Announcement Regarding the Planned Change of Representative Director and Chairman
The Japan IT Federation announced that Kentaro Kawabe will retire as Representative Director and Chairman due to term expiration on June 25, 2026. Kunihiro Tanaka is slated to succeed him. This change will be formally decided after the General Meeting of Members and Board of Directors meeting on the same day.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 15:32
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To Whom It May Concern,
May 12, 2026
Japan IT Federation
Announcement Regarding the Planned Change of Representative Director and Chairman
The Japan IT Federation (Location: Ginza Kobikicho Building 7F, 8-18-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) announces that Kentaro Kawabe, the current Representative Director and Chairman, is scheduled to retire upon the conclusion of the Ordinary General Meeting of Members (hereinafter "General Meeting") to be held on June 25, 2026, due to the expiration of his term.
Concurrently, Kunihiro Tanaka is planned to assume the position of the next Representative Director and Chairman.
Please note that this is a current plan, and the formal decision will be made after resolutions at the General Meeting and Board of Directors meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026.
1. Planned Change of Representative Director and Chairman
Retiring Representative Director and Chairman: Kentaro Kawabe (Chairman of Yahoo! Foundation)
Incoming Representative Director and Chairman: Kunihiro Tanaka (Chairman of Software Association)
Planned Date of Change: June 25, 2026 (Formal decision after resolutions at the Board of Directors meeting to be held on the same day, following the conclusion of the General Meeting)
2. Future Schedule
・June 25, 2026: Resolutions planned at the General Meeting and Board of Directors meeting.
・After resolutions: The formally decided content will be promptly announced.
[Biography of Kunihiro Tanaka]
Kunihiro Tanaka (Born January 1978, Representative Director and President of Sakura Internet Inc.)
December 1996: Started rental server business while enrolled at National Maizuru College of Technology
March 1998: Graduated from National Maizuru College of Technology
April 1998: Established InfoForest Co., Ltd.
August 1999: Established Sakura Internet Inc. and appointed Representative Director
June 2016: Appointed Director of Computer Software Association
June 2018: Appointed Vice Chairman of Computer Software Association
June 2021: Appointed Senior Vice Chairman of Software Association
June 2022: Appointed Chairman of Software Association
*July 2021: Association name changed from "Computer Software Association" to "Software Association"
[Contact for this matter]
Japan IT Federation (Public Relations / Secretariat)
Location: Ginza Kobikicho Building 7F, 8-18-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-3248-8871 E-mail: info@itrenmei.jp
End
May 12, 2026
Japan IT Federation
Announcement Regarding the Planned Change of Representative Director and Chairman
The Japan IT Federation (Location: Ginza Kobikicho Building 7F, 8-18-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) announces that Kentaro Kawabe, the current Representative Director and Chairman, is scheduled to retire upon the conclusion of the Ordinary General Meeting of Members (hereinafter "General Meeting") to be held on June 25, 2026, due to the expiration of his term.
Concurrently, Kunihiro Tanaka is planned to assume the position of the next Representative Director and Chairman.
Please note that this is a current plan, and the formal decision will be made after resolutions at the General Meeting and Board of Directors meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026.
1. Planned Change of Representative Director and Chairman
Retiring Representative Director and Chairman: Kentaro Kawabe (Chairman of Yahoo! Foundation)
Incoming Representative Director and Chairman: Kunihiro Tanaka (Chairman of Software Association)
Planned Date of Change: June 25, 2026 (Formal decision after resolutions at the Board of Directors meeting to be held on the same day, following the conclusion of the General Meeting)
2. Future Schedule
・June 25, 2026: Resolutions planned at the General Meeting and Board of Directors meeting.
・After resolutions: The formally decided content will be promptly announced.
[Biography of Kunihiro Tanaka]
Kunihiro Tanaka (Born January 1978, Representative Director and President of Sakura Internet Inc.)
December 1996: Started rental server business while enrolled at National Maizuru College of Technology
March 1998: Graduated from National Maizuru College of Technology
April 1998: Established InfoForest Co., Ltd.
August 1999: Established Sakura Internet Inc. and appointed Representative Director
June 2016: Appointed Director of Computer Software Association
June 2018: Appointed Vice Chairman of Computer Software Association
June 2021: Appointed Senior Vice Chairman of Software Association
June 2022: Appointed Chairman of Software Association
*July 2021: Association name changed from "Computer Software Association" to "Software Association"
[Contact for this matter]
Japan IT Federation (Public Relations / Secretariat)
Location: Ginza Kobikicho Building 7F, 8-18-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
TEL: 03-3248-8871 E-mail: info@itrenmei.jp
End