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As a Space Evangelist, Mr. Aoki is a decades-long champion of the Japanese space ecosystem, working to promote its space business and create a robust private-sector-led space industry with his expertise in both the space business and space technology.
After receiving a master’s degree in aerospace engineering and a pilot’s license in the U.S., he worked at Mitsubishi Electric, where he developed Japan’s first spacecraft, Kounotori, and SLIM which is Japan’s first lunar lander and won a number of awards.
As the Co-founder and director of Space Port Japan, a Japanese hub to gather talents and resources of space industries and space port industries in Asia, he is credited with deepening Japan’s reputation as a key space innovation hub in Asia and promoting the spaceport business. He also co-founded SPACETIDE Foundation, Japan’s first industry-wide platform for accelerating NewSpace activities.
He has also served with JAXA and several government committees in his expansive space career. As an experienced investor, he has supported a deep bench strength of space startups for over 10 years.
Recognized for his strategic vision, Mr. Aoki continues to promote technology innovation and operational excellence within Japan’s space sector, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and responsible space endeavors.