Waseda University Business School Professor Akihiro Iriyama and TRANBI Representative Discuss 'Careers in the AI Era' - Special Dialogue Series All 3 Parts Released!

TRANBI Inc. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Satoshi Takahashi), which operates 'TRANBI,' Japan's first M&A platform, has launched a special dialogue series titled 'What Kind of Human Resources Are Needed in the AI Era' on its official note account. The series features Professor Akihiro Iriyama, a leading management scholar (Professor at Waseda University Graduate School of Business and Finance), and our representative, Satoshi Takahashi. All three parts were released between February 5, 2026, and April 8, 2026.

Background of the Series

With the rapid advancement of AI technology, many tasks, including data analysis and document creation, are being automated. In an era where the value of 'the ability to solve questions with known answers' is relatively declining, the uniquely human ability to 'make decisions, take responsibility, and execute' is being tested more than ever before.

Against this backdrop, TRANBI has been advocating for 'Keikyari (Succession Career)'—where individuals gain real decision-making experience in the field of management through business succession—as a fourth career option, following employment, job change, and entrepreneurship. In this series, Akihiro Iriyama, a leading expert in management studies, and Satoshi Takahashi, our representative, deeply discuss the ideal human resources required in the AI era and how business professionals can forge their own careers.

Series Overview

Series Title: [Special Dialogue] Is business consulting no longer needed? What kind of human resources are required in the AI era?

Publication Medium: TRANBI Official Note https://note.com/tranbi

Speakers:

Akihiro Iriyama | Professor, Waseda University Graduate School of Business and Finance, Waseda University Business School

Satoshi Takahashi | Representative Director CEO, TRANBI Inc.

Content Delivery:

Part 1: Released February 5, 2026 ── The Role of Humans in the AI Era and the Importance of 'Experience'

Part 2: Released March 2, 2026 ── How Individuals Build Their Careers in an Era of Major Restructuring

Part 3: Released April 8, 2026 ── What if I bought a company? Professor Iriyama considers 'Keikyari' while looking at actual cases

Overall Points

This dialogue series, themed 'Keikyari (Continuing Career),' delves into the importance for individuals to proactively update their careers without being dependent on their environment.

Part 1 highlights the limits of growth that arise from staying in a homogeneous environment and the value of expanded perspectives gained through 'cross-border experiences.' Part 2 discusses practical approaches to creating opportunities and broadening career options through concrete means such as side businesses and M&A. Part 3 uses actual M&A cases as a subject, discussing decision-making and value assessment based on real examples, presenting Keikyari not as a 'theoretical concept' but as a realistic option.

The content is full of hints for those new to Keikyari or those struggling with their current careers.

Comment from Satoshi Takahashi, Representative Director CEO, TRANBI Inc.

In the AI era, the value of 'people who can make decisions' is increasing more and more. However, this skill is difficult to acquire in classrooms or through training. I believe that the experience of making judgments, executing them, and accepting the results under one's own responsibility in the context of business succession is what truly trains people. Through this dialogue with Professor Iriyama, I hope that the option of Keikyari will reach as many business professionals as possible.

About the Keikyari Promotion Project

This project promotes 'Keigyo (Succession Career)' as an option that simultaneously addresses the social issue of a lack of successors and facilitates career advancement for business professionals. By succeeding an existing business, individuals can acquire practical management experience and decision-making skills that are difficult to obtain through starting a business from scratch.

Project HP: https://www.tranbi.com/buy/inherit/ 

Members: TRANBI Inc., Professor Akihiro Iriyama (Waseda University Business School), Professor Kensuke Tanaka (Hosei University, Faculty of Career Design / Representative Director, Protean Career Association)

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■About the Business Succession/M&A Matching Platform 'TRANBI'

TRANBI, launched in 2011, is Japan's first business succession and M&A matching platform. It provides an online space where individuals and corporations, regardless of industry or business size, can connect 'sellers' and 'buyers' from anywhere in the country, aiming to create a society where anyone can pursue M&A.

It offers sellers services like anonymous listing of cases and accompanying support, and provides buyers with the ability to search and negotiate for businesses that meet their desired criteria. Furthermore, by collaborating with financial institutions, local governments, and business succession/handover support centers nationwide, it is committed to supporting small M&A rooted in local communities and assisting companies facing a lack of successors.

In 2021, the pricing structure was revamped from a success fee model to a monthly flat rate, establishing a system that is easier for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals to use.

Under the slogan 'TRANBI for your first M&A,' the company is working to expand the reach of M&A through support services for sellers and by operating an online community (with over 5,000 participants) that connects users aspiring to engage in side businesses and M&A. By 2025, the number of registered users exceeded 200,000, demonstrating widespread adoption.

URL: https://www.tranbi.com/

【Company Profile】

■TRANBI Inc. (https://www.tranbi.com)

【Company Name】TRANBI Inc.　　　

【Representative Director】Satoshi Takahashi　　　

【Established】April 2016

【Business Activities】Planning and operation of the M&A platform 'TRANBI', and other related businesses.

Primarily provides a service that directly matches business sellers and buyers online. It has abolished success fees and is expanding as an M&A platform that can be used by small businesses regardless of business size.

＊ Official Note https://note.com/tranbi

＊ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tranbima/

＊ X https://twitter.com/tranbi_tw

＊ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tranbi_ma/