Building the Fusion Energy Industry: Japan’s Path to Global Competitiveness
- Date
- 2026.10.06
- Time
- 15:15 - 16:00
- Location
- Knowledge Capital Congrès Convention Center
Fusion energy is attracting growing global attention as a next-generation industry with the potential to contribute to both decarbonization and energy security. As development accelerates worldwide, the focus of competition is shifting from research and development toward commercialization and market creation.Japan possesses not only world-class scientific expertise built over decades, but also a broad industrial base essential to realizing fusion energy, including advanced capabilities in lasers, materials, precision engineering, and plant engineering. Translating these strengths into commercially viable businesses and establishing a competitive position in the global market will require the creation and growth of startups, active participation by established corporations, access to long-term capital, and the development of resilient supply chains. This session will explore how Japan can bring together its technological capabilities, talent, and industrial expertise. It will also examine the roles that industry, research institutions, financial institutions, and investors must play in building a globally competitive fusion energy industry originating from Japan.
Satoshi Konishi
Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.
Chairman, CEO
Representative Director
Chief Fusioneer
Isowa Akio
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.
Senior Managing Executive Officer, Group CDIO
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Senior Managing Executive Officer
Satoshi Konishi
Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.
Chairman, CEO
Representative Director
Chief Fusioneer
- Biography
1979 BS, University of Tokyo
1981 MS, University of Tokyo
1981-2003 Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute
1986, 1987 Assignment to Tritium Systems Test Assembly (TSTA), Los Alamos, USA
1989-1991 National Laboratory, USA, As Japanese Team Leader under US-Japan Collaborative Program
1991 Involved in first DT campaign at JET, United Kingdom
1991 ITER Engineering Design Activity Team Member at JAERI
2001-2011 Editor, Fusion Engineering and Design Journal, Elsevier
2003-present Professor, School of Energy Science, Kyoto University
2008-2012 Director, Institute of Sustainability Science, Kyoto University
2009-2012 Chair of the ITER TBM Program Committee
2012-2017 ITER Program Committee, Japanese Representative
2014-2016 Board of Director Member, Atomic Energy Society of Japan
2017-present ITER TBM Project Steering Committee, Japanese Representative
2017-present Board of Director, Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research
Isowa Akio
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.
Senior Managing Executive Officer, Group CDIO
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Senior Managing Executive Officer
- Biography
After joining the bank in 1990, gained extensive experience across corporate banking, legal affairs, corporate planning, and human resources. Later, established and led the Retail Marketing Department and the IT Strategy Office (as it was then known) as General Manager. Subsequently, as Head of the Transaction Business Division, oversaw product development and sales planning for corporate payment solutions.
Currently serves as Group Chief Digital & Innovation Officer (CDIO), where leads the formulation of SMBC Group’s digital strategy and drives innovation through collaboration with startups.