Sonic's Appoints Masato Onishi, Former PKSHA Technology Executive Officer, as Executive Vice President. Updates Management Structure, Embarks on Second Founding Period.
Sonic's welcomes Masato Onishi, former Executive Officer of PKSHA Technology, as its new Executive Vice President, alongside three new Executive Officers. This strengthens its management structure, officially kicking off its "second founding period" to become a "Mobility x Smart City AX Company."
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 03:05 (13h 33m after Collected)
Sonic's Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Takeshi Yoshizawa; hereinafter "Sonic's") announced that Masato Onishi, formerly an Executive Officer at PKSHA Technology, Workplace Company, assumed the position of Executive Vice President as of April 1, 2026. Additionally, three new Executive Officers have been appointed, significantly updating the management structure. Sonic's is now officially embarking on its "second founding period" with the aim of becoming a "Mobility x Smart City AX (※2) Company."
※1 Former Company Executive Officer, Company General Manager, PKSHA Technology, Workplace Company.
※2 AX: AI / AI Transformation
■ Background and Significance
In recent years, the mobility and smart city sectors have been undergoing dramatic structural changes driven by advancements in AI technology and data utilization. Sonic's has, until now, contributed to the industry's development with the purpose of "connecting people and things with software," through DX in living-centric mobility experiences and DX in town planning that supports daily life. However, to solve increasingly advanced and complex social issues, the company determined that a next-generation management and organizational structure is indispensable to dramatically accelerate the social implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and satellite data utilization.
Masato Onishi, who is newly appointed as Executive Vice President, served as an Executive Officer at PKSHA Technology, where he accumulated extensive experience leading numerous AI-centric business developments and managing rapidly growing organizations. Mr. Onishi's deep knowledge in advanced technology areas and his outstanding ability to scale businesses and transform organizations will strongly drive the realization of Sonic's new vision: "Mobility x Smart City AX Company."
With this appointment, Sonic's will refresh its management structure under the powerful collaboration of Representative Director and President Yoshizawa and the new Executive Vice President Onishi, moving forward into its "second founding period." Going forward, the company will further accelerate the development and provision of unique AX solutions combining mobility and smart cities, contributing to the construction of sustainable and prosperous future infrastructure.
■ Profiles of the New Management Team
Executive Vice President Masato Onishi
After founding a startup while attending Keio University, he joined freee Co., Ltd. in the early days of SaaS, leading business growth as the Salesforce Collaboration Manager. After serving as a director at a legal tech venture, he joined PKSHA Technology. As the youngest Executive Officer in the PKSHA Group, he spearheaded the commercialization of core AI-SaaS products, oversaw group-wide alliances, and served as an outside director for affiliated companies, contributing to the company's listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market. He possesses extensive experience in business development and management in the SaaS and AI domains and was appointed Executive Vice President of Sonic's Co., Ltd. in April 2026.
Executive Officer, Head of Development Division Takehiro Furukawa
Engaged in the development of consumer games at a game production company. Subsequently, spent over 20 years at an independent SIer. He experienced the rapid growth phase of the company from its unlisted period to its listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (now Prime Market), supporting organizational expansion and governance building from within. Throughout his career, he accumulated 15 years of development and management experience in the mobile domain and 3 years in the web domain, successfully completing numerous highly challenging projects as a Project Manager (PM) for over 10 years. He also has 5 years of comprehensive management experience in indirect departments such as sales support and quality control, promoting process improvements that connect technology and management. He joined Sonic's Co., Ltd. in April 2023. In the technology department, he leads human resource development and quality improvement for the engineering organization.
Executive Officer, Head of Sales Division Hiroshi Yahata
After 5 years in sales at USAC Systems Inc., he spent 19 years at SoftBank Technology Corp. (now SoftBank). From 2017, he served as Sales Manager, overseeing corporate sales divisions and business units for major clients. He joined Sonic's Co., Ltd. in February 2025 and served as manager of the sales and marketing department. In October of the same year, he was appointed Executive Officer. Currently, as the Executive Officer in charge of sales, he leads the formulation and execution of sales strategies for the company's further growth.
Executive Officer, CFO & Head of Management Division Takumi Sakai
After experiences at Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic) and Toray Industries, Inc., he held CFO positions at carve-out projects and fund-invested companies. He led sophisticated corporate finance strategies, such as establishing the finance department at APRESIA Systems Inc. and completing covenants handling and fund exits at Bushu Pharma Co., Ltd. He has 25 years of experience from large corporations to seed-stage companies.
※1 Former Company Executive Officer, Company General Manager, PKSHA Technology, Workplace Company.
※2 AX: AI / AI Transformation
■ Background and Significance
In recent years, the mobility and smart city sectors have been undergoing dramatic structural changes driven by advancements in AI technology and data utilization. Sonic's has, until now, contributed to the industry's development with the purpose of "connecting people and things with software," through DX in living-centric mobility experiences and DX in town planning that supports daily life. However, to solve increasingly advanced and complex social issues, the company determined that a next-generation management and organizational structure is indispensable to dramatically accelerate the social implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and satellite data utilization.
Masato Onishi, who is newly appointed as Executive Vice President, served as an Executive Officer at PKSHA Technology, where he accumulated extensive experience leading numerous AI-centric business developments and managing rapidly growing organizations. Mr. Onishi's deep knowledge in advanced technology areas and his outstanding ability to scale businesses and transform organizations will strongly drive the realization of Sonic's new vision: "Mobility x Smart City AX Company."
With this appointment, Sonic's will refresh its management structure under the powerful collaboration of Representative Director and President Yoshizawa and the new Executive Vice President Onishi, moving forward into its "second founding period." Going forward, the company will further accelerate the development and provision of unique AX solutions combining mobility and smart cities, contributing to the construction of sustainable and prosperous future infrastructure.
■ Profiles of the New Management Team
Executive Vice President Masato Onishi
After founding a startup while attending Keio University, he joined freee Co., Ltd. in the early days of SaaS, leading business growth as the Salesforce Collaboration Manager. After serving as a director at a legal tech venture, he joined PKSHA Technology. As the youngest Executive Officer in the PKSHA Group, he spearheaded the commercialization of core AI-SaaS products, oversaw group-wide alliances, and served as an outside director for affiliated companies, contributing to the company's listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market. He possesses extensive experience in business development and management in the SaaS and AI domains and was appointed Executive Vice President of Sonic's Co., Ltd. in April 2026.
Executive Officer, Head of Development Division Takehiro Furukawa
Engaged in the development of consumer games at a game production company. Subsequently, spent over 20 years at an independent SIer. He experienced the rapid growth phase of the company from its unlisted period to its listing on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (now Prime Market), supporting organizational expansion and governance building from within. Throughout his career, he accumulated 15 years of development and management experience in the mobile domain and 3 years in the web domain, successfully completing numerous highly challenging projects as a Project Manager (PM) for over 10 years. He also has 5 years of comprehensive management experience in indirect departments such as sales support and quality control, promoting process improvements that connect technology and management. He joined Sonic's Co., Ltd. in April 2023. In the technology department, he leads human resource development and quality improvement for the engineering organization.
Executive Officer, Head of Sales Division Hiroshi Yahata
After 5 years in sales at USAC Systems Inc., he spent 19 years at SoftBank Technology Corp. (now SoftBank). From 2017, he served as Sales Manager, overseeing corporate sales divisions and business units for major clients. He joined Sonic's Co., Ltd. in February 2025 and served as manager of the sales and marketing department. In October of the same year, he was appointed Executive Officer. Currently, as the Executive Officer in charge of sales, he leads the formulation and execution of sales strategies for the company's further growth.
Executive Officer, CFO & Head of Management Division Takumi Sakai
After experiences at Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic) and Toray Industries, Inc., he held CFO positions at carve-out projects and fund-invested companies. He led sophisticated corporate finance strategies, such as establishing the finance department at APRESIA Systems Inc. and completing covenants handling and fund exits at Bushu Pharma Co., Ltd. He has 25 years of experience from large corporations to seed-stage companies.