From the space business to a space industry — the future of industry creation

What was discussed

The session discussed which barriers need to be removed to encourage a diverse range of businesses to enter space and the ocean. A framework was presented that likens technology, behavioral customs, regulatory systems, and vested interests to resistance in an electrical circuit, and compares the industrialization of the two fields. NASA's shift to commercial outsourcing and the problems of the cost and economic rationality of mining ocean resources were taken up. Through a concept of launching and landing rockets at a sea-based spaceport, the possibility of linking space and the ocean rather than treating them as separate fields was also discussed.

About this session

Over a decade of work, the space business has stood up a new industrial field in Japan. Drawing on this rare case where science and industry connected, and weaving in insights on the ocean business now emerging, we unpack the case of “space” becoming an industry and ask together about the connection between science and industry.

Speakers

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  Takahiro Nakamura

  Midtown Inc.　Representative Director & CEO / Specially Appointed Professor, Institute of Science Tokyo

  His interest in space began with the science magazine Newton, which he read in high school. He completed graduate study at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Science. He began his career at Accenture Japan in management consulting for manufacturing and retail, then moved to Recruit, where he launched several businesses he had planned himself in the new business development office. At ispace he was a founding shareholder and Director and COO, overseeing the business as a whole — business development, government relations, fundraising, expansion into the United States and Europe, organisational development, and the launch of HAKUTO and HAKUTO-R — through the company's growth from two employees to two hundred. He founded Midtown Inc. to address global challenges and build the space industry. He also serves as a CXO or adviser to several large companies and startups, as deputy chair of the Lunar Industry Vision Council, as an adviser to Tohoku University Venture Partners, and as a Specially Appointed Professor at the Institute of Science Tokyo.

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  Yosuke Yasuda

  ModeratorNational Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)　Professor

  An economist specialising in microeconomics, game theory and market design. After graduating from the University of Tokyo he earned his doctorate in economics at Princeton University. He served as associate professor at GRIPS, then as associate professor and professor at Osaka University, and returned to GRIPS as professor in October 2025. He has published in journals including the American Economic Review, and in 2020 co-founded Economics Design Inc. to put economics to work in practice.

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  Yuki Tazaki

  N-ARK　Representative Director, CEO and Executive Producer

  His background is in architecture, archaeology and art and science. At the visual design studio WOW he worked on architectural projects including public facilities and art pavilions. He founded KANDO in 2018 and supported deep-tech companies as a member of the Real Tech Fund. In 2021 he founded N-ARK, which works on marine architecture, seawater agriculture and the floating city concept Dogen City, all aimed at adapting to climate change.

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  Shun Sagara

  Genesia Ventures　Country Director of India

  He joined the US customer data platform Treasure Data while still a student, becoming the Japanese entity's first inside sales hire and helping build its sales organisation, then leading enterprise sales and upselling to existing customers. After ARM's acquisition of the company he joined Genesia Ventures in 2019. He moved to Bengaluru in 2023 when the firm opened its India office and, as of 2026, leads its India operation, investing in and supporting seed-stage companies.

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  Shinichi Takata

  Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Space Strategy Fund Department　Head, Technology Development Management Group / Head, Business Development Group, New Business Promotion Department

  He read aeronautics and astronautics at the University of Tokyo and completed a master's course in the same field at its graduate school. After joining JAXA he worked on rocket engine development at Kakuda, on the development and operation of the HTV Kounotori space station resupply vehicle, and on international coordination in Houston. On his return to Japan he led the launch of the J-SPARC programme and its co-creation projects. Since April 2024 he has worked on technology development management for the Space Strategy Fund.