Corporate affiliate explores financial systems, shares choral talents

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From major financial organizations to the acoustics of Bing Concert Hall – Kenji Yanada has a wide range of interests, which he has been able to actively pursue here at Stanford. He is a fellow in the Corporate Affiliates Program at the Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, visiting for a year from Japan’s Ministry of Finance.

Kenji Yanada is pictured at the concert with his wife Tetsuko and Denise Masumoto, Corporate Affiliates Program manager.

Prior to joining Shorenstein APARC, Yanada worked for nearly 30 years in the banking and financial industry. Most recently, he was responsible for supervising financial institutions in Japan’s Financial Services Agency, working to identify and overcome global risk.

As a government official seeking to improve monitoring of the international financial system, Yanada came to Stanford to engage with people from various organizations and countries who inspire an exchange of new ideas and may help inform his approach.

Working with faculty advisor Takeo Hoshi, Yanada has focused his research on the “Heightening of Banking Regulations and Banking Supervision in the U.S.” As financial institutions become more interconnected, he has found that is it ever more important to require a combination of both regulation and monitoring of the financial situation among nations.

“Being a fellow in the Corporate Affiliates Program has allowed me to discuss these issues with various experts and given me the chance to view things from different angles. With a broader perspective, I hope to help stimulate change and to make a contribution to maintain the stability of the financial system in Japan,” said Yanada. 

Yanada said he appreciates interacting with open-minded people, learning different perspectives, and especially, enjoying California’s calm weather.  Earlier this year, he participated in a workshop at the Stanford d.school. This experience taught him that even if an idea seems out of reach, by working together and sharing knowledge, anything is possible.  

Yanada has also continued his passion for singing. This winter, he became a member of the Stanford Symphonic Chorus. Yanada twice performed Giuseppe Verdi’s Messa Da Requiem at Bing Concert Hall and Memorial Church at Stanford. He is very grateful to the warm-hearted people who supported him throughout this incredible experience. 

With one quarter remaining, Yanada continues to work on his research and to prepare for his final presentation in May 2014. In between his research, auditing classes and interviewing experts in the field, he hopes to create even more memorable experiences, including another performance with the Stanford Symphonic Chorus this spring.