Professional Overview
Entrepreneur, cultural innovator, global project manager, public speaker, author, and bilingual business leader with 15+ years of experience spanning global finance, education, and tourism. Founder & CEO of Matcha Tourism, pioneering immersive matcha-based experiences that connect Japan’s 800-year tea heritage with global audiences.
With a foundation as a 5th-generation tea farmer, Masae combines deep cultural authenticity with international business expertise to build ventures focused on cultural preservation, education, and rural revitalization.
Key Expertise:
- Cross-cultural business development & global partnerships
- Tourism experience design & cultural programming
- Education & training (Business English, leadership, mindset)
- Project management & operations (large-scale, international)
- Multilingual communication (8 languages)
Professional Experience:
Founder & CEO, Matcha Tourism (2023–present)
- Develops end-to-end matcha learning programs, international workshops, and inbound tourism experiences rooted in Kyoto’s tea region.
Founder & CEO, ProEnglish / Artemis Japan K.K.
- Provides consulting and training for global business expansion and professional English education.
Global Financial Career (10+ years)
Roles at BNY Mellon, Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, ING Direct, Eli Lilly and Company, and State Street
- Led complex IT and business transformation projects
- Delivered large-scale system improvements and operational efficiencies
- Managed cross-border teams and stakeholders
Tokyo 2020 Olympics Project
- Managed planning and execution for international sporting events, achieving cost savings (~$2M) and recovering delayed projects.
Key Achievements:
- Founded and scaled Matcha Tourism as a global cultural experience platform
- Created a 30-day multilingual learning method, producing 1,000+ bilingual professionals
- Published 3 bestselling business/English learning books (top-ranked in Japan)
- Built and led international programs and events across education, tourism, andMore...