Originally from Hyogo, Japan Yoshi holds an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), University of New South Wales. He is currently pursing another Master Degree of Digital Media Management at Hyper Island Singapore. Starting his career at advertising agency Leo Burnett’s Tokyo office (Beacon Communications) in 2001, he then continued on to Leo Burnett’s head office in Chicago in 2006, as the second team member in the company’s history to join from Japan. With over 18 years of international marketing experience for global blue chip brands, Yoshi specialises in building enduring brands and the commercialisation of products into new markets. In 2009, he founded cross-cultural marketing agency doq^® in Sydney. Building a diverse cross-cultural team at doq^®, partnering with clients from a broad range of industries, ranging from government institutions to start-ups, the company has grown significantly in the area of marketing products and solutions from Japan. In 2014, Yoshi was invited to speak as a cross-cultural marketing expert at TEDxTitech Tokyo. Since 2014, he has been appointed as the official Australian Market Advisor for the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan.

Managing Director, doq Japan k.k. (General Manager at doq Pty Ltd)
Originally from Osaka, Japan, Ko holds a Master’s Degree from Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Applied Physics. In 2002, he began his career at advertising agency Leo Burnett’s Tokyo office (Beacon Communications), leading the communication strategy, TV advertisement implementation and in-store visual merchandising production for one of the world’s largest global fast food brands.

In 2010, Ko began work for the Japanese eyewear brand JINS. During his tenure in charge of both marketing and PR, domestic sales climbed to number one in Japan, fuelling business expansion in to China and America, in which he was also a key contributor.

Ko also led new product development for a PC use eyewear product, JINS PC (currently called JINS Screen), a breakthrough hit product that blocks blue light emitted from electronic devices, which sold over five million units and brought the Japanese brand to a global scale.

In April of 2016, Ko established doq Japan k.k. as the Managing Director.

Originally from Hyogo, Japan, in 2005 Ryuichi started his career at a commercial facility production company, leading event management and PR. In 2007, he worked at ALIEN EYE, a creative boutique agency specialising in digital as a COO / producer. In 2013, the company joined the Mullen Group, where he then worked as a COO / Head of Platforms, managing digital marketing and platform development for many global brands.
Ryuichi joined doq® in 2017 as Head of Digital, establishing d.doq Pty. Ltd (doq®‘s digital marketing agency) as Managing Director.

Originally from Yokohama, Japan. Naomi spent nine years in Perth, Western Australia where she graduated from Curtin University with BA (Honours) degree. She started her career in marketing & advertising at McCANN World group in 2004 where she worked with a wide range of clients from different industries. Her main focus was Japanese blue-chip companies entering and operating in the Chinese market. After six years in Shanghai, she joined a Sydney based multicultural marketing agency, MULTICONNEXIONS in 2010. She worked as a head of client servicing. Clients included finance, telecommunications, FMCG and government. In 2013, she joined DDB Tokyo office as a business director in charge of an international automobile client account. She joined doq® in February 2017.

Originally from Yokohama, Japan, Mihoko holds a Master’s Degree in Tourism, Hotel and Event Management from the University of Queensland. Mihoko’s passion lies in connecting cultures and people through tourism and events, and began her career managing logistics for conferences seminars and receptions at White & Case, a prestigious international law firm in Tokyo. After joining doq^® in 2014, Mihoko has utilised her knowledge and skills to delivery campaigns and events for clients such as the Japan National Tourism Organization’s Sydney Office, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, Aomori Prefecture, Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau’s, All Nippon Airways and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

She holds the title of doq^® “Crew of the Year” for 2016 and 2015, an award given to the company’s most valuable employee.

Originally from Tokyo, Japan. Kota completed a Bachelor of Architect at the University of Japan. From the desire to contribute to people’s lives from the perspective of communication, he joined the JTB Communication Design Co. Ltd., a producer within the JTB Group, specialising in tourism promotion. He mainly engaged in tourism promotion of railway companies, local governments, business development related to regional activities and planning of public works. As the Tourism Nation Promotion has been promoted in Japan, Kota believes that it is an opportunity to build his career with global perspectives.
Kota sympathized with the vision of cross culture that combines different cultures and values, and he began working at doq® in April 2018 as Account Planner.

Originally from Yamaguchi, Japan, Akiko holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Chuo University’s Department of Business Administration. In 1998, she joined Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd, the company famous for inventing the instant cup noodle. At Nissin, Akiko managed sales promotions and events for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and Korea, among many other new product launches, product concept development, consumer research, package design, advertising campaign implementation and distribution management. Akiko is proud to have work and life experiences across Australia, U.S.A and Japan as well as her additional job titles which include ‘mother of two children’ and ‘cafe barista’. In 2013 she joined doq^®, implementing BtoB and BtoC events for clients such as Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Japan External Trade Organization and Hakkoda (Aomori Prefecture). Akiko is now back in her home country, at doq Japan k.k., where she is passionate about delivering superior marketing and event management support to the team.

Originally from a small mining town on the Gove Peninsula, Ellie spent much of her life growing up in South East Queensland, Australia. Ellie holds a Bachelor of Mass Communication, majoring in Advertising and Television at QUT.She also studied Japanese cross-institutionally at the University of Queensland and was awarded a scholarship to study a semester abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in 2011. Upon returning to Australia, Ellie decided to start her Marketing career in Sydney and has gained a wealth of experience working with agencies and some of Australia’s most successful B2C and B2B startups. Ellie loves Japanese culture and has travelled Japan extensively. She joined doq® to build on her cross-cultural marketing skills and to continue her passion for driving brand awareness with creative and impactful strategies.

Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Daisuke holds a Bachelor Degree from Waseda University’s Department of Commerce. In 2011, he joined Asatsu-DK inc where he worked with toy, video game clients. He was also involved in the formation of a broadcasting time zone called “late night animation” in collaboration with TV stations, contributing to the development of the Japanese animation culture. He is interested in delivering Japanese cultures to domestic but also all over the world. He began working at d.doq® in October 2017.

Growing up in both Georgia, USA and Toyama, Japan, Megumi holds a bachelor degree in Economics from Nagoya University, Japan. After graduating, she joined a global BtoB firm and mainly handled business planning with her statistic skills in Tokyo and Shanghai, China. She also experienced product management and CSR promotion in Toyama, Japan and Marketing in Guangzhou, China. Having lived in 5 countries and traveling over 30 countries, Megumi has always been inspired by new discoveries through cross cultural interaction and seeing Japan through different perspectives. As many countries expand their business in tourism, she joined doq® in 2018 to connect Asian and Western countries using her skills and experience.

Originally from Hokkaido, Japan, Kanako holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Tsuru University. After graduating, she joined a food company in Shizuoka and managed product launches, product concept development, consumer research, package design and sales promotions. She then moved to New York City and completed an International Business Administration program at the Manhattan Institute of Management whilst also working at a digital marketing company. Her time in The US gave her both theoretical knowledge and first hand experience working in digital marketing and with Western social media. Kanako has lived and travelled in a number of countries, which has enabled her to encounter different cultures first-hand. She is profoundly passionate about connecting people across the globe and aspires to facilitate social and economic dialogue between Japan and the rest of the world. She joined the team at d.doq® in 2018.

Originally from Chiba, Japan, Satsuki completed a Bachelor of Arts-International Communication. Throughout his degree he has focused on cross-cultural communication and global diversity, analyzing how culture, society and media coverage can contribute to how globalization impacts us. Satsuki has experience in the fields of public relations and social campaigns, having worked with local clients to manage campaigns and provide effective solutions. Satsuki is passionate about building a bridge between different cultures and thereby discovering the resulting value that connects the world together.

A native of Sydney, Australia, Sarah is currently completing a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney. A strong interest in Japanese culture inspired Sarah to study abroad and further her Japanese language studies in Kyoto, Japan during 2016 at Doshisha University. Sarah is passionate about introducing and promoting Japanese culture to the Australian market through international and cross-cultural marketing. In 2017, Sarah began working at doq® to start her career in international marketing.

Born and raised in Sydney, Ayaka is currently completing a Bachelor of International and Global Studies at the University of Sydney. Throughout her studies, Ayaka has been enthusiastic in exploring Japan-Australia ties, interning with Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan, and studying abroad at Keio University for a year. In 2019, Ayaka joined doq® as an intern, due to her combined passion for cross-cultural relations and love of both Japan and Sydney.

Born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia, Amelia has been living in both Japan and Australia since the age of 15. Following a one-year high school exchange in Tokyo, she studied a Bachelor of Linguistics and Intercultural Communications majoring in Japanese and Fine Arts. In her third year, she studied abroad at Kansai University of Foreign Studies. On return to Australia, she was hired as a cultural advisor and in-house translator for a South Australian Oil and Energy Company who was working with the Japanese government at the time. In 2015 she was granted a MEXT scholarship to study Sculpture at Kyoto Saga University of Fine Arts Japan from where she graduated in 2018 with a Master degree. After working in Kyoto in the hospitality and tourism industry, she joined doq hoping to use her communication, language and artistic skills in the international marketing world.

Originally from Okinawa, Japan. Wakana is currently studying liberal arts at Waseda University in Japan. Having interests in learning different cultures and perspectives, she went on studying abroad both in the United States and Singapore. Making the best use of those international experiences as well as her background of raising in a local area of Japan, she is passionate about introducing local Japanese culture to foreign markets. In 2019, Wakana started an internship at doq to learn more about cross-culture marketing with creative and unique perspectives.