About Us

Kiraku is a globally-minded team consisting of members who have lived and worked both in and out of Japan. We are interested in the boundless cultural and natural treasures that can be found all over Japan, many of which we believe are underutilized and undervalued.

Much of these treasures are still unknown to the world. We have even witnessed their slow decay or disappearance, due to lack of recognition and management.

We hope to address these issues by creating sustainable businesses that effectively preserve, utilize, and showcase these treasures. And by growing each of these businesses, we hope to create “pilot cases” of sustainable business models that can be shared with local communities and the world – and encourage others to share in our mission, too.

We believe that through this mechanism of value creation and sustainability, the still undiscovered charms of Japan can be recognized both locally and globally; and by preserving and passing these treasures onto future generations, we hope to contribute to a more prosperous future.

  • Founder & CEO
    Kou Sundberg
    Kou Sundberg
    Kou founded Kiraku in 2013 to provide investment management, asset management and data analysis solutions for hospitality development and turnaround projects. Prior to starting Kiraku, Kou was an investment analyst at Fortress Investment Group, where he specialized in distressed debt and special situations in North America, Asia and Europe. At Fortress Investment Group (Japan), he was mainly involved in acquisition, asset management and operation of their domestic hotel portfolio. Graduated from University of California – Berkeley.
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  • COO
    Masanori Komatsu
    Masanori Komatsu
    Masa joined Kiraku in 2016 and is involved in operations along with acquisitions and asset management. Prior to joining Kiraku, Masa was with JPMorgan Securities Japan where he was involved in structuring and marketing of equity and fund derivative products. Graduated from Columbia University.
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  • Strategic Investment Group
    Megumi Minaki
    Megumi Minaki
    Megumi joined Kiraku in 2019 and conducts acquisitions and asset management. Prior to joining Kiraku, Megumi was with JPMorgan Securities Japan where she was involved in structuring and marketing of equity derivative products. Graduated from Princeton University.
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  • Strategic Investment Group / Creative Director
    Takatoshi Yamano
    Takatoshi Yamano
    Takatoshi joined Kiraku in 2020 and conducts research and concept planning for various projects. Prior to joining Kiraku, Takatoshi was with NOMURA Co., Ltd where he was involved in the planning and spatial design of commercial real estate developments and regional revitalization projects. He also worked with the General Strategy Division of Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Graduated from Tama Art University.
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  • Public Relations & Branding
    Alisa Yoshida
    Alisa Yoshida
    Alisa joined Kiraku in 2022 and oversees Public Relations and Branding for Kiraku as well as Kiraku's group entities. Prior to joining Kiraku, Alisa was in Public Relations and Marketing for luxury hotel brands including Aman and The Ritz-Carlton in Japan. Obtained a master’s degree in communications from The University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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  • Project Management
    Shinya Ikegaya
    Shinya Ikegaya
    Shinya joined Kiraku in 2023 and oversees project management (PM) for Kiraku as well as Kiraku‘s group entities. Prior to joining Kiraku, Shinya was involved in management at stu.inc., overseeing business development. Before that, he was at Nomura Co. Ltd, where he was involved in business
    development and PM, as well as international expansion, including management of their Hong Kong branch.
    Graduated from Shibaura Institute of Technology.
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  • Project Management
    Moriya Sakata
    Moriya Sakata
    Moriya joined Kiraku in April 2024 to oversee project management for Kiraku as well as Kiraku’s group entities. Prior to joining Kiraku, Moriya was with Nomura Co, Ltd where he was involved in PM of design and interior construction of primarily commercial real estate, with a focus on hotels, including the W Osaka, The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka, and the Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu. Obtained a master’s degree at Osaka City University.
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  • Corporate Development and Administration
    Toru Hamada
    Toru Hamada
    Toru joined Kiraku in April 2024 to oversee corporate development and administration of Kiraku and its projects. Prior to joining Kiraku, Toru was with Tokyu Land, where he was involved in corporate and SPC finances, HR, planning and project/asset management of resort and hotel developments, as well as management of real estate assets held by Tokyu Land. Graduated from Waseda University.
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  • Strategic Investment Group
    Kay Yagasaki
    Kay Yagasaki
    Kay joined Kiraku in 2025 and oversees Food and Beverage for Kiraku as well as Kiraku’s group entities. Prior to joining Kiraku, Kay was focused on food and beverage related consulting projects at McKinsey & Company, growth strategy at Dining Innovation Japan, and cross-functional operations management for Restaurant Brand International’s Burger King franchise. Graduated from Yale University.
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  • Team Assistant
    Emiko Sakai
    Emiko Sakai
    Emiko joined Kiraku in 2019 as Team Assistant. Emiko provides operational and team support for Kiraku as well as Kiraku's group entities. Graduated from Kyoritsu Women's University.
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Company

Company Name
Kiraku, Inc.
Founded
July 11, 2013
Established
December 7, 2017
CEO
Kou William Sundberg
Head Office
403 Rinkacho, Higashiyama-ward, Kyoto, Japan
Tokyo Office
SOIL Nihonbashi 602
14-7 Kobunecho Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 103-0024
Nagano Office
551-1 Narai, Shiojiri-city, Nagano, Japan 399-6303

History

September 2022
Kiraku and Hyatt unveil new hospitality brand ATONA under joint venture
October 2021
suginomori brewery begins brewing ‘narai,’ a new Japanese sake brand.
September 2021
Incorporated Kiraku Developments GK as a subsidiary company and acquired over 26 hectares of developable, vacant land in Niseko, Hokkaido.
March 2021
Acquired Suginomori Shuzo KK, a historic sake brewery in Narai-juku, Nagano that was established in 1793 but had closed down in 2012. Kiraku restored and rebranded Suginomori Shuzo to suginomori brewery, entering into the sake brewing business.
November 2020
Nazuna-operated ryokans, Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo and Nazuna Kyoto Gosho, awarded 3 Pavilions in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka + Okayama 2021.
July 2020
Opened Nazuna Obi Onsen Resort, a boutique onsen ryokan in Obi, Miyazaki, renovated from an over 140-year-old historic samurai estate.
June 2020
Opened Nazuna Kyoto Tsubaki St., a boutique ryokan in Kyoto with 2 restaurants renovated from an entire alleyway of 24 Kyomachiyas built over 110 years ago.
November 2019
Nazuna-operated ryokans, Nazuna Kyoto Nijo-jo and Nazuna Kyoto Gosho, awarded 3 Pavilions in the Michelin Guide Kyoto Osaka 2020.
February 2019
Opened Nazuna Kyoto Gosho, a boutique ryokan in Kyoto renovated from two old Kyomachiyas previously used as a timber warehouse.
January 2019
Opened Kiraku Kyoto Honmachi, a private villa in Kyoto renovated from a Kyomachiya built over 50 years ago.
April 2018
Incorporated Nazuna Co., Ltd. as an affiliate hospitality management company that operates boutique lodging facilities renovated from traditional Japanese buildings.
December 2017
Kiraku, Inc. is established in Kyoto.
December 2017
Kiraku Japan GK is selected as one of the “Companies Driving Regional Growth” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.
April 2017
Opened Kiraku Obi Ohya and Kiraku Obi Katsume, two private villas renovated from traditional samurai residences in Obi, Miyazaki.
April 2016
Seeking to learn more about traditional Japanese wooden architecture and Japanese culture, Kou returns to Japan and moves the Kiraku head office to a sub-temple of Chion-in Temple in Kyoto.
August 2015
Kiraku Japan GK is appointed by Nichinan City to coordinate the revitalization of Obi, a quaint castle town in Nichinan City, Miyazaki that is nationally designated as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
June 2015
Kiraku Japan GK is established in Japan, to begin the planning and development of accommodation facilities.
July 2013
Kiraku is established in Palo Alto, California, to provide business and data analysis consulting for investment funds.