Sansan Co-founder and Former Mercari Executive Satoru Joraku Appointed COO/Secretary General; Global Authority on Legacy Giving Dr. Russell James Joins as Advisor
The Japan Legacy Gift Association and the Will for Japan Foundation have appointed Satoru Joraku, a co-founder of Sansan, as COO, and world-renowned authority Dr. Russell James as an advisor. They aim to accelerate the social circulation of an estimated 650 trillion yen in inherited assets.
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- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 01:00
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The Japan Legacy Gift Association and the Will for Japan Foundation (Location: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Miki Miura) have announced the appointment of Satoru Joraku as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Secretary General. Joraku is a founding member of Sansan Inc. and the former Vice President of Engineering (VPoE) at Merpay, Inc. Concurrently, Dr. Russell James from Texas Tech University, a global leading expert in legacy giving research, has joined as an advisor.
Under this new management structure, the organizations aim to fundamentally review the state of wealth transfer in Japan—where an estimated 650 trillion yen will be inherited over the next 30 years—and accelerate efforts to realize a society where "legacy giving is a standard choice."
Background: The Structural Challenge of "Assets Exist But Fail to Reach Society"
In Japan, due to a declining birthrate and an aging population, a significant portion of personal financial assets is concentrated among the elderly generation. While it is expected that approximately 650 trillion yen in assets will be inherited over the next 30 years, much of it is not being fully utilized to solve social issues or invest in the next generation.
Although legacy giving is fundamentally an effective means to circulate these assets back into society, it is not yet widely adopted in Japan due to a lack of understanding of the system, high psychological barriers, and complex procedures. Consequently, structural issues such as the uneven geographical distribution of wealth, the stagnation of resource transfer to the next generation, and a lack of funding for solving social problems have become apparent.
Since its inception in 2019, the Japan Legacy Gift Association has aimed to improve awareness and understanding of legacy giving domestically. To further accelerate these efforts, the association opened new management positions and appointed Satoru Joraku, a founding member of Sansan Inc. and former VPoE at Merpay, as COO / Secretary General. He will leverage his extensive entrepreneurial and management experience to drive growth within these social startups. Additionally, utilizing his engineering expertise, he will spearhead the organizations' adoption of AI and system development initiatives.
Furthermore, Dr. Russell James, the world's foremost authority on legacy giving research, joins as an advisor. The association will integrate the insights gained from his cutting-edge research, while simultaneously sharing its practical findings with Dr. James to advance the global study of legacy giving.
About the COO / Secretary General: Satoru Joraku
Biography
Co-founded Sansan Inc. in 2007, where he led the product development of the business database "Sansan." He also served as Director, CISO, and Head of the DSOC Center, driving internal security measures and R&D. Left the company in 2022 to join EARTHBRAIN Ltd. Subsequently, in June 2024, he joined Merpay, Inc. as Executive Officer and Vice President of Engineering (VPoE). As of April 2026, he has joined the Japan Legacy Gift Association and the Will for Japan Foundation as COO / Secretary General.
Comment
"Throughout my career in the IT industry, I have worked to deliver value to society through technology. Moving forward, I want to contribute to society on a more long-term basis through the mechanism of 'giving.'
Japan is a rapidly aging society, currently undergoing a massive transition as assets held by individuals are transferred to the next generation. That is precisely why 'legacy giving'—returning a portion of those assets to society—will play a crucial role in Japan's future.
Legacy giving is not merely a transfer of assets; it is a system that passes on the individual's thoughts and will to the future. Someone's intention will shape the next society. I find great significance in supporting this cycle.
Moreover, because this field is not yet sufficiently recognized, its expansion can dramatically change the scale of funds flowing into society. It is an area where each individual's choice creates massive leverage for society as a whole.
Through our activities, we want to make legacy giving a more familiar and natural choice, while fostering a culture of 'entrusting one's will to society.'
I look forward to working together with everyone."
About Advisor: Dr. Russell James
Biography
As a professor at Texas Tech University, he directs the graduate program in charitable financial planning, including legacy giving. He was inducted into the 'Hall of Fame' by the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners for his outstanding contributions to the field and serves as an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed academic and law review journals regarding philanthropy, and has authored 10 books on giving and charity.
Under this new management structure, the organizations aim to fundamentally review the state of wealth transfer in Japan—where an estimated 650 trillion yen will be inherited over the next 30 years—and accelerate efforts to realize a society where "legacy giving is a standard choice."
Background: The Structural Challenge of "Assets Exist But Fail to Reach Society"
In Japan, due to a declining birthrate and an aging population, a significant portion of personal financial assets is concentrated among the elderly generation. While it is expected that approximately 650 trillion yen in assets will be inherited over the next 30 years, much of it is not being fully utilized to solve social issues or invest in the next generation.
Although legacy giving is fundamentally an effective means to circulate these assets back into society, it is not yet widely adopted in Japan due to a lack of understanding of the system, high psychological barriers, and complex procedures. Consequently, structural issues such as the uneven geographical distribution of wealth, the stagnation of resource transfer to the next generation, and a lack of funding for solving social problems have become apparent.
Since its inception in 2019, the Japan Legacy Gift Association has aimed to improve awareness and understanding of legacy giving domestically. To further accelerate these efforts, the association opened new management positions and appointed Satoru Joraku, a founding member of Sansan Inc. and former VPoE at Merpay, as COO / Secretary General. He will leverage his extensive entrepreneurial and management experience to drive growth within these social startups. Additionally, utilizing his engineering expertise, he will spearhead the organizations' adoption of AI and system development initiatives.
Furthermore, Dr. Russell James, the world's foremost authority on legacy giving research, joins as an advisor. The association will integrate the insights gained from his cutting-edge research, while simultaneously sharing its practical findings with Dr. James to advance the global study of legacy giving.
About the COO / Secretary General: Satoru Joraku
Biography
Co-founded Sansan Inc. in 2007, where he led the product development of the business database "Sansan." He also served as Director, CISO, and Head of the DSOC Center, driving internal security measures and R&D. Left the company in 2022 to join EARTHBRAIN Ltd. Subsequently, in June 2024, he joined Merpay, Inc. as Executive Officer and Vice President of Engineering (VPoE). As of April 2026, he has joined the Japan Legacy Gift Association and the Will for Japan Foundation as COO / Secretary General.
Comment
"Throughout my career in the IT industry, I have worked to deliver value to society through technology. Moving forward, I want to contribute to society on a more long-term basis through the mechanism of 'giving.'
Japan is a rapidly aging society, currently undergoing a massive transition as assets held by individuals are transferred to the next generation. That is precisely why 'legacy giving'—returning a portion of those assets to society—will play a crucial role in Japan's future.
Legacy giving is not merely a transfer of assets; it is a system that passes on the individual's thoughts and will to the future. Someone's intention will shape the next society. I find great significance in supporting this cycle.
Moreover, because this field is not yet sufficiently recognized, its expansion can dramatically change the scale of funds flowing into society. It is an area where each individual's choice creates massive leverage for society as a whole.
Through our activities, we want to make legacy giving a more familiar and natural choice, while fostering a culture of 'entrusting one's will to society.'
I look forward to working together with everyone."
About Advisor: Dr. Russell James
Biography
As a professor at Texas Tech University, he directs the graduate program in charitable financial planning, including legacy giving. He was inducted into the 'Hall of Fame' by the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners for his outstanding contributions to the field and serves as an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He has published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed academic and law review journals regarding philanthropy, and has authored 10 books on giving and charity.
FAQ
Who is the new COO of the Japan Legacy Gift Association?
Satoru Joraku, a co-founder of Sansan and former VPoE at Merpay.
What is legacy giving?
It is the act of donating personal assets, typically through a will, to non-profits to solve social issues or invest in the next generation.
Who is Dr. Russell James?
A professor at Texas Tech University and a global authority on legacy giving and charitable financial planning.