Founders

Masa Kogure (Executive Director of TABLE FOR TWO International)

Masa is the Executive Director of TABLE FOR TWO and spearheaded its start in 2008. After graduating from Waseda University with majors in science and engineering, Masa enrolled in the Swinburn University of Technology in Australia to undertake artificialart research. After completing his master’s degree in 1999, he joined the Tokyo branch of McKinsey & Co, and was involved in institutional transformation, operational improvement, and sales strategies in such industries as healthcare, media, retail distribution and manufacturing. In 2005, he took a position at Shochiku Co., Ltd. to lead business development.
TABLE FOR TWO

Hima Furuta (CEO of umari Inc.)

Project designer born and raised in Tokyo, after voluntarily cutting his higher education at Keio University short in order to pursue real projects with a direct impact on working, thriving communities, Hima has since gone on to lead as a producer and innovator in the fields of community design, corporate branding, and regional development. Projects include the Morning University of Marunouchi, focused on connecting regional development throughout Japan with Tokyo-based professionals and global business solutions, restaurant Roppongi Nouen, bringing local growers and multiple generations of food lovers together with Tokyo-style entertainment, the Japan Local Innovators Committee (JLIC), connecting non-Japanese professionals based in Japan in order to brand and develop the nation’s resources globally, and Nippon Saiyuki (Journey to the West), a life work dedicated to rediscovering and communicating Japan’s ancient myths and culture to new generations. As president of Umari Inc., he spends nearly half of the year traveling the globe in search of incredible food experiences.
umari

Kentaro Shihaku (CEO of GLIDER Inc.)

Born in 1975 in Sendai, Japan. Creative Director. Following his education at Keio University SFC Campus and studies in architecture and design at Rome University of Fine Arts, Kentaro went on to work in the creative division at Dentsu Inc. from 2000, creating award-winning commercials and short films as a commercial media planner. He later went on to work at 72andSunny and Wieden+Kennedy, establishing his own creative boutique, GLIDER, in 2011. A team comprised of creative professionals from a variety of fields, including fashion designers, architects, social entrepreneurs, aroma therapists, and others, his cross-collaborative approach together with creatives in Japan and throughout the world has resulted in awards and international recognition in a variety of fields. Currently president and CEO of GLIDER. D&AD 2014 Film Advertising Craft Jury member.
GLIDER