Convention

Program

The Convention will feature over 60 distinguished retail executives and experts from Japan and abroad as speakers. Presentations and discussions will be held across five themed sessions.

Thursday, October 8

The day begins with the Opening Ceremony, followed by a keynote speech and Super Sessions delivered by prominent speakers from Japan and overseas. After lunch, the program will break into four venues for five themed sessions:(Tokyo International Forum)

1.The Universal Value of Retail - Japanese Tradition and the Customer-First Principle

2.Strategies and Case Studies of Domestic and International Retailers Tackling Social Issues

3.Challenges Facing Japan's Retail Industry

4.IT and Innovation

5.Strategies and Case Studies of Globally Expanding Enterprises

Venue Hall A Hall B7-1 Hall B7-2 Hall C
9:30-10:05 Opening Ceremony      
10:10-10:50

Keynote

The Third Wave of Anime and Manga Expansion: The Future of Experiential Business Cultivated by Retail. Atsuo Nakayama Entertainment Sociologist (Japan)

     
11:00-12:00

Super Sessions

The CEO’s AI Playbook: Leading Transformation in the Age of Generative Intelligence Malina NgaiGroup CEO, AS Watson Group
(Hong Kong)

     

Innovation and Timeless Values Shaped by Manufacturing Logistics IT Retail Integration: Nitori’s Present and Future (Tentative) Akio Nitori Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

12:00-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:30

Session 4
IT and Innovation

Shaping the IT Infrastructure:GS1 Japan’s Role and Services —GS1 Digital Link and Cross- Industry Registry — Atsushi Toyonaga President, Distribution Systems Research Institute (GS1 Japan)
(Japan)

Session 2
Strategies and Case Studies of Domestic and International Retailers Tackling Social Issues

Topic to be announced Damodar Mall CEO, Grocery Retail, Reliance Retail Ltd.
(India)

Session 1
The Universal Value of Retail -Japanese Tradition and the Customer-First Principle

The Evolution of Customer‑First:Isetan Mitsukoshi’s Transformation into an “Individual‑Customer” Business" (Tentative) Toshiyuki Hosoya President and CEO, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd.
(Japan)

Session 5
Strategies and Case Studies of Globally Expanding Enterprises

Destination Retail:Turning Cities into Global Shopping & Tourism Hubs Supaluck Umpujh Chairwoman, The Mall Group,Thailand
(Thailand)

GS1 Vision 2030: Next-Generation Barcodes Transforming Retail Across Asia-Pacific Renaud de Barbuat President & CEO, GS1 AISBL
(Belgium)

Embedding Social Responsibility into Retail Strategy Molly Fong Former CEO, InNature Berhad / Chair of the ESG Committee, Malaysia Retailers Association (Malaysia)

Toraya Confectionery: 500 Years of History Mitsuhiro Kurokawa Chairman, Toraya Confectionery Co. Ltd.
(Japan)

What captivates customers worldwide? Naoki Yoshida Director, Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation
(Japan)

14:45-15:45

AI-Driven Transformation in Retail & Distribution: Our Key Initiatives Yoshihide Nagai Representative Director, COO, Retail AI, Inc.
(Japan)

Creating a Sustainable Society with Our Customers —Building Trust as a Sincere Company- Seiichiro Ishibashi President, York Holdings Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Kongō Gumi: 1,400 Years of History, Since 578 AD Junichiro Otsuki President, Head Office, Kongo Gumi Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Leveraging Franchise Licensing Models to Expand Overseas Expansion of Korean Convenience Stores Kwak Changheon Vice President, Sustainability and Legal, GS Retail Co., Ltd.
(Republic of Korea)

International speaker (TBA)

Retail as Urban Infrastructure – How Taiwan’s Malls and Department Stores Are Adapting to the New Generation Sophia C.W.Huang Chairperson, Retailers Association of Chinese Taipei (RACT) / Chairperson, Pacific SOGO Department Stores Co., Ltd.
(Chinese Taipei)

Japanese speaker (TBA)

Challenging to grow not just overseas, but globally. Satoshi Shimizu President & Representative Director,RYOHIN KEIKAKU CO., LTD.
(Japan)

16:00-17:00

Advancing Grocery Operations in the Digital Era: From Store-Based Picking to Automated Fulfillment Bharat Rupani President, Aeon Next Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

International speaker (TBA)

Keep Changing to remain true to ourselves. Kentaro Fujiwara Director, Representative Corporate Executive Officer,President and CEO, Shiseido Company, Limited
(Japan)

International Speaker (TBA)

Avatar and the future society Hiroshi Ishiguro Professor, Department of Systems Innovation, The University of Osaka
(Japan)

Retail as a Platform for Purpose: Filipino Retailers Scaling with Global Discipline and Social Impact Alice Liu President & CEO, Golden ABC Inc. (Philippines)

Inheriting Tradition, Taking on Innovation:Wako’s New Future from Ginza to the World Kiyoko Niwasaki President, WAKO Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Rakuten Group, Inc.

17:00-18:30 FAPRA Networking Reception

Friday, October 9

The day opens with a Super Session, followed by the same format as the previous day: five themed sessions across four venues.(Tokyo International Forum)
In the evening, a Farewell Party will be held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa.

Venue Hall A Hall B7-1 Hall B7-2 Hall C G409
9:30-10:30

Super Sessions

Scaling Thailand’s Retail Ecosystem:SAHA Group’s Path to Long-Term Growth Vichai Kulsomphob Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO, Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Public Company Limited
(Thailand)

       

The Future of Retail (Tentative) Akio Yoshida Director, President and Representative Executive Officer, AEON Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

10:45-11:45

Session 4
IT and Innovation

Building a Global Center of Excellence: How Seven Scales Universal Values through Technology Izuru Nishimura Managing Executive Officer, CIO, Head of Group DX Division, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Session 2
Strategies and Case Studies of Domestic and International Retailers Tackling Social Issues

From Community Lifeline to a Platform for Solving Social Issues New Forms of Symbiosis Created by a 16,000-Store Network and Digital Innovation Tatsuo Odani President and Representative Director, FamilyMart Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Session 4
IT and Innovation

Beyond Digitalisation: Building Malaysia's Smart Retail Ecosystem Shi Hao Pang Director, APPBAY STUDIO SDN BHD
(Malaysia)

Country & Regional Reports  

The Shift from “Retail Using AI” to “Retail Powered by AI Akira Sakakibara Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Practical strategies for building retail resilience, strengthening local ecosystems, and advancing community-focused innovation in Myanmar. Phyoe Min Kyaw Chief Executive Officer, City Mart Holdings Co LTD, CITY Holding LTD
(Myanmar)

Shaping the Future of Retail with Data & AI Yoshiko Furuhama Corporate Executive Officer, EVP, in charge of Enterprise Business, Fujitsu Limited
(Japan)

11:45-13:15 Lunch
13:15-14:15

Driving the Next Growth Strategy for Japan’s Retail with AI (Tentative) Miki Tsusaka Representative Director and President, Microsoft Japan
(Japan)

Well-being as a Business Strategy Reiko Kojima Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, CWO, General Manager, Wellbeing Promotion Department, MARUI GROUP CO., LTD.
(Japan)

Session 3
Challenges Facing Japan's Retail Industry

The future of retail in population decline and aging society Tomoyasu Marutani Chairman, Secoma Company, Ltd.
(Japan)

Loss Prevention Conference

Part 1 1. Greeting:Yoshinori Inamoto Chairman,JEAS/Senior Consultant, TAKACHIHO KOHEKI CO., LTD. A Culture of Tradition and Change: Loss Prevention in Japan

2. Guest Greeting:Mutsuo Atsumi President Chief Researcher, Japan Retailing Center Co., Ltd. Protecting Assets, Enhancing the Shopping Experience: The Challenge of the Retail Industry

3.Moderator:Hajime Omi Vice Chairman, JEAS/ Advisor, Institute of AJIS Retail Support Retail loss of Asian retailers and business challenge

4. Speaker 1) Kenji Inoue Director, JEAS / Product Marketing Manager, NCR Commerce Japan Ltd. Shrink reduction at checkout – hot trends in Japan and North America

2) Joshua Member, JEAS / Head Operator, Dahua Technology Japan Retail Loss Prevention in Europe: Effective Cases and Practical Results of Our Systems

3) Mina Tsuchida Member, JEAS / Senior Vice President & CHRO, AWL, Inc. Retail Frontline Report from India: Escalating Shrinkage Losses and Innovations in Fraud Prevention via Japan-originated "AI Edge" Solutions

Part 2
A Panel Discussion will be held featuring the members of Part 1

HOD Meeting

Alfamart & Alfagift : O2O Retail Business Transformation Ryan Alfons Kaloh Marketing Director, PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya, Tbk. (Alfamart) / CEO, PT Global Loyalty Indonesia (Alfagift)
(Indonesia)

Topic to be announced Lekh Juneja Chairman, KAMEDA SEIKA CO., LTD. (Japan)

What growth strategies is Kamakura Shirts pursuing amid a shrinking market and aging population in Japan? Nanako Sadasue President and CEO, Maker's Shirts Kamakura Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

14:30-15:30

Session 5
Strategies and Case Studies of Globally Expanding Enterprises

Aeon's overseas business strategy and contributions to local communities (Tentative) Naoya Okada Executive Officer, Human Resources and Sustainability (incumbent) , AEON CO.,Ltd.
(Japan)

A commitment to shaping a society that enriches hearts, looking 100 years ahead. Teruyuki Omote President and CEO, LUMINE Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

A method for revitalizing shopping districts by separating land ownership and usage rights Kozo Furukawa Chairman, Takamatsu Marugamemachi Shopping Street Association /President & CEO, Takamatsu Machizukuri Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Future Ready Retail: How Digital Shoppers and Retail Models Are Reshaping APAC Sean Kreidler Head of Research, Euromonitor International
(United Kingdom)

Building a Business with a Heart B.S.Nagesh Founder, TRRAIN, and Ex-Chairman, Shoppers Stop Limited
(India)

The possibilities and future of the mobile supermarket Tokushimaru. Tatsuya Sumitomo Director and Founder, Tokushimaru Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

15:45-16:45

SHINSEGAE Global Expansion Case Study : Pou up Store, Franchise, Joint Venture. Changrock Kim Team Leader, Fashion Platform Team, SHINSEGAE Inc.
(Korea)

Gen Z Values and SHIBUYA109’s Youth-Driven Retail and Marketing Strategy in Japan and Beyond Markets Ayumi Ishikawa President and CEO, SHIBUYA109ENTERTAINMENT Corporation
(Japan)

The significance of the existence of Tohoku company Fujisaki and future value creation (Tentative) Saburosuke Fujisaki Representative Director, Chairman and President, Fujisaki Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

Country & Regional Reports  

Seven-Eleven’s Transformation: What Should Be Changed, and What Must Not Be Changed Junro Ito Representative Director and Executive Chair, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd.
(Japan)

International speaker (TBA)

Supporting the Future of Retail: E-commerce Strategies and Building Disaster-Resilient Logistics Networks Masaru Wasami President Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AZ-COM MARUWA Holdings Inc.
(Japan)

17:00-17:20 APRCE 2028 Session
(Malaysia)
       
19:00-21:00 Farewell Party(Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa)18:00 – Cocktail Reception / 18:30 – Doors Open / 19:00 – Banquet Begins

This program is current as of March 9, 2026.

PAGE TOP