Theme: Broaden Horizons

In the spirit of 'Ideas Worth Spreading', TEDxRoppongi is a TEDx organisation in Tokyo that serves as an empowering platform for the community of thinkers and innovators in Japan.

A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. With the theme of "Broaden Horizons", the 10 speakers are passionate to share their ideas in the perspectives of various fields such as neuroscience, intercultural ethics, politics, ethnolinguistics, entrepreneurship, effective communication, and personal transformation.

Along with these talks, TEDxRoppongi hopes to share ideas and concepts that challenge the traditional expectations and mindsets of the Japanese society that allow young generations to step out of their comfort zones and be exposed to an area of interest and difference.

Tokyo Academics
Nishi-Azabu 3-24-17 Hirose Building 4F
Minato-ku, Tôkyô, 106-0031
Japan

Alex Fazel

Co-founder and Chief enthusiast @ eLingo

Born in the U.S and raised in beautiful New York New York. Alex moved to the south of France at age 10 and got his first job doing cold calls and sales for major distributors in France. Went on working in the communication field until reaching the status of domestic sales trainer in Tokyo, Japan. Currently on a journey empowering people with communication coaching to help reach their full potential.

Douglas Busacker

Academic director at Tokyo Academics

Douglas Busacker is a lifelong learner, teacher, and communicator dedicated to enhancing educational systems through the application of neurobiological and psychological principles. He earned a BS in Electrical Engineer at the University of Washington, where the concept of an adaptive filter first piqued his interest in learning as a system. While teaching and training teachers extensively for the past decade, Douglas has been refining his teaching systems through research on the science of learning. Recently, at Tokyo Academics, Douglas specializes in teaching students and teachers how to learn and teach effectively.

Jiro Yamaguchi

Scholar of political science; Professor of political science at Hosei University

Jiro Yamaguchi is a scholar of political science. Born in 1958, he taught at the Hokkaido University School of Law after graduating from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law. Since April 2014, Yamaguchi has been a professor at Hosei University. He supported the 2009 transfer of power to the Democratic Party of Japan--now in the opposition--as one of the party's key theorists.

Jordan Kelker

Rapper & Manager of @lokyoVSeverybody

A military brat who represents Texas, was raised in Japan. At age 12 Jordan and his family moved to Yokota Air Base located in West Tokyo. Jordan explains what it was like growing up in Japan as a “Third Culture Kid” and racial challenges faced as a young teen into adulthood. Challenges such as self-identity and defining home, finding adequate housing as a foreigner, and constant stop and frisks by police, as well as some personal tips on how you can handle similar situations. Also, Jordan will shed a more positive light on being a Black American in Japan. Such as, modeling in Tokyo, making friends, and using who you are and what you can do to into a profitable advantage.

Maximilian Mackee

Director of BD/People; Origami / Co-founder; blackmaps / Sputnik: Whole Life Catalogue (Tripster)

Max Mackee is a half English, half Japanese, lawyer, DJ & entrepreneur. Max grew up in Tokyo, London and Paris and has travelled extensively around the world. While studying law in London, Max conducted interviews for the "Sputnik: Whole Life Catalogue”, a collection of interviews with musicians, artists, journalists, architects and other people around the world who are independent, open minded, and eager in what they believe in. Max went on to work as a corporate lawyer for a leading international law firm during which time he was involved in various other activities including co-founding blackmaps, an independent music and print label based in London and Tokyo. After graduating from INSEAD with an MBA in 2012, Max joined the founding team to launch Origami, a Tokyo-based start up looking to change the way people shop. Max is passionate about the potential of entrepreneurship to positively impact Japan and currently leads Business Development at Origami.

Michael Rajkovic

PhD Candidate; Entrepreneur; DJ/Producer

Born in a state that no longer exists, Michael has lived in 5 different countries and travelled to countless others. His experiences abroad, martial arts training, and interest in exploring the world have helped him understand the importance of adaptation, being honest with yourself, and taking responsibility and how these concepts are central in cultivating resilience. In 2009, Michael voluntarily left the comfort of his home in Canada and came to Japan in order to test himself and his abilities in a completely unknown, foreign environment. Reflecting on his bumpy 7-year journey, Michael talks about how being honest with yourself, learning to adapt to new situations, and taking real responsibility for your actions is necessary to move forward, staying motivated, and cultivating the resilience needed to face any challenge.

Richard Evanoff

Professor of International Communication, specialising in international ethics

Richard Evanoff was a speaker at the UN Conference on Dialogue Among Civilisations in 2001 and an invited participant at the Regional Workshop on Ethical Approaches to Climate Change Policies organised by UNESCO in 2010. Evanoff is the author of numerous articles on both environmental ethics and intercultural ethics, and of several books, including Bioregionalism and Global Ethics: A Transactional Approach to Achieving Ecological Sustainability, Social Justice, and Human Well-being (Routledge 2011) and the textbook Thinking About the Environment (Macmillan 1996). He is a member of the 5 International Academy for Intercultural Relations, the International Society for Environmental Ethics, and the International Society for Universal Dialogue. He has also been active in various grassroots organizations and NGOs concerned with social and environmental issues, including the Planet Drum Foundation and Friends of the Earth Japan.

Shoin Wolfe

Entrepreneur; Writer; DJ

Shoin Wolfe explores how taking gutsy risks is the best path to a satisfying life. He is an entrepreneur, writer, and designer by day, and a professional DJ by night. Shoin Wolfe left his life at a venture capital company to pursue his multiple passions. Now, he wants to show you why taking the safe path in life is not always the path to a satisfying life. Through personal experience of turning work-induced depression around by leaving his job and striving towards his passions, Shoin discovered that Joseph Cambell's “Hero’s Journey”, a narrative pattern that the most famous tales of fiction follow, is also exactly how we come to grow in real life.

Stephane E. Fouche

Harvard graduate; Market Analyst at Monex; Advisor at Taktopia; Director of Strategic Partnerships - Asia at NAAHP

Born in Canada and raised in Haiti, at the age of twelve Stephane E. Fouche moved to the United States following a Coup d'etat in Haiti at the age. After completing his high school education in New York, he went on to continue his studies at Harvard College and Kyushu University through the MEXT scholarship from the Japanese government. Interested in the influence of Japan on his native country of Haiti, Stephane started his career in Japan by helping build the Komatsu Summer and H-LAB Summer Schools in Japan. Through a combined experience of managing multiple programs and interning in Japan, Stephane has worked heavily in the business sector in acting as a bridge (架け橋) between Japanese and foreign firms.

Thomas Harwood

Founder and CEO ( AYCE CLOTHING LLC )

Tom Harwood is a young entrepreneur and designer. In this TED talk, he will explore how today’s educational system often fails to fulfill its purpose of cultivating children able to function in and improve society. Tom Harwood chose to leave formal education at the age of 16. Although this may seem like a premature decision, it has proved to be just what Tom wanted as he now focuses on building a career of his own, something that is tough at times but always more satisfying. Tom’s first-hand experiences of living a life without a class schedule have allowed him to realize that although schooling is a vital aspect of every adolescent’s life, there is no guarantee that it allows all children to thrive.