MAIA Launches YouTube Channel 'Wakako Yata's Candid Business Leaders Talk' Hosted by Advisor Wakako Yata
MAIA Corporation has launched a new YouTube interview channel hosted by its advisor and former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Wakako Yata. The inaugural series features Fujitsu CHRO Hiroki Hiramatsu, discussing organizational reform and women's empowerment across three episodes.
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- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 02:59
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MAIA Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuka Tsukita; hereinafter "MAIA") announces the launch of a new YouTube channel, "Wakako Yata's Candid Business Leaders Talk," hosted by MAIA Advisor Wakako Yata, featuring a series of discussions with business leaders and practitioners.
On this channel, Wakako Yata welcomes frontline business leaders and practitioners to engage in candid discussions about the present and future of work and organizations. Looking toward 2030, the program delves into the changes surrounding society, companies, and the workforce—including organizational transformation, women's empowerment, and innovation—from a hands-on perspective.
To date, MAIA has been dedicated to developing digital skills and supporting employment for women, as well as providing DX (Digital Transformation) support in collaboration with local governments and companies nationwide. As society strives to allow diverse individuals to work authentically and participate in solving regional and corporate challenges, working styles and organizational structures are undergoing a major turning point.
In such an era, how should companies change? How should working individuals build their careers? How can the potential of regions and women's empowerment be expanded from the business frontlines? Through dialogues with leaders, this channel will broadcast insights into the future of business and working styles.
Channel Overview
Channel Name
Wakako Yata's Candid Business Leaders Talk
Media
YouTube
Channel URL
https://www.youtube.com/@honnetalk_wakakoyata
Content
An interview channel where Wakako Yata invites frontline business leaders and practitioners to candidly discuss the present and future of work and organizations. Looking toward 2030, it explores organizational transformation, women's empowerment, innovation, and changes for society, companies, and workers from a practical perspective.
About the Inaugural Broadcast
The first series will welcome Mr. Hiroki Hiramatsu, Corporate Executive Officer and SEVP CHRO of Fujitsu Limited, as a guest. The series will span three episodes covering the themes of "Organization / Jobs," "Regions / Women," and "Co-creation / Careers."
The discussion will cover Fujitsu's organizational reforms, remote work, and job-based talent management, as well as regional income disparity, women's empowerment, and the new relationship between companies and individuals.
Episode 1: How Does a Major Corporation That Sparked Innovation Work!? (Discussion between Fujitsu CHRO Hiroki Hiramatsu × Former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Wakako Yata / Part 1 [Organization & Jobs])
https://youtu.be/VFhA7JjXgrw
Comments
Comment from Wakako Yata, Advisor at MAIA Corporation
I have engaged with the "frontlines of work" for many years from the standpoints of private enterprise, human resources, labor unions, and government administration.
Currently, Japan is facing a major turning point, dealing with population decline, talent shortages, regional disparities, and the accommodation of diverse working styles. These challenges cannot be solved by institutional systems alone. I feel that it is the actual practices of companies and leaders taking on challenges on the frontlines that possess the power to change society.
Through this channel, together with business leaders and practitioners who continue to take on challenges on the frontline, I hope to frankly discuss organizational reform, women's empowerment, regional issues, and career formation, exploring new working styles and societal structures for 2030.
I hope many people will watch and that it becomes an opportunity to think about the "future" of working individuals together.
Comment from Yuka Tsukita, Representative Director and CEO of MAIA Corporation
MAIA has aimed to realize a society where everyone can work authentically and demonstrate their value through providing women with digital skills and employment support, as well as DX support for regional companies and local governments. Achieving this requires not only providing opportunities to acquire skills but also updating the mindsets of companies and society regarding working styles and talent utilization.
Through this new YouTube channel, featuring the perspective of MAIA Advisor Wakako Yata alongside business leaders and practitioners, we will share multifaceted insights into the future of organizations and working styles. We hope this channel serves as a catalyst for companies, local governments, and individual workers to think about new working styles and what society should look like.
Profile of Wakako Yata
Wakako Yata
Advisor, MAIA Corporation
Biography:
Joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Holdings) in 1984 and was assigned to the human resources department. In 1990, she independently proposed the establishment of the "Female Employee Ability Development Office (Women's Empowerment Promotion Office)"—the first of its kind in a private company—and worked as a dedicated representative to promote women's empowerment. In 2000, after serving as a Central Executive Committee member of the company's labor union, she became Deputy Central Executive Chair of the Panasonic Group Trade Union Federation and a member of the Gender Equality Policy Committee of the Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union.
On this channel, Wakako Yata welcomes frontline business leaders and practitioners to engage in candid discussions about the present and future of work and organizations. Looking toward 2030, the program delves into the changes surrounding society, companies, and the workforce—including organizational transformation, women's empowerment, and innovation—from a hands-on perspective.
To date, MAIA has been dedicated to developing digital skills and supporting employment for women, as well as providing DX (Digital Transformation) support in collaboration with local governments and companies nationwide. As society strives to allow diverse individuals to work authentically and participate in solving regional and corporate challenges, working styles and organizational structures are undergoing a major turning point.
In such an era, how should companies change? How should working individuals build their careers? How can the potential of regions and women's empowerment be expanded from the business frontlines? Through dialogues with leaders, this channel will broadcast insights into the future of business and working styles.
Channel Overview
Channel Name
Wakako Yata's Candid Business Leaders Talk
Media
YouTube
Channel URL
https://www.youtube.com/@honnetalk_wakakoyata
Content
An interview channel where Wakako Yata invites frontline business leaders and practitioners to candidly discuss the present and future of work and organizations. Looking toward 2030, it explores organizational transformation, women's empowerment, innovation, and changes for society, companies, and workers from a practical perspective.
About the Inaugural Broadcast
The first series will welcome Mr. Hiroki Hiramatsu, Corporate Executive Officer and SEVP CHRO of Fujitsu Limited, as a guest. The series will span three episodes covering the themes of "Organization / Jobs," "Regions / Women," and "Co-creation / Careers."
The discussion will cover Fujitsu's organizational reforms, remote work, and job-based talent management, as well as regional income disparity, women's empowerment, and the new relationship between companies and individuals.
Episode 1: How Does a Major Corporation That Sparked Innovation Work!? (Discussion between Fujitsu CHRO Hiroki Hiramatsu × Former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Wakako Yata / Part 1 [Organization & Jobs])
https://youtu.be/VFhA7JjXgrw
Comments
Comment from Wakako Yata, Advisor at MAIA Corporation
I have engaged with the "frontlines of work" for many years from the standpoints of private enterprise, human resources, labor unions, and government administration.
Currently, Japan is facing a major turning point, dealing with population decline, talent shortages, regional disparities, and the accommodation of diverse working styles. These challenges cannot be solved by institutional systems alone. I feel that it is the actual practices of companies and leaders taking on challenges on the frontlines that possess the power to change society.
Through this channel, together with business leaders and practitioners who continue to take on challenges on the frontline, I hope to frankly discuss organizational reform, women's empowerment, regional issues, and career formation, exploring new working styles and societal structures for 2030.
I hope many people will watch and that it becomes an opportunity to think about the "future" of working individuals together.
Comment from Yuka Tsukita, Representative Director and CEO of MAIA Corporation
MAIA has aimed to realize a society where everyone can work authentically and demonstrate their value through providing women with digital skills and employment support, as well as DX support for regional companies and local governments. Achieving this requires not only providing opportunities to acquire skills but also updating the mindsets of companies and society regarding working styles and talent utilization.
Through this new YouTube channel, featuring the perspective of MAIA Advisor Wakako Yata alongside business leaders and practitioners, we will share multifaceted insights into the future of organizations and working styles. We hope this channel serves as a catalyst for companies, local governments, and individual workers to think about new working styles and what society should look like.
Profile of Wakako Yata
Wakako Yata
Advisor, MAIA Corporation
Biography:
Joined Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (now Panasonic Holdings) in 1984 and was assigned to the human resources department. In 1990, she independently proposed the establishment of the "Female Employee Ability Development Office (Women's Empowerment Promotion Office)"—the first of its kind in a private company—and worked as a dedicated representative to promote women's empowerment. In 2000, after serving as a Central Executive Committee member of the company's labor union, she became Deputy Central Executive Chair of the Panasonic Group Trade Union Federation and a member of the Gender Equality Policy Committee of the Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union.
FAQ
What is Wakako Yata's background?
She worked on women's empowerment and union activities at Panasonic, served as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, and is now an advisor at MAIA.
What is the theme of the first episode?
Featuring Fujitsu CHRO Hiroki Hiramatsu, it covers 'Organization/Jobs', followed by regional/women issues and co-creation/careers.
What is the purpose of the program?
To share insights on new working styles and societal structures looking toward 2030, based on practical experiences rather than just institutional systems.