Key Figures from Leading Japanese Manufacturing and Tech Companies to Speak at 'Manufacturing AI Implementation Forum 2026' Held Online on June 29

Stockmark Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Toru Hayashi; hereinafter 'the Company'), which develops proprietary domestic generative AI platforms and provides generative AI services, will hold an online forum specialized in AI implementation and utilization in the manufacturing industry, titled 'Manufacturing AI Implementation Forum 2026 ~ The Forefront of AI Implementation Supporting Japanese Manufacturing~', on Monday, June 29, 2026.

▼ 'Manufacturing AI Implementation Forum 2026' Event Site
Free participation / Registration here: https://stockmark.co.jp/ai-forum-2026/

Background of the 'Manufacturing AI Implementation Forum 2026'

Since the advent of generative AI, AI technology has continued to evolve rapidly. Having passed through the phase of proof-of-concept (PoC) experiments, the focus has now shifted to the 'implementation' phase, which concerns how to integrate AI into actual business operations.

While Japanese manufacturing boasts world-class quality, it faces serious challenges due to rapid market changes, including high workloads on the shop floor and the 'personalization' of knowledge held by skilled veterans.

In such times, what is needed is not mere efficiency. It is about converting the 'tacit knowledge' of skilled workers into 'explicit knowledge' for the organization, creating a 'foundation for people to take on new challenges' by 'implementing AI'.

This forum, themed 'AI Implementation' beyond AI verification, will invite key figures from Japan's leading large manufacturers and cutting-edge tech companies. It will explore the current state and potential of 'AI Implementation' to further strengthen Japanese manufacturing from multiple perspectives—management, on-site operations, and technology—covering data strategy, organizational design, business process re-engineering based on AI (AI BPR), and even 'Physical AI' that moves the physical world.

Event Overview

Event Name: Manufacturing AI Implementation Forum 2026 ~ The Forefront of AI Implementation Supporting Japanese Manufacturing~

Date & Time: Monday, June 29, 2026, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Format: Online (EventHub)

Participation Fee: Free (Pre-registration required)

Capacity: 4,000 participants

Organizer: Stockmark Inc.

Event Site: https://stockmark.co.jp/ai-forum-2026/

Key Highlights

①: 'Japan's Winning Strategy' Drawn by Top Leaders from Industry and Government

Speakers include the Group CTO of Panasonic, the AI Policy Coordinator of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the CEO of Toshiba. They will delve into Japan's unique strengths to hone and realistic practical knowledge from a management perspective amidst changing competition rules due to AI evolution.

②: Presentation of 'AI BPR' and Data Strategy to Break the PoC Wall

Practical knowledge will be shared, including Lion's AI-Ready data management practices supporting its 'future-predictive management' and Mitsui Chemicals' specific on-the-ground DX/AI initiatives and results. Furthermore, with AWS, the forum will deeply explore the 'AI BPR' approach of redesigning business processes based on AI.

③: The Key to Next-Generation Manufacturing: 'Physical AI' and the Current State of AI Technology

With NVIDIA, the forum will explore the forefront of 'Physical AI' that extends from digital space to the physical world (robotics, factory environments, etc.). Additionally, through a Tech Session by Preferred Networks, it will unravel the mechanisms to sublimate cutting-edge intelligence into a competitive advantage for Japanese manufacturing.

Program Introduction

Keynote Speech 09:00-09:40
What is Japan's Winning Strategy Left in the AI Era? ~ Strengths to Hone and Structures to Change Now ~

[Speakers]

Mr. Tatsuo Ogawa (Executive Officer, Group CTO, Panasonic Holdings Corporation)

Mr. Toshikazu Okuya (Counselor for the Minister's Secretariat, Director-General for Commerce and Information Policy, AI Policy Coordinator, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)

[Overview]

The evolution of AI is drastically changing the rules of competition. As technologies and know-how that were once advantages become commoditized, this session will thoroughly discuss the areas Japanese manufacturing should sharpen as its 'national and corporate strengths' and the structures that need transformation.

AI Trend Lecture 09:45-10:15
The Forefront of AI Utilization in Manufacturing ~ Company Initiatives & What is Currently Lacking ~

[Speaker]

Toru Hayashi (Representative Director & CEO, Stockmark Inc.)

[Overview]

From a unique perspective gained by supporting the implementation of generative AI and LLMs in numerous manufacturing sites, this session will organize the real current state of AI utilization, the bottlenecks hindering on-site penetration, and prescriptions to overcome them.

Corporate Case Study Lecture 10:20-10:50
How to Transition to AI Capital Management ~ Data Strategy and How to Move the Organization ~

[Speaker]

Mr. Taro Shimada (Representative Director, President & CEO, Toshiba Corporation)

[Overview]

This session will delve into practical knowledge from a management perspective, covering the overall picture of management and DX strategy to the difficulty of on-site penetration. It will discuss future prospects with a view to data integration.

Corporate Case Study Lecture 10:55-11:20
Practicing AI-Ready Data Management to Support Future-Predictive Management

[Speaker]

Mr. Norihiko Nakabayashi (Executive Officer, Head of Company-wide Digital Strategy, Lion Corporation)

[Overview]

A robust data environment is essential for making AI a powerful weapon. This session will explain the importance of AI-Ready data management and an organizational approach towards realizing future-predictive management.

Corporate Case Study Lecture 11:30-12:50
Transformation into a 'Global Specialty Company' Accelerated by DX and AI Implementation at Mitsui Chemicals

[Speaker]

Mr. Masao Sampei (Managing Executive Officer, CDO, Head of Digital Transformation Promotion Division, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.)

[Overview]

This session will publicly share examples of AI implementation that are producing results on the ground. Participants will learn about the real current state of company-wide DX promotion and practical knowledge for connecting AI utilization to true corporate transformation.

AI BPR Lecture 13:00-13:30
How to Redesign Operations Based on AI ~ What is AI BPR, the Key to Success or Failure in AI Projects ~

[Speakers]

Mr. Takahiro Kubo (Senior Machine Learning Developer Relations, Amazon Web Services Japan G.K.)

Genichi Nishimura (Product Manager, PaaS Business, Stockmark Inc.)

[Overview]

Transformation will not occur simply by 'adding' AI to existing operations. This session will discuss 'AI BPR', which involves redesigning operations while AI and people share optimal roles, incorporating challenges in manufacturing and on-site examples.

AI Trend Lecture 13:35-14:05
The Potential of Physical AI ~ Data and Mechanisms to Move AI in the Physical World ~

[Speaker]

Mr. Kazumasa Hirano (Director, Robotics Business Division, NVIDIA G.K.)

[Overview]

This session will explore the forefront of 'Physical AI' that moves the physical world, such as factories and robotics, not just the digital space. It will introduce the data and system construction mechanisms that support next-generation manufacturing.

Tech Lecture 14:10-14:40
The Current State of AI Technology ~ The Last Piece to Transform Cutting-Edge Intelligence into Japan's 'Winning Strategy' ~

[Speaker]

Masaaki Fukuda (Engineer, Preferred Networks, Inc.)