• Gregory Rokuro Hara, Chief Executive and Managing Partner,  Chairman of the Investment Committee, J-STAR
• Kazushige Kobayashi, Managing Director, MCP Asset Management
• CK Choun, Partner, Representative Director, Integral Global Tech Partners
• Stephanie Li,  Reporter, DealStreetAsia [Moderator]

Japan’s private equity market is no longer the sleeping giant of Asia. Long considered opaque and difficult to access, it’s now entering what many insiders are calling a ‘golden age’.  Fundraising momentum is strong, DPI performance has been robust, and new entrants are tapping into a vast universe of succession-driven buyouts, carve-outs, and take-privates tied to governance and exchange reforms.
Demographics are aligning with macro tailwinds: tens of thousands of family-owned businesses face succession issues, and entry multiples remain compelling versus Western markets. At the same time, rising shareholder activism, a maturing LP base, and regulatory support are injecting fresh energy into the market.
This panel will examine what it takes to win in Japan today. How investors can position themselves to navigate cultural nuance, seize under-the-radar opportunities, and build sustainable returns in the world’s third-largest economy.