BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of directors is decision-making body of IHRA.

Board of Directors As of November, 2023

Chairman

Chairman
Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute, JapanChairman
Japan Maritime Center, Japan

Masafumi Shukuri

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Chairman

Mr. Shukuri is the Chairman of the International High-speed Rail Association since 2014.
He entered the service of the Ministry of Transport (presently the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) ) in 1974 and has held many important positions since then. Before the Vice-Minister of　MLIT appointment from 2008 to 2012, he had been working as First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, as the Private Secretary to the Minister of Transport, as the Counsellor of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, as the Director-General of the Road Transport Bureau, as the Director-General of the Policy Bureau, and as the Deputy Vice-Minister of the Minister’s Secretariat of MLIT.
Presently, he is the Visiting Professor of the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo since 2013, the Chairman of the Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI) since 2018, and the Chairman of the Japan Maritime Center since 2021.

Vice Chairman

Outside Director
Central Japan Railway Company, Japan

Joseph P. Schmelzeis. Jr.

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Vice Chairman

Joined Bain & Company, Vice President, Head of Corporate Card, Asia-Pacific, American Express International, COO, International Operations; Representative Director, Japan, Fontworks International, Venture Partner, Crimson Ventures, Owner/Investor in consulting, real estate, and hedge fund businesses, JPS International, K.K., SEGA Corporate Director, Entertainment Park Division Manager, SEGA-SAMMY Holdings K.K., Senior Advisor to the Ambassador, U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Senior Advisor, The Northeast Maglev (TNEM) (current position), Corporate Advisor, Quantum Accounting K.K. (current position), Country Manager (Japan), IJW Whiskey/Cedarfield G.K. (current position), Member of the Board (Outside board members), DENSO Corporation (current position) and Outside Director of Central Japan Railway Company from 2023.

Director

Senior Executive Officer
East Japan Railway Company, Japan

Shunzo Miyake

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Director

Joined East Japan Railway Company in 1990. Deputy General Manager, JRE Marketing Department, General Manager, JRE Department of IT & Suica Business Development, General Manager, JRE International Department, General Manager, JRE International Affairs Headquarters (Planning), Executive Officer, General Manager, JRE International Affairs Headquarters, Executive Officer, Planning & International Relations Department Director, JRE International Affairs Headquarters and Senior Executive Officer, Director General of JRE International Affairs Headquarters from June 2023.

Senior Special Adviser
Central Japan Railway Company, Japan

Shun-ichi Kosuge

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Director

Joined Japan National Railways (JNR) in 1977. Following privatization of JNR, joined Central Japan Railway Company in 1987. Following privatization of JNR, joined Central Japan Railway Company in 1987. After General Manager of Tracks and Structures Department in Shinkansen Operation Division, General Manager of Management Supervision Department in Corporate Planning Division, Director General of General Technology Division or other Careers, Representative Director & Executive Vice President, Senior Special Adviser from 2022.

Executive Officer
West Japan Railway Company, Japan

Keiya Orinaka

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Director

Joined West Japan Railway Company in 1990. After Manager, Tokyo Operation Control Center, Shinkansen Management Division, Deputy General Manager, Hiroshima Branch, Deputy General Manager, Safety Research Institute, General Manager, Shinkansen Transport Division, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, General Manager, Shinkansen Station Operations Department, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, Deputy Senior General Manager, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, General Manager, Shinkansen Transport Division, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, General Manager, Shinkansen Station Operations Department, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, Director, Deputy Senior General Manager, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, General Manager, Shinkansen Transport Division, Shinkansen Operations Division, Railway Operations Headquarters, Director, General Manager, Sanyo Shinkansen Head Office, Railway Operations Headquarters and Executive Officer, General Manager, Shinkansen Department, Railway Operations Headquarters from 2023.

Representative Director and Chairman
Kyushu Railway Company, Japan

Toshihiko Aoyagi

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Director

Joined Japan National Railways (JNR) in 1977. Following privatization of JNR, joined Kyushu Railway Company in 1987. After Director and General Manager of Kagoshima Regional Office, Managing Director, Director General of Railway Operations HQ, and Senior Managing Director, Director General of Railway Operation Headquarters or other careers, President from 2014, Representative Director, President and Corporate Officer from 2018 and Representative Director, Chairman, and Corporate Officer from April 2022.

Auditor

Satoru Watanabe

Deputy General Manager
Infrastructure EPC Management Office,
Plant Engineering Division, Industrial
Infrastructure Group,
Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan

Sosuke Ishida

Section Manager
HSR Project Sect.
Sumitomo Corporation, Japan

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