Science for Capital — longevity and the science of rejuvenation

What was discussed

The session discussed what should be regarded as results and how to build credibility when growing longevity and rejuvenation research into an industry. It raised the problems that the meaning of longevity has not been settled, for example length of life versus healthy years, and that the criteria for judging aging research differ among researchers. The role of measurement criteria was discussed using the example of XPRIZE setting goals for cognition, immunity, and muscle strength. The mismatch between the long time required for demonstration and the investment recovery period, and the concern that exaggerated advertising claiming rejuvenation damages the credibility of the whole field, were also taken up.

About this session

Rejuvenation and longevity: a new field born out of healthcare. With a speaker who runs its global community, we learn the map of rejuvenation and longevity research and deepen our understanding of an industrial field now coming into being. This is a small-group session formed as a space for two-way discussion.

Speakers

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  Itaru Yoshizawa

  DiscussantHakuhodo DY Holdings Inc.　Executive Officer and Head of the Future Design Office

  After joining Hakuhodo, he worked in advertising creative for more than 20 years as a copywriter and creative director. After studying abroad and serving as Deputy Director of the Brand Innovation Design Bureau, in 2019 he became head of "Mirai no Jigyoshitsu" (Future Business Studio), Hakuhodo's first new business development organization. Under the slogan "beyond the advertising agency," he has promoted business creation starting from creativity. From April 2026 he has been an Executive Officer of Hakuhodo DY Holdings, overseeing the group's incubation domain. He graduated from the Faculty of Letters, the University of Tokyo, and holds an MSc from London Business School. He is Co-Representative Director of the general incorporated association WE AT.

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  Eriko Matsuo

  ModeratorChewing News Inc.　Director / Freelance Announcer

  Born in 1982. After graduating from the School of Commerce at Waseda University she joined Nippon Television as an announcer, anchoring news and sports programmes including NEWS ZERO. She went freelance in 2013 and now works widely across media and business events as an economics anchor and moderator. She holds a master's degree from the Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University.

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  Jun Suto

  S-CUBED Consulting　Founder and CEO / XPRIZE Visioneer

  A serial entrepreneur who assembles innovation across organisations, working from Los Angeles, Kyoto and Tokyo. He began at the Los Angeles office of KPMG in assurance, risk management and advisory work before founding S-CUBED Consulting. In 2016 his avatar robotics concept took the grand prize at XPRIZE Visioneers, and he went on to produce the $10 million ANA Avatar XPRIZE, helping to start the robot avatar industry. He won Singularity University's Global Impact Challenge in 2018 and serves as its Global Ambassador for Kyoto. In October 2025 he convened the AI + Compassion Global Forum at the USA Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, where he was moderator.

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  Shuzo Yamamoto

  Longevity Minds　Founder

  Shuzo Yamamoto left Stockholm University in 2018 to join Mercari's US business, where he worked on product development and went through the company's IPO. He then joined Tailor, a Y Combinator-backed startup, as an early member on product development. He currently leads AI and Product at HERO Impact Capital, supporting the commercialisation of research-originated technology. Drawing on experience turning technology into something people actually use — on the product floor and inside startups — he works to move science and research into society and to close the distance between discovery and implementation. In 2026 he founded Longevity Minds, a group that connects science with implementation to advance human health.