Yoshihiro Kono and Maya Kinoshita Selected as Judges for Cannes Lions 2026

TBWA HAKUHODO (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Wataru Uchida) is pleased to announce that Yoshihiro Kono, Senior Art Director, has been selected as a judge for the Design Lions category, and Maya Kinoshita, Creative Director at TBWA Media Arts Lab Tokyo, has been selected as a judge for the Film Lions category at the world's largest festival of creativity, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026.

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is the world's premier international advertising award, drawing attention from creators, brands, and advertising agencies worldwide. Judges are selected from among world-class creators who possess the insight and track record to shape the future of the industry.

For Cannes Lions 2026, Kazoo Sato, CEO/CCO of Earth Centered Design (ECD), a subsidiary of the company, has been selected as the first Japanese Jury President for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) category. With the addition of Kono and Kinoshita as judges, a total of three individuals from the group will participate in this peak of creativity, contributing to the establishment of global benchmarks from a global perspective.

[Cannes Lions 2026 Judges]

Yoshihiro Kono Senior Art Director, TBWA HAKUHODO Jury Category: Design Lions Works as a Senior Art Director at TBWA HAKUHODO. From 2018 to 2019, he worked at TBWA MELBOURNE. He handles art direction and design in a wide range of fields including advertising, branding, products, and TV programs. He has won numerous awards both domestically and internationally, including Cannes Lions Gold, LIA Gold, ADFEST Grand Prix, AD STARS Grand Prix, Red Dot, and ACC Gold. He has been a judge for the Young Cannes Lions Design category from 2024 to 2026. He is also interested in social themes and is involved in pro bono activities related to peace. <Comment> I am very honored to have the opportunity to serve as a judge for the Design Lions category at Cannes Lions 2026. I am sincerely looking forward to judging designs that will remain in history alongside talented individuals from all over the world. I hope to encounter work that moves society and the world through the power of design.

Maya Kinoshita Creative Director, TBWA Media Arts Lab Tokyo Jury Category: Film Lions Exclusively leads Apple's advertising communication in Japan. She has a bicultural perspective cultivated in Osaka and California. Previously, she worked as a copywriter at Dentsu, engaged in creative and PR work. Her major works include Apple's 'Shot on iPhone 17 Pro: HANA's Group Selfie,' 'Shot on iPhone 16 Pro: The Last Scene (Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda),' 'Shot on iPhone 15 Pro: Midnight (Based on Osamu Tezuka/Directed by Takashi Miike),' and Zespri's 'Kiwi Brothers.' She also performs as a stand-up comedian. <Comment> I am very honored and truly happy to serve as a judge for the Film category. In this era of great change driven by AI, I look forward to being involved in creating new benchmarks for the creative industry in the category with the longest history at Cannes Lions.

[Cannes Lions 2026 SDGs Lions Jury President]

Kazoo Sato CEO/CCO, Earth Centered Design Jury Category: SDGs Lions Born in 1973. After working for a major record company and a foreign advertising agency, he joined TBWA HAKUHODO in September 2010. In October 2024, he established Earth Centered Design, aiming to build a sustainable creative system. In addition to advertising, he handles the design of products, services, and public facilities such as architecture. He has won hundreds of international creative awards, including Cannes Lions, and has served as a judge and jury president. Winner of Campaign Magazine's Asia Creator of the Year. Master of Global Environmental Studies. Specially Appointed Associate Professor of Future Society Co-creation Innovation at Keio University Graduate School of SDM.

About TBWA HAKUHODO Established in 2006 as a joint venture between Hakuhodo and TBWA Worldwide.