We extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Masaaki Tanaka for conceiving, establishing and chairing the Business Advisory Board for over 10 years. We are profoundly grateful for his support and commitment to the vision and mission of USJC. Since the inception of BAB, nearly 2,500 high-level business leaders from the United States and Japan have convened to discuss the most pressing bilateral business insights.
On January 29, 2026, the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) hosted the 38th Business Advisory Board (BAB) Meeting at the Tokyo American Club, welcoming Dr. Koshin Sekimizu, Founder and CEO of Provigate, Inc, as keynote speaker. His presentation on innovative diabetes management technology and behavioral change drew more than 70 business leaders and TOMODACHI alumni.
Yasuo Tanabe, Senior Advisor of USJC, served as emcee. Fred Katayama, Executive Vice President of USJC, and Vice Chair of the Board of Councilors, Kathy Matsui (MPower Partners), delivered opening remarks and recent updates. Prior to the keynote, Senzo Kuriyama (KNT-CT Holdings Co., Ltd.) and Jin Montesano (LIXIL Corporation) reflected on their professional experiences in Japan and the United States, as well as their involvement with USJC.
During his presentation, Dr. Sekimizu addressed one of the world’s most pressing health challenges: diabetes, which affects 589 million people globally and accounts for over 10% of worldwide medical costs. He challenged common misconceptions about diabetes being a “self-inflicted disease,” emphasizing that genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors play crucial roles—factors people cannot choose.
Dr. Sekimizu also shared his vision for the future, revealing research showing an identical correlation between blood and saliva glycated albumin levels—potentially enabling completely non-invasive testing. He outlined plans for fully non-invasive solutions.
A networking reception followed the keynote, providing participants with additional opportunities for dialogue and exchange.
Haruka Hisamatsu, TOMODACHI alumna (TOMODACHI J&J Disaster Nursing Training Program ‘22), commented, “I have always had a strong interest in diabetes care, follow-up, and supporting behavior change, and I see these as important and ongoing challenges as a nurse. Being able to speak directly with Dr. Sekimizu, who is actively working on these topics, was a very meaningful and inspiring experience for me. Learning from real-world initiatives and perspectives was highly motivating.” To see more photos from the event, click here.