Notice of "E-Politics" Reading Group Event

Shosukabu.com Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and Chairman: Yutaka Yamanaka, hereinafter "the Company") will hold a reading group themed on "E-Politics" (authored by Kumi Yokoe), co-hosted with the Nerima Political Research Group and the Civil Affairs Bureau 8 Monitoring Committee.

This book depicts the rapid spread of "E-Politics"—the expansion of internet use in politics as a whole—which was triggered by the 2000 US presidential election, through specific local examples. According to the introduction by Bungeishunju, it reports on the tremendous computerization of American politics, from election fundraising, opinion polling, lobbying, voting, to government services.

A major feature of this book is that it captures the internet not merely as a PR tool, but as a foundational change in politics, including election campaigns, grassroots lobbying, e-government, electronic voting, and even the new businesses surrounding them. Looking at the table of contents, it is confirmed that Chapter 1 discusses election campaigns using the internet, Chapter 2 discusses E-politics as an ally of voters, Chapter 3 discusses e-government, Chapter 4 discusses expanding related businesses, and Chapter 5 discusses future possibilities including electronic voting.

Furthermore, this book is unique in that it places citizens, rather than politicians or corporations, as the main actors in these changes. It provides material to consider how internet politics, which started from election fundraising and volunteer recruitment, will change the very nature of citizen participation, and how it will reorganize the mechanisms of democracy.

In this reading group, we will discuss internet election campaigns, grassroots lobbying, e-government, electronic voting, changes in citizen participation, and the possibilities and challenges that digitalization brings to democracy as our main points of argument. We aim to provide a valuable place for learning and dialogue for those interested in American politics, elections, digital democracy, e-government, and the relationship between the internet society and politics.

Book Introduction URL: https://x.gd/0ORWI

Author Profile
Kumi Yokoe
Known as a researcher and writer specializing in American politics, elections, and policy processes. In this book, she reports on the digitalization of politics advancing against the backdrop of the 2000 US presidential election.

Event Overview
Theme: "E-Politics" Reading Group
Organizer: Shosukabu.com Co., Ltd.
Co-organizers: Nerima Political Research Group, Civil Affairs Bureau 8 Monitoring Committee
Date: Late April 2026 (Scheduled)
Format: Zoom Online Event
Participation Fee: Free (Pre-registration required)
How to Apply: Please apply by sending an email to info@shosukabu.com with the subject clearly stated as "E-Politics Reading Group Participation Request".

■ Speaker Profile
Yutaka Yamanaka
Born in December 1976, he is a representative activist investor of the '76 generation, art collector, philanthropist, political activity sponsor, election consultant, policy advisor, social activist, and Akita dog enthusiast. Internationally recognized as an "activist investor who understands technology," he is the first Japanese person in history to achieve an asset building of over 150 billion yen purely through investment.

In the early 2010s, he focused on NVIDIA, which develops semiconductors related to GPGPU and artificial intelligence (AI), as an investment target, executing an investment of over 2 billion yen. As a result, he realized a return of over 100 times and became the first Japanese person to join the billionaire ranks purely as an investor.

Graduated as valedictorian from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo. Earned a Master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School (Major in Financial Engineering), and studied abroad at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Graduate School. Co-representative partner of Investment Brothers LLC, Chairman of Shosukabu.com Co., Ltd.