Otsumo Co., Ltd. , which operates the lifestyle brand HUMAN MADE founded by NIGO, is pleased to announce the appointment of Shion Okamoto and W. David Marx as External Directors of the Company, effective on January 19th, 2023. Their involvement will not only strengthen the business foundation but also build a management structure that supports the brand’s expanding global business.
■Shion Okamoto
Shion is the Engagement Manager of Finance Management Division of Z Holdings Corporation since April 2022, seconded from Yahoo Japan Corporation, which she joined in 2016. From August 2021 to March 2022, she served as CFO and General Counsel of the subsidiary YJ Capital Inc. (currently known as Z Venture Capital Corporation) to which she was first seconded to execute new investments, monitor startups in Japan and overseas, and manage funds. Shion also serves as Outside Audit and Supervisory Board Member of WAKUWAKU Co., Ltd. since September 2022 and AEON Fantasy Co., Ltd. since May 2022. She began her career at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto in September 2008, providing counsel mainly in M&A, corporate restructuring and corporate legal affairs for clients in Japan and overseas.
Shion is an attorney-at-law in Japan and the US. She received her LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School in 2013. She graduated from Faculty of Law, Keio University, in 2007.
Comment:
“With technology such as AI progressing at an alarmingly fast rate in today’s society, being creative—our unique human quality—and having good ideas are becoming increasingly important. Fusing Japanese tradition with street culture for innovative product making, Otsumo continues to create new values that the world is seeking. I am honored to be a part of the team that is dedicated to making greater strides as a global brand originating in Japan. I hope to contribute to Otsumo’s growth through my experiences in law and venture capital.”
■W. David Marx
David is the writer of Status and Culture, which explores why things become popular and how culture changes. It was published by Viking Books in 2022 and earned strong reviews from The New York Times and other publications. His first book in 2015, Ametora, analyzes Japan’s fashion culture through the lens of American traditional style. Published in the US, it is a bestseller in Japan, Taiwan, China and Korea. David is currently Senior Director of PR for Asia Pacific at a global IT company and has worked with numerous global retail brands.
David received a M.A. in Business from Keio University in 2006. He graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies in 2001.
Comment:
“Encountering NIGO’s brand on the streets of Tokyo during the late 1990s inspired me to work towards uncovering the mysteries of culture and fashion. It is an unbelievable honor to now work with NIGO and members of the Otsumo board to contribute to the company’s already ever-expanding global business.”
■Comment from Rei Matsunuma, Representative Director, President & COO
“We are thrilled to welcome Shion Okamoto and W. David Marx as External Directors to achieve the Company’s vision of ‘Making life on earth more interesting…from the street.’ They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in global business. I am confident Shion’s expertise in M&A, corporate restructuring, and corporate legal affairs from projects in Japan and overseas, will contribute to establishing a solid foundation for Otsumo’s continued growth as a global company. David’s knowledge and deep insights into fashion and culture, especially in the US and Japan, along with his rich sensibility, will be a guiding compass for the Company as we execute our unique ESG management style. With their involvement, we will continue to strive as one team toward achieving our vision.”
■About Otsumo Co., Ltd.
Based on its corporate slogan, “Making life on earth more interesting…from the street,” Otsumo offers products and services that innovate the lifestyles of people around the world. This includes operating the lifestyle brand HUMAN MADE, founded by designer NIGO and created based on the concept, “The Future is in the Past,” operating CURRY UP, which offers additive-free curry dishes using original spices, and providing production services including branding support for companies of different industries.
https://www.otsumo.com/en/index.html