English 
Maki, can you tell us about your professional background and your current role at Pulsar Innovations?
I graduated from APU, a global university environment that shaped how I see the world from an early stage. Since then, I’ve worked across seven companies in roles spanning sales, branding, product, and business development.
Currently, as CMO at Pulsar Innovations, my focus is on building bridges between startups, investors, and ecosystems across Japan and globally. My work sits at the intersection of strategy, community, and storytelling—helping founders not only grow, but connect in the right environments where their ideas can truly scale.
At the same time, I’ve recently started a personal venture called Sakura Tai Concierge, which reflects a more personal mission of mine—supporting people who are starting new chapters in Japan, especially global talent navigating both business and life here.
You’ve moved across roles in sales, branding, product, and now ecosystem building. When you look back at that journey, what is the one early experience that most shaped how you understand founders and their challenges today?
One of the biggest turning points for me was realizing how isolating it can be to build something without the right environment.
In my earlier roles, I often saw great ideas struggle—not because the product was weak, but because founders lacked access to the right people, context, or narrative.
That experience fundamentally shaped how I see founders today. It’s not just about execution. It’s about whether you are placed in the right ecosystem where your idea can actually grow.
Japan is going through a visible push to strengthen its startup ecosystem and global presence. From where you sit at Pulsar Innovations, what has actually changed on the ground for founders in the last couple of years, and what still feels harder than it should?
There is definitely more momentum—more funding, more government support, and more global visibility.
However, what still feels difficult is access.
Access to the right networks, access to global conversations, and access to decision-makers.
Many founders are building great things, but they are still operating in relatively closed circles. The gap is not resources—it’s connectivity.
You describe yourself as a “Global Ecosystem Connector,” which is a very intentional positioning. In practical terms, what does that role really involve day to day, and where do you see founders struggling the most when trying to plug into the right networks?
For me, it means translating across worlds.
Day to day, I connect founders with investors, communities, and opportunities. But more importantly, I help them understand how to navigate those spaces.
Where founders struggle most is not finding opportunities, but knowing how to position themselves within the right context.
Many early-stage founders assume that entering a new market is about strategy and capital, but your work suggests it’s often about context and relationships. When global startups try to enter Japan, what are the most common blind spots you see?
Many assume Japan is just another market to enter.
But Japan is deeply relationship-driven. Trust is built over time, and decisions are rarely made quickly.
The biggest blind spot is underestimating the importance of local context—both culturally and structurally.
Your work sits at the intersection of community, storytelling, and business strategy. When a founder comes to you with a strong product but a weak narrative, how do you help them reshape their story so that it resonates across cultures and stakeholders?
A strong narrative is not just about what you do—it’s about why it matters in that specific context.
I help founders step back and reframe their story through three lenses:
Who is the audience?
What problem truly resonates with them?
Why now?
Especially across cultures, storytelling is not translation—it’s reinterpretation.
Recent ecosystem data suggests that while governments and institutions are investing heavily in startup growth, many founders still struggle to access the right kind of support at the right time. Where do you see the biggest gap today between available resources and real founder needs?
There are many programs available, but not enough personalized guidance.
Founders don’t just need information—they need direction.
They need someone to help them navigate complexity, not just present options.
As someone working closely with both Japanese and international founders, how do you navigate the cultural differences in decision-making, communication, and trust building without diluting either side?
I don’t try to eliminate differences—I try to make them visible and usable.
Japanese business culture values trust and consistency.
Global ecosystems often value speed and clarity.
My role is to create alignment without forcing either side to change completely.
At Pulsar Innovations, you’re helping shape how startups think about global expansion from day one. What does an ‘ecosystem-ready’ founder look like to you, and how is that different from a founder who is just focused on product and growth?
An ecosystem-ready founder understands that success is not built alone.
They actively build relationships, communicate clearly across cultures, and know how to position themselves within a network.
It’s not just about product—it’s about presence.
Looking ahead, as ecosystems become more connected and possibly more digital-first, do you think the role of human connectors becomes more important or less? How are you personally evolving your role to stay ahead of that shift?
I believe human connectors will become even more important.
As ecosystems become more digital, the value of trust, context, and human judgment increases.
Personally, I’m evolving by building both scalable community platforms and deeper, high-touch relationships. Because in the end, real opportunities still come from human connection.
At the core of everything I do—whether at Pulsar or through my own initiative, Sakura Tai Concierge—is one belief:
Global talent is not just about language. It’s about perspective.
And my mission is to create environments where that perspective can truly create impact.
日本語