Woonerf Inc. Appoints Professor Keisuke Takegahara of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies as Advisor

Woonerf Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroki Hiramatsu; hereinafter "the Company") is pleased to announce that Professor Keisuke Takegahara of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies has been appointed as an advisor to the Company, effective April 1, 2026.

Professor Takegahara has been engaged in cutting-edge research and practice in the field of sustainable finance for many years, possessing extensive knowledge in both policy and corporate strategy. In addition to having a wide network with regional financial institutions due to his long tenure as chairman of the Deposit, Loan, and Lease WG of the Ministry of the Environment's Principles for Financial Action for the 21st Century, he has served on numerous government committees, including chairman of the Nature Positive Economy Study Group, chairman of the Decarbonization Leading Region Evaluation Committee, acting chairman of the Regional Revitalization SDGs Finance Research Group, and a member of the Study Group on Disclosure Guidelines for Non-Financial Information, actively participating in policy discussions.

The Company has set value creation from a medium- to long-term perspective, including sustainability, well-being, and climate change countermeasures, as an important management theme, and believes that it is necessary to formulate strategies that accurately grasp the future of the business environment. Under the "Regional Future Strategy" emphasized by the government, Professor Takegahara's specialized knowledge is expected to provide highly effective guidelines for business promotion in the field of regional revitalization, which is anticipated to become even more important in the future.

＜About the New Advisor＞

Profile of Keisuke Takegahara

Joined Japan Development Bank (now Development Bank of Japan Inc.) in 1989. After serving as Chief Representative in Frankfurt, General Manager of Environment & CSR Department, General Manager of Industrial Research Department, Executive Officer and Deputy Head of Industrial Research Headquarters, and Director of the Institute for Capital Formation, he assumed his current position in 2024. He was responsible for developing the world's first loan menu that incorporates non-financial information into evaluations, and has long been involved in the planning and operation of environmental finance and sustainable finance. He has held numerous public positions, including at the Central Environment Council and the Industrial Structure Council.

Key Career Highlights

1989 Graduated from Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Law
1989 Joined Japan Development Bank (now Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ)). Served in Urban Development Department, Frankfurt Representative, Research Department, Policy Planning Department, etc.
2005 Chief Representative in Frankfurt, DBJ
2009 Head of CSR Support Office, Public Solutions Department, DBJ
2011 General Manager, Environment & CSR Department, DBJ
2016 General Manager, Industrial Research Department, DBJ
2017 Executive Officer, Head of Industrial Research Headquarters and Head of Sustainability Management Office, Corporate Planning Department, DBJ
2023 Director, Institute for Capital Formation, DBJ
2024 Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, current position

＜Comment from the New Advisor＞

It is a great honor to be able to assist Woonerf Inc., a highly specialized group of professionals who have played a significant role in introducing and popularizing international building certifications such as LEED and WELL in Japan. As the company expands its activities into urban and regional development, I will strive to make my past experience as useful as possible.

Woonerf Inc. Company Overview

Company Name: Woonerf Inc.
Representative: Hiroki Hiramatsu, Representative Director
Established: April 2006
Location: N-cross KUDAN 2F, 4-3-26 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://woonerf.jp/
Business Activities:
Woonerf provides support for green building certification acquisition, life cycle assessment, energy simulation, commissioning, decarbonization strategy formulation, and ESG evaluation services. We support sustainability initiatives for all building owners (private sector, public sector, research and educational institutions) and real estate sector stakeholders (investors, business owners, developers, contractors, designers, etc.).