Kunihiro Tanaka, Chairman of the Software Association of Japan, to be Appointed Chairman of the Japan IT Federation
Kunihiro Tanaka, Chairman of the Software Association of Japan (SAJ) and President & CEO of Sakura Internet Inc., is scheduled to be appointed Representative Director and Chairman of the Japan IT Federation on June 25, Reiwa 8 (2026). He aims to contribute to strengthening Japan's digital competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 00:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 15:32
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Kunihiro Tanaka, Chairman of the Software Association of Japan (SAJ) (Minato-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter SAJ) and President & CEO of Sakura Internet Inc., is scheduled to be appointed Representative Director and Chairman of the Japan IT Federation, following resolutions at the ordinary general meeting of members and board meeting of the Federation, slated for June 25, Reiwa 8 (2026).
Having previously attended government meetings as SAJ Chairman, Mr. Tanaka will now succeed Mr. Kentaro Kawabe (Chairman of Yahoo! Japan Foundation) as the coordinator of industry organizations in Japan's IT sector. He will represent the IT sector in conveying requests from member organizations to the government and making policy recommendations on issues that the entire IT field should address.
[Comment from Chairman Tanaka]
I am deeply humbled by the responsibility of taking over the baton from Chairman Kawabe and being appointed Chairman of the Japan IT Federation. The weight of this responsibility is keenly felt.
Japan's IT industry is at a major turning point, driven by technological innovations such as AI and changes in the international situation. With the advancement of a digital society, its importance as a pillar supporting all industries and social infrastructure is growing ever stronger. In this context, the role required of the Japan IT Federation is to consolidate diverse opinions through collaboration among industry organizations, deepen two-way communication with the government, and translate these efforts into effective policy recommendations.
Moving forward, I will steadily promote these initiatives and translate them into concrete actions by the industry, thereby contributing to the strengthening of Japan's digital competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.
[Scheduled Appointment Date]
Thursday, June 25, Reiwa 8 (2026)
(Formal decision after the conclusion of the general meeting and a board meeting scheduled for the same day)
[Biography]
Kunihiro Tanaka
(President and CEO, Sakura Internet Inc.)
Born: January 1978 (Showa 53)
December 1996 (Heisei 8): Started rental server business while enrolled at National Maizuru College of Technology
March 1998 (Heisei 10): Graduated from National Maizuru College of Technology
April 1998 (Heisei 10): Established Infoforest Co., Ltd.
August 1999 (Heisei 11): Established Sakura Internet Inc. and appointed Representative Director
June 2016 (Heisei 28): Appointed Director of the Computer Software Association of Japan
June 2018 (Heisei 30): Appointed Vice Chairman of the Computer Software Association of Japan
June 2021 (Reiwa 3): Appointed Senior Vice Chairman of the Software Association of Japan
June 2022 (Reiwa 4): Appointed Chairman of the Software Association of Japan
*July 2021 (Reiwa 3): Association name changed from "Computer Software Association of Japan" to "Software Association of Japan"
Having previously attended government meetings as SAJ Chairman, Mr. Tanaka will now succeed Mr. Kentaro Kawabe (Chairman of Yahoo! Japan Foundation) as the coordinator of industry organizations in Japan's IT sector. He will represent the IT sector in conveying requests from member organizations to the government and making policy recommendations on issues that the entire IT field should address.
[Comment from Chairman Tanaka]
I am deeply humbled by the responsibility of taking over the baton from Chairman Kawabe and being appointed Chairman of the Japan IT Federation. The weight of this responsibility is keenly felt.
Japan's IT industry is at a major turning point, driven by technological innovations such as AI and changes in the international situation. With the advancement of a digital society, its importance as a pillar supporting all industries and social infrastructure is growing ever stronger. In this context, the role required of the Japan IT Federation is to consolidate diverse opinions through collaboration among industry organizations, deepen two-way communication with the government, and translate these efforts into effective policy recommendations.
Moving forward, I will steadily promote these initiatives and translate them into concrete actions by the industry, thereby contributing to the strengthening of Japan's digital competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.
[Scheduled Appointment Date]
Thursday, June 25, Reiwa 8 (2026)
(Formal decision after the conclusion of the general meeting and a board meeting scheduled for the same day)
[Biography]
Kunihiro Tanaka
(President and CEO, Sakura Internet Inc.)
Born: January 1978 (Showa 53)
December 1996 (Heisei 8): Started rental server business while enrolled at National Maizuru College of Technology
March 1998 (Heisei 10): Graduated from National Maizuru College of Technology
April 1998 (Heisei 10): Established Infoforest Co., Ltd.
August 1999 (Heisei 11): Established Sakura Internet Inc. and appointed Representative Director
June 2016 (Heisei 28): Appointed Director of the Computer Software Association of Japan
June 2018 (Heisei 30): Appointed Vice Chairman of the Computer Software Association of Japan
June 2021 (Reiwa 3): Appointed Senior Vice Chairman of the Software Association of Japan
June 2022 (Reiwa 4): Appointed Chairman of the Software Association of Japan
*July 2021 (Reiwa 3): Association name changed from "Computer Software Association of Japan" to "Software Association of Japan"