SPORTS MARKETING EXPERTS

Founder and CEO

Kiyoshi Nakamura is an experienced global marketing and broadcasting professional with an international reputation. He spent nearly 40 years with Dentsu Inc. in various international media and sales promotion positions in London and Tokyo, where he was instrumental in the marketing, broadcasting and hospitality rights for the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup from 2001 to 2021, and in 2015 helped seal the deal for Dentsu to acquire one-third of premier NFL agency Athletes 1 First. He also made a significant contribution to the success of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and was recognized for his outstanding international sports business achievements when he was named in World Rugby's '100 people who have influenced rugby around the world' published in the next year. He has a large network of contacts in international sport and is one of Japan's leading sports businessmen.

Takashi Nakamura was President and Managing Director of DAZN Japan and led the launch of DAZN in the Japanese. He has over 15 years of experience managing businesses, both internationally and domestically across a wide range of sectors. Before he joined DAZN, he was President and CEO of a renewable energy company which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. After studying computer science at the University of New South Wales, Australia, he started his career with Mitsubishi Corporation in Tokyo and after 11 years moved to Silicon Valley to work for Hewlett Packard and various other tech companies in the Valley. He has over 30 years' experience in business management in a wide range of fields, including overseas, and he has excellent contacts and knowledge, especially in the OTT business, which is currently driving the sports media business.

Lou was CEO of Essentially and then CSM New Zealand/Japan as well as playing the role of head of the CSM global rugby business until 2017 when he brokered the sale of CSM NZ and Japan to Dentsu. He remained with Halo (formally CSM NZ and Japan) as the Executive Chairman until he left Halo in 2022.

Lou is considered a global rugby specialist with his operational roles covering many aspects of the Rugby Sport business/industry, more recently with a particular emphasis on new business development in the Japanese rugby market.

Lou kick started the Halo Sport journey when he set up Global Sports Management (GSM NZ and Japan) in 2001.

Takashi Mizukami has over 30 years of experience in producing, planning, managing and marketing sports events, as well as in the entertainment rights business. He developed his career at Dentsu Inc. and its subsidiary Dentsu Sports Partners Inc. where he acquired all-round skills in the sports business and has contributed to the success of major international events, in particular 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and Korea, Bledisloe Cup Tokyo 2009 and Tokyo Marathon. He also has extensive experience in marketing, broadcasting rights and other sports business for the Japan Rugby Football Union, the Japan Football Association and other sports.

Hiroyuki Oowatari joined Dentsu in 2001. After handling important clients such as telecommunications companies and international beverage manufacturers in the sales department, he moved to the Sports Division in 2010, where he was in charge of marketing work mainly for Olympic sports organisations until 2021. He won the All Japan Karate Championships four years in a row from his university days and was also a K1 Fighter after joining Dentsu. He used his experience in the athlete management business and produced the professional debut of former WBA middleweight boxing Super Champion Ryota Murata, and continues to support many other athletes to this day. He also has a wide range of experience in the sports field, including bidding for the WA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, to be held in 2023.

Partner and Composer

Sasja is an Australian Singer, Songwriter and Lyricist based in Tokyo. She majored in voice improvisation at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. She came to Japan in 2005 and began working for a trading company focused on luxury brands. Her role was the international team leader and head fashion buyer for the United States and Europe. During this period in Japan, she developed relationships within the music industry and started writing and singing songs for Japanese Television Dramas, Movies, Animation and more.

She thinks outside of the box and brings new ideas, a wide variety of talents and expertise.

Paris was raised in both UK and Japan, speaking both languages but also navigating both cultures. He honed his skills at Yokohama F Marinos Academy before playing several years across Europe. He has also represented Canada U20/U23 and A National team. After retiring he put his focus into creating opportunities for Japanese players to experience football outside of Japan. Since becoming a FIFA licensed agent in 2023 he aims to help players reach their full potential both on and off the pitch.Over close to a decade paris has shepherded players and entire teams to many of the biggest clubs in Europe and England.