global investment banks in connection with their capital markets transactions, including registered initial and follow-on public offerings in the United States, Rule 144A/Regulation S equity and debt offerings, block trades, dual listings and privatizations, and also assessing whether exemptions exist to the application of U.S. securities laws to overseas business transactions.

Stephen writes and lectures widely on his legal practice specialties.

Tomoaki Nakanishi is a director of the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau of METI.
Since joining METI in 2000, Tomoaki held posts in the List of Officials of Minister's
Secretariat, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, Manufacturing Industries Bureau,
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, etc. In addition, Tomoaki was transferred to
the Cabinet Secretariat, where he was a director responsible for government's growth
stategy. After serving as Executive Director of JETRO San Francisco Office, Tomoaki was
appointed as Director of Corporate System Division in July 2023.

Chihiro is a leader in the Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice in Japan. He works primarily with industrials, electronics and broader manufacturing companies on strategy and M&A topics. His experience in M&A stretches across the entire process, from strategy to outreach, due diligence, and post-merger management for both domestic and cross-border transactions.

Chihiro worked in McKinsey’s Silicon Valley office from 2013 to 2017, supporting semiconductor and other technology clients on strategy and M&A, including large-scale M&A and post-merger integration.

He joined McKinsey & Company in 2007. He graduated from Kyoto University with Master of Science. He earned his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. His latest published work includes “ M&A for Value Creation (価値をつくるM&A)”(Japanese only).

Dr. Rodrigo González is a respected corporate advisor to some of Japan’s most prominent business leaders. He specialises in briefing corporate boards on economic and geopolitical conditions within the APAC region, offering invaluable insights into their potential impact across industries.

With over a decade of experience residing and working in Japan, Rodrigo collaborates closely with C-suite executives of multinational firms, facilitating their comprehension of intricate market dynamics and the implications of public and economic policy. Beyond the boardroom, Rodrigo is a seasoned presenter, recognised for delivering impactful speeches and insights at numerous corporate engagements and on televised platforms.

He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Keio University and is fluent in Spanish, English, French, and Japanese.