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LINK-J Conference 2026 -R&D x Investment-” will be held on May 9, 2026 at Muromachi Mitsui Hall & Conference as the third edition of LINK-J's large-scale conference ‘LINK-J Conference -R&D x Investment-’, which received a favorable response last year. LINK-J Conference 2026 -R&D x Investment-” will be held on May 9, 2026 at Muromachi Mitsui Hall & Conference.
We will have several programs including presentations by key persons and fireside chats among speakers as well as lectures on research strategies by top executives of R&D divisions of major Japanese pharmaceutical companies.
This is a must-attend program for pharmaceutical companies, drug discovery start-ups, investors, and others.
Networking time will also be available along with a standing reception with food and beverages. Please come to Tokyo Nihonbashi to learn about the latest information and cutting-edge technologies from Japan's pharmaceutical companies, and take advantage of this opportunity to discuss how to strengthen the ecosystem of the Japanese pharmaceutical industry for the overseas market.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Language:Japanese and English *Simultaneous interpretation is available
Payment Method for Advance Registration
Payment for Advance Registration must be made by credit card only.
For inquiries regarding payment, please contact the LINK-J Secretariat at contact@link-j.org.
Receipt
Receipts can be downloaded from your My Page.
Please note that receipts will only be issued after payment has been confirmed, so it may take some time. Thank you for your understanding.
Program
| Time | Program |
| Session 1: Opening Remarks, Keynote Speech1&2, Fireside Chat 1 | |
| 9:30-9:40 | Opening & Purpose Explanation Shunichi Takahashi, CEO, LINK-J/Visiting Professor, University of Tsukuba |
| 9:40-10:20 | Keynote Speech 1: Wataru Shintani Vice President, Investment Banking, General Industries Group, JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd. "Biopharma Market Trends from the Capital Markets Perspective" Keynote Speech 2: Raymond Chan McKinsey & Company, Inc. Japan "Global Pharma Trends and Japan’s Strategic Imperatives" |
| 10:20-10:40 | Lecture 1: Chinatsu Sakata Head, Oncology Research, Astellas Pharm Inc. "Astellas’ R&D strategy" |
| 10:40-11:00 | Lecture 2: Katsutoshi Ido Chief Scientific Officer, Eisai Co., Ltd. "Eisai’s R&D Strategy to Help People Live Life to the Fullest" |
| 11:00-11:15 | Break (15 min) |
| 11:15-12:00 | Fireside Chat 1: Moderator: Ken Horne, Managing Partner, AN Ventures Aiden Aceves, Insight Partners David Fallace, Cure Ventures Chinatsu Sakata, Head, Oncology Research, Astellas Pharm Inc. Katsutoshi Ido, Chief Scientific Officer, Eisai Co., Ltd. |
| 12:00-13:30 Lunch Time (light meal available) | |
| 12:15-13:20 | LINK-J Conference 2026 - R＆D × Investment -AMED Special Program |
| Session 2: Keynote Speech 3, Pharmaceutical Company Presentations, Fireside Chat 2 | |
| 13:30-14:00 | Special Talk: Shu Konakahara, AbbVie Ventures Christina Vorvis, AbbVie Ventures Johannes Fruehauf, Biolabs |
| 14:00-14:20 | Lecture 3: Toshiyuki Asaki Corporate Officer, Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery Research Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. "SHIONOGI’s Strategy in Drug Discovery" |
| 14:20-14:40 | Lecture 4: Shoji Yamamoto Head of Research Innovation Planning Department, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. "Daiichi Sankyo's Exploratory Research Strategy and Future Vision" |
| 14:40-15:00 | Lecture 5: Atsushi Ikeda Corporate Officer, Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Office, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. Representative Director, President and CEO, RACTHERA Co., Ltd. "Sumitomo Pharma’s R&D – Continuous Value Creation and the Realization of a Medical Paradigm Shift" |
| 15:00-15:45 | Fireside Chat 2: Moderator: Tai Harada, Partner at Fast Track Initiative, Inc Ltd. Toshiyuki Asaki, Corporate Officer, Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery Research Division, Shionogi Co., Ltd. Atsushi Ikeda, Corporate Officer, Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Office, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd./Representative Director, President and CEO, RACTHERA Co., Ltd. |
| 15:45-16:00 | Break (15min) |
| Session 3: Pharmaceutical Company Presentations, Fireside Chat3, Closing | |
| 16:00-16:20 | Lecture 6: Yasushi Kajii R&D Japan Region Head, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. "Pharma R&D at Crossroads: Innovation and Resilience in an Age of Uncertainty" |
| 16:20-16:40 | Lecture 7: Hitoshi Iikura Director, Head of R&D, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd "CHUGAI Partner with Chugai to Grow and Accelerate Innovation" |
| 16:40-17:20 | Fireside Chat 3: Moderator: Aya Kubota, General Mannager Editorial DX Strategy Office, Senior Fellow Medical/Healthcare Media Unit, Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. Hitoshi Iikura, Director, Head of R&D, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Yasushi Kajii, R&D Japan Region Head, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Atsushi Usami, Partner and Board Director, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd. (UTEC) Taro Inaba, Managing Partner, Remiges Ventures, Inc. |
| 17:20-17:35 | Closing Ikuo Hayashi, President & COO, LINK-J |
| Networking Reception | |
| 17:35‐18:30 | Networking Reception |
*The program details are currently being finalized and will be updated as soon as they are confirmed. Please note that the program is subject to change without notice.
Speakers
.png) | Wataru Shintani Vice President, Investment Banking, General Industries Group, JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd. Vice President, Investment Banking, General Industries Group, JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd. Primarily covers Japan-based healthcare companies, including pharmaceuticals, biotechs, medical devices, pharma services, etc. Advises clients on M&A transactions across the sector and support a broad range of financing solutions including equity and debt capital raising. |
.png) | Raymond Chan McKinsey & Company, Inc. Japan Raymond Chan is a Partner at McKinsey & Company in Japan, advising leading multinational pharmaceutical companies in Japan and the United States on large-scale transformation, innovation-led growth, and commercial excellence. Since joining McKinsey in 2009 in New Jersey and relocating to Japan in 2012, he has brought two decades of leadership across consulting and industry, including prior roles in pharmaceutical sales and hospital administration in US. He holds a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard University and is widely engaged in the innovation ecosystem in Japan and globally. |
| Shu Konakahara AbbVie Ventures | |
| Christina Vorvis AbbVie Ventures | |
| Johannes Fruehauf Biolabs | |
.%20Chinatsu%20Sakata%20resized.png) | Chinatsu Sakata Head, Oncology Research, Astellas Pharm Inc. Chinatsu Sakata, PhD, is Head of Oncology Research at Astellas Pharma Inc. She leads global research strategy and portfolio creation, driving innovative drug discovery across oncology. With more than 20 years of industry experience, she has advanced multiple programs from discovery to clinical proof-of-concept and is known for building high-performing, globally integrated teams. She holds a PhD in Pharmacy from Gifu Pharmaceutical University and an Executive MBA from Kellogg School of Management. |
.%20Eisai%20Ido%20resized.png) | Katsutoshi Ido Chief Scientific Officer, Eisai Co., Ltd. Since joining Eisai Co., Ltd. in 2003, Dr. Ido has worked as a biologist in drug discovery and development, primarily in neurology. After serving as Biology Head at Eisai’s Cambridge laboratory in the United States, he led biotech investment as Head of Cambridge Office at Eisai Innovation, Inc. In 2024, he served as Discovery Strategy Councilor, and since April 2025 has served as Chief Scientific Officer and Discovery Head, overseeing R&D across neurology, oncology, and other therapeutic areas. |
.%20Shionogi%20Asaki%20resized.png) | Toshiyuki Asaki Corporate Officer, Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery Research Division, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Earned a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kyoto University in 2005 and joined Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Worked in drug discovery research (pharmacology) and later served as Head of Pharmacology in the Neuroscience area. Subsequently served as President of group companies responsible for education and training (2020) and drug discovery research support (2022), and has held the current position since April 2025. |
.%20Daiichisankyo%20Shoji%20Yamamoto%20resized.png) | Shoji Yamamoto Head of Research Innovation Planning Department, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. After receiving a Ph.D. from Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, joined Daiichi Pharmaceutical as a biological researcher for early drug discovery research, followed by a fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Upon returning to Japan, served as group leader of oncology pharmacology research lab at Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. and was seconded to National Healthcare Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office. Currently serves as Head of Research Innovation Planning Department. |
.%20Sumitomo%20Pharma%20Ikeda%20resized.png) | Atsushi Ikeda Corporate Officer, Regenerative and Cellular Medicine Office, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. Representative Director, President and CEO, RACTHERA Co., Ltd. In 2001, received Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University. After serving as a postdoctoral fellow at University of California Los Angeles and Osaka University, and an assistant professor at Kyoto University, joined Sumitomo Pharma in 2008. Responsible for promoting R&D in neurology and regenerative medicine using iPS cells. From 2025, concurrently serving as Representative Director, President and CEO, RACTHERA Co., Ltd. |
.%20Takeda%20Kajii%20resized.png) | Yasushi Kajii R&D Japan Region Head, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Graduated from the University of Tokyo, completed graduate studies at the University of Tokyo, PhD in Agriculture. Head, R&D Japan Region, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Director, iPark Institute Co. Ltd. After engaging in molecular psychopharmacological research at the National Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, held positions in R&D and medical affairs successively at domestic and global pharma companies such as Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, AbbVie, and Novartis. Cross-appointed to Professor, Comprehensive Research Organization, Waseda University. |
.%20Chugai%20Iikura%20resized.png) | Hitoshi Iikura Head of R&D, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Director 1993 B.Sc., Kyoto University 1998 Ph.D., University of Tokyo 2000 Joined Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 2024 - present Director, Executive Vice President, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
.%20Ken%20Horne.png) | Ken Horne Managing Partner, AN Ventures Ken Horne is Managing Partner of AN Ventures, a global biotech investment firm focused on identifying scientific opportunities in Japan and building them into U.S.-based companies. Ken serves as Chairperson of the board of Typewriter Therapeutics, Pahr Therapeutics, Kan Therapeutics, En Biotherapeutics, and Ando Therapeutics, and as a board member of Imbria Pharmaceuticals and Tortugas Neuroscience. Previously, he served as Chair of RDiscovery (Remiges Ventures). As an entrepreneur, he co-founded or led Aline Aesthetics (acquired by Allergan), Symic Bio (acquired by Nordic Bio), and Teon Therapeutics. Ken holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 17), where he was the Jeff Timmons Leadership Award recipient. |
| Aiden Aceves Insight Partners | |
| David Fallace Cure Ventures | |
.Tai%20Harada%20resized.png) | Tai Harada Partner at Fast Track Initiative, Inc Tai Harada is a Partner at FTI, where he leads its US office and orchestrates cross-border collaborations. In the past, he worked at McKinsey & Company as a Junior Manager, focusing on new business development and corporate strategies. He also worked with ARCH Venture Partners as an Investment Consultant where he evaluated early-stage life science companies. Tai holds a Master of Engineering from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from the University of Chicago. |
.%20Aya%20Kubota.png) | Aya Kubota General Mannager Editorial DX Strategy Office, Senior Fellow Medical/Healthcare Media Unit, Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. Joined Nikkei BP in 2002 as a reporter, covering the medical and healthcare industries for Nikkei Medical and Nikkei Biotech. Since April 2026, I have been the General Manager, Editorial DX Strategy Office. In this role, I work with various editorial departments on data journalism and data visualization. I also concurrently serve as a Senior Fellow, Medical/Healthcare Media Unit, continuing my engagement in the bio/healthcare industry. |
.%20Usami.png) | Atsushi Usami Partner and Board Director, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd. (UTEC) PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo. Joined UTEC in 2013, focusing on seed and early-stage venture investment and hands-on management support. Co-founded six startups in Japan and the US, including OriCiro Genomics (acquired by Moderna, Inc.) and RegCell, Inc. Awarded the 2023 Japan Venture Awards' Venture |
.%20Taro%20Inaba%20resized.png) | Taro Inaba Managing Partner, Remiges Ventures, Inc. Taro Inaba is the Founder and Managing Partner of Remiges Ventures, a cross-border drug discovery venture capital firm established in 2014. Prior to this, he built a distinguished career at Mitsui & Co., which he joined in 1991. After working in the chemicals division, he transitioned to venture capital operation in 2001 and eventually served as President & CEO of Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners in the U.S. He brings extensive expertise in startup financing and global company creation. |
List of Exhibitors at the Communication Table
 | 4DIN Ltd. |
 | Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners,inc. |
 | TFBS Bioscience, LLC |
 | ASCA Corporation |
 | San Ten Consulting LLC |
.png) | FonesLife Corporation |
 | Periotherapia Co., Ltd. |
 | MOLSIS Inc. |
Target
pharmaceutical companies, drug discovery start-ups, investors, and others.
Participation Fee
＜Regular fee＞From Wednesday, April 1, 2026
On‑site participation
LINK‑J Special Members: JPY 8,000
Non‑members: JPY 40,000
Online participation
LINK‑J Special Members: Free of charge
Non‑members: JPY 40,000
Regarding Early‑bird Registration
The participation fee will be discounted for registrations completed by March 31, 2026.
Please note that Early‑bird registration is not available for online participation.
No discounts will be offered after the deadline, so we encourage you to register as early as possible.
Capacity
On-site 50persons
Pre-registration is required to attend. Please note that registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Organizer
Host by LINK-J
Supported by
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
Greater Tokyo Biocommunity（GTB）
Biocommunity Kansai(BiocK)
Contact
LINK-J Conference 2026 secretariat（Operated by JTB Communication Design, Inc.）
E-mail：linkj-sympo@jtbcom.co.jp
