{"id":202,"date":"2025-01-24T04:44:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T04:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/?page_id=202"},"modified":"2025-02-06T09:14:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T09:14:05","slug":"director","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/en\/director\/","title":{"rendered":"Members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-bogo-language-switcher\"><ul class=\"bogo-language-switcher list-view\"><li class=\"en-US en current first\"><span class=\"bogoflags bogoflags-us\"><\/span> <span class=\"bogo-language-name\"><a rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"en-US\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/202\/\" title=\"English\" class=\"current\" aria-current=\"page\">English<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ja last\"><span class=\"bogoflags bogoflags-jp\"><\/span> <span class=\"bogo-language-name\"><a rel=\"alternate\" hreflang=\"ja\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/202\/\" title=\"Japanese\">\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-border-color has-nv-dark-bg-border-color\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">Board Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-nv-text-dark-bg-color has-nv-dark-bg-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-4c56bbc852c5e1af60984deb62b2e072\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\"><strong>Representative Director<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"347\" height=\"581\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tomoko.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-669 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tomoko.png 347w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Tomoko-179x300.png 179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Tomoko Yakushigawa<br>Alphajiri Limited\u3000Founder \/ CEO<br>Canopyon Initiative Founder \/ Representative Director<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\" style=\"font-size:18px\"><table class=\"has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>2011<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington &#8211; Bachelor of Science in Political Science and French (Summa Cum Laude)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2011<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Joined Norinchukin Bank (The Central Cooperative Bank for Agriculture and Forestry)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2014<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Assigned to Kenya as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2016<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Founded Alphajiri Limited in Kenya, establishing agricultural product supply chains and e-commerce businesses<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2024<\/strong><\/td><td><strong><strong>Achieved local operation of agricultural product processing and e-commerce businesses<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Established the non-profit organization Canopyon Initiative, aiming for impact across Africa<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">Since 2014, while working with farmers in Migori County, Kenya, I have been deeply moved by the way of life that aligns with the natural order. At the same time, I have also confronted the complex issue of poverty. This experience led me to seek ways to improve living standards while maintaining harmony with biodiversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">To help farmers achieve stable incomes through agriculture and lead dignified lives, I founded <em>Alphajiri<\/em>. I aimed to prove that initiatives often considered feasible only for nonprofits could, in fact, be financially viable. As a result, hundreds of rural households saw their incomes steadily increase through their involvement with Alphajiri. However, I also faced a harsh reality: prioritizing business growth often meant that excluding the most impoverished farmers was the most efficient approach. This internal conflict made me realize that solving social disparities requires not just individual success but a commitment to co-creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">With this in mind, I founded <em>Canopyon Initiative<\/em> to establish a foundation for collaboration in Japan as well. My passion lies in transforming difficult challenges into sustainable solutions within society. My goal is to expand social impact, particularly in Africa, and pass the baton to the next generation of leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:52px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-nv-text-dark-bg-color has-nv-dark-bg-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-a6d5f9b945330e087eb7a7647e030c47\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">Board Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"562\" height=\"906\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/\u30b9\u30af\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30c3\u30c8-2025-02-02-20.54.45.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-477 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/\u30b9\u30af\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30c3\u30c8-2025-02-02-20.54.45.png 562w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/\u30b9\u30af\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30c3\u30c8-2025-02-02-20.54.45-186x300.png 186w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Shunsuke Kanda<br>Pieces&#8217;FARM\u3000 &nbsp; Director<br>Green Campus\u3000Cirector<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\" style=\"font-size:18px\"><table class=\"has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>2010<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Earned a master&#8217;s degree from Monozukuri University Graduate School<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2010<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Joined Hikari Tsushin Co., Ltd.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2022<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Founded <em>Pieces\u2019 FARM<\/em>, engaging in environmentally conscious avocado cultivation to address local challenges<br><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2023<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Founded <em>Green Campus<\/em>, promoting sustainable forestry through community-based forestry<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Joined the nonprofit organization <em>Canopyon Initiative<\/em><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0\">I studied urban planning and community business utilizing existing social infrastructure and local resources in graduate school. After graduation, I joined a major telecommunications company in Tokyo and achieved the highest national sales performance. However, feeling unfulfilled by a life focused solely on work and making money, I resigned at the age of 30 to travel the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">During my journey, I discovered social business and developed a strong desire to contribute to society and help others. This led me to establish <em>Pieces<\/em>, an organization dedicated to promoting social business under the vision of &#8220;creating a society where everyone can live authentically and abundantly.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-nv-site-bg-background-color has-background\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">In 2022, I relocated to Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and launched <em>Pieces&#8217; FARM<\/em>, a circular avocado cultivation social business aimed at solving local challenges. In 2023, I founded <em>GreenCampus<\/em>, an organization focused on forest conservation and sustainable forestry, initiating an environmental preservation project through community-based forestry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);grid-template-columns:23% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"536\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/\u30b9\u30af\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30c3\u30c8-2025-02-03-13.10.15.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-485 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/\u30b9\u30af\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30c3\u30c8-2025-02-03-13.10.15.png 536w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/\u30b9\u30af\u30ea\u30fc\u30f3\u30b7\u30e7\u30c3\u30c8-2025-02-03-13.10.15-179x300.png 179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 536px) 100vw, 536px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong><strong><strong>Yuto Akabane<\/strong><\/strong><br><strong>Pieces\u2019FARM<strong>\u3000Director<\/strong><\/strong><br><strong>Green Campus<strong>\u3000Director<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure style=\"font-size:18px\" class=\"wp-block-table\"><table style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>2020<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Earned a bachelor&#8217;s degree from Teikyo University, Faculty of Foreign Studies<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2020<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Joined Rakuten Group, Inc.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2022<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Founded <em>Pieces\u2019 FARM<\/em>, engaging in environmentally conscious avocado cultivation to address local challenges<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2023<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Founded <em>Green Campus<\/em>, promoting sustainable forestry<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-right:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">During my university studies in international development, I was introduced to social business and completed a two-month internship at Alphajiri Limited. In 2020, I began focusing on avocados as a new asset-building crop for poverty alleviation in developing countries and started researching avocado cultivation in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">After graduation, seeking a greater social impact, I joined Rakuten Group, Inc. However, I began questioning how my work contributed to society and who it truly benefited. This strengthened my desire to engage in social business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">In 2022, I relocated to Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and founded <em>Pieces\u2019 FARM<\/em> to promote domestic avocado cultivation and address the issue of abandoned farmland. The following year, in response to Japan\u2019s forestry challenges, I established <em>Green Campus<\/em> to conserve forest ecosystems through <em>Jibatsu-style forestry<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">I am committed to developing and promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry as solutions to social issues. My guiding principle is <strong>&#8220;Jiri Rita&#8221;<\/strong>\u2014the idea that personal well-being and societal benefit are interconnected. Through social business, I strive to create a world where both individuals and society can thrive and pass on a prosperous future to the next generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:64px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"952\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philemon-Ronoh-1-952x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-659 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philemon-Ronoh-1-952x1024.jpg 952w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philemon-Ronoh-1-279x300.jpg 279w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philemon-Ronoh-1-768x826.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Philemon-Ronoh-1.jpg 1143w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Philemon Ronoh<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:56% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"851\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joylene-Kanyaris.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-655 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joylene-Kanyaris.jpg 851w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joylene-Kanyaris-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joylene-Kanyaris-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Joylene-Kanyaris-768x762.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Joylene Kanyaris<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:64px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-nv-text-dark-bg-color has-nv-dark-bg-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-d97eef252312d5c7ba6a1fd48aef0c60\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">[ LOCAL MEMBERS ]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:48% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"894\" height=\"916\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Paul-Omindi-Onyango.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-661 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Paul-Omindi-Onyango.png 894w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Paul-Omindi-Onyango-293x300.png 293w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Paul-Omindi-Onyango-768x787.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 894px) 100vw, 894px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Paul Omindi Onyango<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:53% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"846\" height=\"822\" src=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peter-Onyango.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-663 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peter-Onyango.png 846w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peter-Onyango-300x291.png 300w, https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Peter-Onyango-768x746.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 846px) 100vw, 846px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Peter Onyango<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:55px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Board Members Representative Director Tomoko YakushigawaAlphajiri Limited\u3000Founder \/ CEOCanopyon Initiative Founder \/ Representative Director 2011 Graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington &#8211; Bachelor of Science in Political Science and French (Summa Cum Laude) 2011 Joined Norinchukin Bank (The Central Cooperative Bank for Agriculture and Forestry) 2014 Assigned to Kenya as a Japan Overseas&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/en\/director\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Members<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/?page_id=198","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-202","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","en-US"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=202"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":730,"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/202\/revisions\/730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canopyon.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}