Naoki Kashimura

Naoki Kashimura is a global affiliate visiting scholar at the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) for 2026-27.

Kashimura joined the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) after graduating from the University of Tokyo with a degree in economics. Over the past two decades, he has worked at DBJ to support the growth and competitiveness of Japanese companies and industries through finance and investment. At DBJ, his experience spans a wide range of areas, including long-term financing, investment, business planning, and corporate strategy. 

Prior to joining APARC, Kashimura led a team covering Japan's heavy industries and robotics sectors. In this role, he supported collaboration between Japanese manufacturers and U.S. startups with strengths in physical AI, with the aim of helping Japanese companies leverage emerging technologies and new business opportunities. 

At APARC, Kashimura plans to explore how companies can design organizational structures and systems that enable them to adapt and continue to grow amid dramatic changes in the business environment, including the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.