Hidenobu Kubota
Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs
Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
Hidenobu Kubota is the Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs in the Minister's Secretariat of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). A graduate of Kyoto University (B.E. 1990, M.E. 1992), he has built his career within the Ministry of Transport (present MLIT) since 1992, holding a series of senior roles across technical, safety, environmental, and international divisions. His experience includes positions such as Director of multiple divisions within the Road Transport Bureau, Director of JASIC's Geneva Office, and Counsellor at NASVA, before serving as Vice Director-General of the Logistics and Road Transport Bureau in 2023. He assumed his current role in April 2026.
Mr. Hayato Suga
Representative Director
President & CEO
ClassNK
Hayato Suga earned his bachelor's degree in Ocean Engineering from Hiroshima University in 1986 and joined ClassNK the same year. He gained experience in plan approval and on-site surveys and later managed survey activities in Europe and Africa from the London Office. Returning to Japan, he contributed to tanker standards development and was an active member and chairperson of the Tanker Structure Co-operative Forum. He later held key positions such as Director of Plan Approval Division and Director of Planning Division, and was appointed Executive Vice President in 2022 and Senior Executive Vice President in 2024.
Mr. Masakatsu Terazaki
Chairman, Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA)
Senior Vice President
Deputy Head of Energy Solution Department
NTT Anode Energy Corporation
Introduction of FLOWRA mission, philosophy, organization
Masakatsu Terazaki is the Chairperson of the Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) and Senior Vice President & Deputy Head of the Energy Solution Department at NTT Anode Energy Corporation. A graduate of Seinan Gakuin University, he brings over 40 years of leadership in Japan's energy sector, having held key strategic and executive roles at Kyushu Electric Power, Kyuden Business Front, and Kyuden Mirai Energy. His career spans corporate planning, green power development, and major renewable energy initiatives, positioning him as a leading voice in Japan's transition toward sustainable offshore wind and next generation energy solutions.
Atsushi Yamashita
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA)
Introduction of FLOWRA R&D activities and roadmap
Dr. Atsushi Yamashita is the Chief Technology Officer of the Floating Offshore Wind Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) and an expert in offshore structures and wind energy with more than 40 years of industry experience. After beginning his career at Nippon Steel Corporation in 1981, he advanced through leadership roles in offshore engineering, fabrication, and major international projects, later serving in senior positions at Nippon Steel Engineering, SCOPE, and Japan Wind Development. He holds a Doctor of Engineering in offshore wind structures from Tokai University and now leads technical innovation in floating offshore wind at FLOWRA.