(Joint Release) Japan Airlines Ventures Joins Silicon Valley-Originated CVC Community 'Counter Club Japan'
Japan Airlines Ventures (JALV), the CVC arm of Japan Airlines, has joined Counter Club Japan (CCJ), a community for CVC and innovation professionals. JALV Managing Partner Shiro Matsuzaki has been appointed as an inaugural ambassador to help bridge the innovation gap for Japanese companies.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 22:20
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April 23, 2026
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Japan Airlines Ventures, Inc.
Japan Airlines Ventures, Inc. (Masato Kunezaki, CEO; hereinafter "JALV") (*1), a 100% owned investment subsidiary of JAL, has joined "Counter Club Japan (CCJ)," a community for CVC and new business developers launched by Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Counterpart Ventures. In addition, Shiro Matsuzaki, Managing Partner of JALV, has been selected as one of the inaugural ambassadors for CCJ (*2).
(From left) Shiro Matsuzaki, Japan Airlines Ventures; Yusuke Saijo, Counterpart Ventures
As the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of the JAL Group, JALV actively invests in "frontier fields" that explore the future of the aviation industry, building on core areas such as aviation, mileage, and environment, as well as next-generation mobility fields, with the goal of achieving JAL's long-term growth and social transformation (*3).
The purpose of joining CCJ is to contribute to solving innovation challenges faced by Japanese companies (such as the information gap regarding global trends, uneven distribution of CVC management expertise, and complex decision-making processes) by giving back JALV's CVC knowledge and global network to the community. At the same time, by utilizing the new CVC network and cutting-edge insights gained through participation in CCJ, JALV aims to further accelerate the creation of new businesses and the transformation of existing businesses throughout the JAL Group, while playing a role in the development of Japan's overall innovation ecosystem.
JAL and JALV will continue to challenge themselves to create new value that leads to contributions to the future global society through co-creation with companies around the world.
(*1) JALV Official Website: https://japanairlinesventures.com/
(*2) Counter Club Japan Press Release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000179654.html
(*3) Press Release dated March 3, 2026 | JAL Establishes New Self-Operated CVC Fund "JAL Innovation Fund II": https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/202603/009383.html
[Overview of Counter Club Japan]
CCJ was pre-launched in February 2026 as the Japanese hub of "Counter Club," a global network in which 750 CVCs and over 1,700 capitalists worldwide participate. It is growing rapidly as a place where Japanese CVC and new business developers share practical experience and knowledge, promoting practical collaboration and co-creation, with over 300 registered participants.
URL: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000179654.html
■ Comments on the Appointment of Ambassador
Shiro Matsuzaki, Managing Partner, Japan Airlines Ventures
"Those who gather here are not defined by their titles, but by their indomitable will to 'change the world from Japan.' Together with the members of CCJ, I look forward to creating new trends in Japanese CVC, contributing to the resolution of innovation challenges faced by Japanese companies, and enriching Japan's innovation ecosystem."
Yusuke Saijo, Co-founder, Counterpart Ventures
"We are pleased to welcome Japan Airlines Ventures, which develops CVC activities globally, as a CCJ member and ambassador. They will share their practical experience from CVC planning to execution as case studies. I am confident that sharing Mr. Matsuzaki's past efforts and the passion that supports them will be a valuable learning opportunity for CCJ. Through CCJ, we will contribute to the evolution of many Japanese CVCs and, beyond that, to the development of innovation in Japan."
End
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
Japan Airlines Ventures, Inc.
Japan Airlines Ventures, Inc. (Masato Kunezaki, CEO; hereinafter "JALV") (*1), a 100% owned investment subsidiary of JAL, has joined "Counter Club Japan (CCJ)," a community for CVC and new business developers launched by Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Counterpart Ventures. In addition, Shiro Matsuzaki, Managing Partner of JALV, has been selected as one of the inaugural ambassadors for CCJ (*2).
(From left) Shiro Matsuzaki, Japan Airlines Ventures; Yusuke Saijo, Counterpart Ventures
As the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of the JAL Group, JALV actively invests in "frontier fields" that explore the future of the aviation industry, building on core areas such as aviation, mileage, and environment, as well as next-generation mobility fields, with the goal of achieving JAL's long-term growth and social transformation (*3).
The purpose of joining CCJ is to contribute to solving innovation challenges faced by Japanese companies (such as the information gap regarding global trends, uneven distribution of CVC management expertise, and complex decision-making processes) by giving back JALV's CVC knowledge and global network to the community. At the same time, by utilizing the new CVC network and cutting-edge insights gained through participation in CCJ, JALV aims to further accelerate the creation of new businesses and the transformation of existing businesses throughout the JAL Group, while playing a role in the development of Japan's overall innovation ecosystem.
JAL and JALV will continue to challenge themselves to create new value that leads to contributions to the future global society through co-creation with companies around the world.
(*1) JALV Official Website: https://japanairlinesventures.com/
(*2) Counter Club Japan Press Release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000004.000179654.html
(*3) Press Release dated March 3, 2026 | JAL Establishes New Self-Operated CVC Fund "JAL Innovation Fund II": https://press.jal.co.jp/ja/release/202603/009383.html
[Overview of Counter Club Japan]
CCJ was pre-launched in February 2026 as the Japanese hub of "Counter Club," a global network in which 750 CVCs and over 1,700 capitalists worldwide participate. It is growing rapidly as a place where Japanese CVC and new business developers share practical experience and knowledge, promoting practical collaboration and co-creation, with over 300 registered participants.
URL: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000179654.html
■ Comments on the Appointment of Ambassador
Shiro Matsuzaki, Managing Partner, Japan Airlines Ventures
"Those who gather here are not defined by their titles, but by their indomitable will to 'change the world from Japan.' Together with the members of CCJ, I look forward to creating new trends in Japanese CVC, contributing to the resolution of innovation challenges faced by Japanese companies, and enriching Japan's innovation ecosystem."
Yusuke Saijo, Co-founder, Counterpart Ventures
"We are pleased to welcome Japan Airlines Ventures, which develops CVC activities globally, as a CCJ member and ambassador. They will share their practical experience from CVC planning to execution as case studies. I am confident that sharing Mr. Matsuzaki's past efforts and the passion that supports them will be a valuable learning opportunity for CCJ. Through CCJ, we will contribute to the evolution of many Japanese CVCs and, beyond that, to the development of innovation in Japan."
End