The Japan Times Cube Inc. (representative director: Minako Suematsu) launched Roundtable by The Japan Times, a series of talk events broadcasted in Japan.

The English-language events invites readers of The Japan Times to be guest speakers. Ross Rowbury, a Senior Managing Director at Nomura Holdings, who has a deep knowledge of Japan and boasts a wide network both domestically and abroad, sits down in the role of host with Japanese and non-Japanese to discuss their lives in Japan. Held once a month, the format of the Roundtable includes time for panel discussions with the participation of the audience.

For our special speaker, Mr. Rowbury will welcome Naofumi Suzuki, Executive Director of Diversity Soccer Association that tackles a range of issues concerning social exclusion in Japanese society through soccer, and Professor (Sociology of Sport) at Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University.

Date and time: Tuesday, December 9, 2021

13:00 to 14:00 JST: Talk session

Registration at: https://peatix.com/event/3091143

Participants: A notification will be sent when the recording is posted online. Access is limited to premium members.

Registration fee: Free

The contents of Roundtable by The Japan Times will be published as an archive at a later date and will be introduced in the main paper of The Japan Times and the website of Sustainable Japan by The Japan Times. Roundtable is held in cooperation with Nomura Holdings.

Naofumi Suzuki

Naofumi Suzuki, PhD. is an Executive Director of Diversity Soccer Association and a Professor (Sociology of Sport) at Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University. His research and practical interest have been in how sport and play can contribute positively to creating inclusive social structures.

Diversity Soccer Association tackles a range of issues concerning social exclusion in Japanese society through football/soccer. Their vision is to realize a truly socially inclusive society where nobody is ever left out, using soccer as an effective tool to open up the paths for inclusion of those who suffer from homelessness, social withdrawal, psychiatric disorder, disabilities, addiction, discrimination and prejudice concerning sexual orientation and gender identity as well as ethnic and racial background, and so on.

Ross Rowbury

Ross Rowbury is a Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of Group Corporate Communications at Nomura Holdings. He has observed Japan while living and working here for four decades. Commencing his career in finance in Tokyo during the early 1980s, he later moved into public relations and communications, holding senior positions at Gavin Anderson & Co. (now Kreab) and PRAP Japan. He headed the Edelman business in Japan for 10 years until July 2020. Prior to joining Nomura in October, he was a freelance consultant to a number of firms on their Japan business strategy. He is also a visiting professor of Asian marketing at Doshisha University in Kyoto and is on the Board of TELL, a suicide prevention and mental health NPO.


◾︎The Japan Times

Established in 1897, The Japan Times is Japan’s largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper, providing English-language news on Japan and the world. The Japan Times is “Japan’s Window to the World,” covering politics, economics, culture, society and sports to keep the world informed about Japan and its current situation. As the largest English-language news site in Japan, we offer a variety of unique content.

Website: www.japantimes.co.jp/

【Inquiries】

The Japan Times Cube Inc.

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Public Relations: Ms. Kumano

E-mail: [email protected]


The press release may be downloaded in PDF format