Koh Matsuki (Proxy Watcher CEO) talked with Ms. Monica Nagashima from Influence Map and Ms. Ayako Nomizu from PRI/CA100+ (From 3rd Episode)
■ Proxy Watcher introduces constructive dialogue on ESG investment with established professionals.
Corporate Japan’s long-standing management issues include delays in taking measures to combat climate change, the gender pay gap, and the lack of female directors. However, the situation changed in June 2015 when the Financial Services Agency and the Tokyo Stock Exchange applied the Corporate Governance Code. With international companies becoming more aware of “stakeholder capitalism,” dialogue between Japanese companies, investors, and stakeholders is becoming more common.
Investors pay close attention to Japanese companies’ investments in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). These investments include shareholder proposals related to climate change countermeasures, business and human rights issues, and requests for disclosure regarding corporate lobbying activities. Japanese companies are under pressure to understand and address these diverse needs.
Proxy Watcher, a corporation that supports dialogue between Japanese companies and the world, will have Ko Matsuki, its representative, welcome experts in the field of ESG investment as guests to discuss changes in Japanese companies.
8bitNews will stream the first five episodes for five consecutive nights on the official YouTube channel “8bitNews <Jun Hori>” starting at 7 PM on Tuesday, June 11th.
Channel link: https://www.youtube.com/@8bitnewsAsia
Playlist
■ About 8bitNews
8bitNews operates as a media outlet with former NHK caster and journalist Mr. Jun Hori and his colleagues updating their daily reporting. 8bitNews provides citizens with a mechanism to disseminate information themselves through videos and news releases. These projects promote an environment where citizens can be more actively involved in shareholder activity.
■ About 8bitNews Representative / Journalist Mr. Jun Hori (Host)
Representative Director of the Institute for “Watashi wo Kodobani Suru Kenkusyo”
GARDEN Co., Ltd. CEO/NPO 8bitNews Representative Director
Journalist, former NHK newscaster
8bitNews Representative Director / GARDEN CEO / Visiting Researcher, Waseda University Institute for Global Science and Knowledge Fusion
Jun Hori joined NHK in 2001 as a reporter for “News Watch 9” and caster for “Biz Sports.” He later became a visiting researcher at UCLA in 2012 and produced the documentary film “Metamorphosis,” following the nuclear meltdown accidents in Japan and the United States. Jun released the movie “I Will Not Tolerate Division” (director, cinematographer, editor, narration) in March 2020 and currently appears on TOKYO MX’s “Hori Jun Morning FLAG” as a caster and ABEMA’s “ABEMA Prime” as a commentator.
Business content
HP：https://8bitnews.org/
Youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@8bitnewsAsia
■ About Koh Matsuki (MC for the program)
Koh Matsuki, CEO of Proxy Watcher, supports dialogue between Japanese listed companies and global shareholders. Proxy Watcher, provides shareholder consulting to improve the long-term value of Japanese companies, visualize how investors exercise voting rights at shareholder meetings, and select management leaders to revise rules.
From 2018 to 2020, working as a reporter for the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Matsuki covered activist funds and learned about the dynamism brought about by dialogue between companies and shareholders. Koh founded Proxy Watcher in 2021 to accelerate changes in Japan’s corporate society through shareholder dialogue. He later created “Settle Smooth Japan” to help foreign professionals resolve concerns about immigrating to Japan.
Media
– Shoji Homu “Let’s Ask ESG Shareholders” (currently serialized bimonthly)
– Monex Online “Activist Times” (currently serialized monthly)
– Kobe Shimbun “Eyes on the Currents” (June 15, 2022)
– Shukan Gendai (in addition to the June 2023 issue)
– GLOBIS Insights, and Asian Investors also publish information about shareholder dialogue across borders.
Panels & Lectures etc.
Koh executes webinar sessions with management teams of listed and domestic securities companies to learn about the needs of shareholders worldwide. Koh also moderated a session about ESG engagement RI Japan 2023/2024, one of the most significant events in Japan on responsible investment. He also moderated a session “Next Generation Summit 2022,” hosted by the US-Japan Council.
https://proxywatcher.jp/ (Proxy Watcher)
https://settlesmoothjapan.com/ (Settle Smooth Japan)
