Draft:Masato Kitaguchi

Masato Kitaguchi (born May 23, 1961) is a Japanese entrepreneur hailing from Osaka. He is a prominent figure in the entertainment busiess, particularly in music.

Outline:
In 1984, he joined Hanshin Railway Co. Ltd. In 1990, together with his superior, he established Hanshin Blue Note Co., Ltd. (hereafter HBN) and Hanshin Entertainment International Co., Ltd. (hereafter HEI) within the company, developing them into a comprehensive content business (PR, advertising agency business, web/mobile content business, marketing, customer management business, music publishing, entertainment business) under Hanshin Contents Link Co., Ltd. (HCL), with annual sales of approximately 14 billion yen and around 200 full-time employees. He possesses extensive knowledge in content business management (management, sales, PR, marketing, F&B know-how, etc.) and conducts business in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, having connections with numerous entertainment, content, mass media, and corporate executives nationwide.

Particularly noteworthy is his transformation of the brand from "Blue Note" to "Billboard" and the improvement of the business model, nurturing Billboard into a top-tier music brand domestically while concurrently laying the foundation for the content business of the Hanshin Tigers. Upon returning to the parent company, he engaged in founding and nurturing new businesses and served as M&A manager, conducting fund investments and corporate acquisitions. Subsequently, he returned to HCL as Representative Director, implementing system revisions, promoting work-style reforms, and initiating the development of new brand businesses for inbound tourism. He published a book on how to successfully launch new businesses within large corporations.

As of the end of March 2021, he retired from Hankyu Hanshin Holdings and stepped down as President of HCL, assuming an advisory role.

Currently, he has shifted his focus from corporate activities to industry-wide initiatives, serving as an industry representative in negotiations with the government for creating industry guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic and regulatory relaxation. He established B&EP Corporation and assumed the role of Representative Director, advising on the construction and operation of entertainment and venue facilities. He conducts research on the construction and operation of facilities suitable for Japan and supports the creation of new businesses bridging the entertainment industry, corporations, and the nation through various lecture activities (on successful new business ventures within large corporations, Japan-style arenas, etc.).

Other current positions:

- Served five terms as a member of the policy planning organization of the Kansai Economic Federation, the Institute for Social and Economic Research (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) Cultural Committee.

- Recognized as a contributor to the brand of Osaka by the Osaka 21st Century Association's Multitalented Personnel Selection (People who have contributed to Osaka's brand).

- Member of the Osaka Prefecture Brand Committee Strategy Meeting (Heisei 17-19).

- Academy member of the Academy of Gastronomy Japan.

- President of the Japan Live Restaurant Association.

- Vice Representative of the International Promoters Alliance Japan.

Main achievements:

 * - Founded and nurtured programming education and day service businesses. - Acquired the Dippin' Dots ice cream business and a photography event company. - Signed a master license agreement with Billboard USA, establishing Billboard Japan operations in Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama (including live houses, classical concerts, mobile services, charts, music awards, etc.), achieving profitability within three years. Currently serves as an advisor to Billboard Japan.  - Established the Hanshin Tigers content business (including TV broadcasting systems, mobile sites, publications, etc.).  - Built an advertising agency for media sales and sales promotion for the Hanshin Group.  - Founded Urban Music School teaching gospel music in Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, turning profitable.  - Signed licensing agreements for the New York Blue Note and jazz club expansion, leading to openings in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.

Brief History:
Affiliation:

- April 1985 to March 2019: Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka)

- April 2019 to March 2021: Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. (due to corporate integration)

Details:

- 1984–1986: Assigned to the Amusement Department's Amusement Division (Koshien Hanshin Park) - 1984: Joined Hanshin Electric Railway Co. Ltd, responsible for business planning for amusement parks, investment planning for amusement equipment, and event planning. - 1987–1988: Assigned to the Business Department's Business Division, overseeing planning for Hanshin Leisure Department, including Koshien Stadium, and new business initiatives. Participated in the company-wide team for acquiring land in Rokko Island, Kobe.

- 1989–2002: Planning Department Manager/Director/Executive Director of Hankyu Blue Note Co., Ltd. (HBN) / Hankyu Entertainment International Co., Ltd. (HEI)

- Produced the official Tigers mobile website business.

- Established a sales promotion team to promote group sales and advertising using Tigers content.

- Produced Tigers Eye, live broadcasting videos during games at Koshien Stadium, and established in-house production systems for photography and music publishing.

- Started music concert sales business at HEI, developing clients nationwide.

- Established Nagoya Blue Note's operating company, Manamusic Ventures, as a joint venture with local companies, serving as a director. Became profitable in the second year.

- Founded the Soul Bird Music School specializing in gospel music.

- Inherited Fukuoka Blue Note from Iwataya Corporation and started operations directly.

- Opened Osaka Blue Note (turned profitable in the third year).

- Negotiated appearances and built invitation systems for overseas artists.

- Involved in planning entertainment facilities for the development of Harbis Ent.

- 2002–2009: Executive Director

- Appointed as Executive Director of Hankyu Contents Link Co., Ltd. (HCL), formed by merging HBN and HEI2.

- Produced the first Billboard Japan Music Awards.

- Published and sold a total of 700,000 copies of Tigers DVDs and books in collaboration with Kodansha.

- Established Billboard Japan charts and provided them to the media.

- Launched consumer site "Billboard Japan.com" using Billboard content.

- Rebranded Billboard Live Tokyo in Tokyo Midtown and Osaka Blue Note in Harbis Ent. to Billboard Live Osaka and Billboard Live Fukuoka, respectively.

- Launched the Billboard Mobile site with Dwango Corporation.

- Signed a master license agreement with Nielsen Business Media.

- Established the LA branch and began negotiating appearances for overseas artists.

- Improved the advertising system at Koshien Stadium using the company's technology.

- Merged HCL with the group's advertising department and sign production department. Appointed as head of the content business department.

- Started the Billboard ringtone site business (signed a license agreement with Nielsen and mobile sites).

- Started Tigers' "Yearbook," "Wall Calendar," and monthly advertising business.

- Became a director of Manamusic Ventures, which opened Nagoya Blue Note.

- 2010: Executive Managing Director/COO

- Appointed as Executive Managing Director responsible for overseeing all company operations (music business: Billboard Japan, Soul Bird, advertising agency, sign production, and other Tigers content businesses).

- April 2012: Related Business Department Manager at Hankyu Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (Responsible for new group businesses)

- Returned to work and became responsible for new business development not only in the entertainment and content fields but also in IT, real estate, and new businesses along the Hankyu line.

Acquired two companies through M&A and established group companies and new businesses.

- March 2014: Business Policy Department Manager at Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. (New Group Business/M&A)

- Acquired a senior life support company.

- April 2014: New Business Promotion Department Manager at Hankyu Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (New Business/M&A)

- Established the "Prog Labo" programming education business in collaboration with Yomiuri TV.

- Started and nurtured the day service business, Mima Morume.

- April 2016–March 2021: President of Hankyu Contents Link Co., Ltd.

- Built the Billboard Classics business.

- Opened a new format Billboard Cafe under Billboard Live.

- Promoted work style reforms and revised the new personnel system.

- Achieved the highest profit in the company's history in the fiscal year 2017.

- April 2021–Present: Full-time Advisor at Hankyu Contents Link Co., Ltd./President of B&EP Co., Ltd.

Book:
"Bringing Billboard: The Salaryman's Journey" Diamond Business Planning Co., Ltd.

Notable Appearances:
Television:

- January 15, 2020: TV Kanagawa, Doremi File

- January 20, 2020: Sun TV, Shigoto Bitto

Radio:

- October 2, 2009: FMT Sound in Crossroad

- December 26, 2019: FM Osaka, Talking with THE BOSS (Interview on the book "Bringing Billboard: The Salaryman's Journey")

- January 8, 2020: FM Kokoro, Afternoon Delight

- January 2020: J-Wave Tokyo Morning Radio

- February 6, 2020: KISS FM Kyoto, Air Lounge

- February 7, 2020: FM Kokoro, The Magnificent Friday (Opening of Billboard Live Yokohama)

- February 18, 2020: ABC Radio (Interview on the book "Bringing Billboard: The Salaryman's Journey")

- December 1, 2020: FM Kokoro, CIAO 765 THE SHOW MUST GO ON Guest

- December 18, 2019: FM Kokoro, Billboard Premium Plus

- December 21, 2019: FM Yokohama, Travelin'

Newspapers:

- November 1996: Sankei Shimbun, People in Media

- March 22, 2019: Asahi Shimbun, Interview with Takeshi Kobayashi

- July 6, 2000: Asahi Shimbun Evening Edition, Became an Adult Playground

- July 6, 2000: Sankei Shimbun, 10th Anniversary of Osaka Blue Note

- July 8, 2000: Nikkei Shimbun, 10th Anniversary of Osaka Blue Note

- July 2006: Sankei Shimbun, City Bites

- August 2006: Sankei Shimbun, Opening of Billboard Live Osaka

- February 27, 2020: Yukan Fuji (Interview on the book "Bringing Billboard: The Salaryman's Journey")

- March 14, 2020: Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun, Challenging to Deliver High-Quality Music, New Business Ventures

- March 17, 2020: Osaka Nichinichi Shimbun, Regional Integration

- May 10, 2020: Mainichi Shimbun, Forest of Culture

- November 16, 2020: Mainichi Shimbun Evening Edition, Live Restaurant Association

- November 22, 2020: Kobe Shimbun, Outlook for Live Restaurants in the Era of COVID-19

- January 28, 2022: Sankei Shimbun Evening Edition, Interview - "Establishing a Music Business in a 'Stiff Company' - Part 1"

- January 29, 2022: Sankei Shimbun Evening Edition, Interview - "Inviting Prominent Jazz Musicians One After Another - Part 2"

- January 30, 2022: Sankei Shimbun Evening Edition, Interview - "Realizing Dreams Because You're a Company Employee - Part 3"

- February 7, 2022: Sankei Shimbun Digital, Interview - "Realizing Dreams Because You're a Company Employee"

Magazines:

- February 19, 2011: Billboard Magazine (USA), Billboard Japan Music Awards Name Exile Artist Of The Year

- April 15, 2019: AERA, Interview with Takeshi Kobayashi

- April 3, 2020: HOTERES (Interview on the book "Bringing Billboard: The Salaryman's Journey")

- June 10, 2020: Zaikei, Executive Photo

- July 29, 2020: Forbes Japan, CEO's Life

Web Media:

- August 4, 2008: Osaka 21st Century Association, Multi-Talented Personnel: Transmitting Music Content Business from Nishi-Umeda

- February 19, 2020: News Switch, Successful Strategies of Hankyu Hanshin Electric Railway's "Billboard Business"

Lectures:

- November 2019: Kansai Productivity Headquarters, Management School

- March 12, 2020: Marketing Communication Executive International, How to Succeed in New Business Ventures in Large Corporations

- November 2020: Kansai Productivity Headquarters, Management School

- December 1, 2020: Osaka University, Innovation Talk

- August 27, 2021: Conversation with Masanori Kanda, Dantotsu (Unequalled)

- November 2021: Japan Management Rationalization Association

Youtube: - April 8, 2021: "Billboard Japan's Strategy" - Business Opportunities in the Music Industry - Interview with Masato Kitaguchi, Billboard JAPAN CEO

Reference:
- Masato Kitaguchi, "Bringing Billboard: The Salaryman's Journey" Diamond Business Planning Co., Ltd./Diamond Co., Ltd., 2019. ISBN 978-4-478-08466-3.