Top 10 Leaders in Cybersecurity from Japan

Makoto Makita, CEO, GMO Cybersecurity By Ierae
Makoto Makita: Pioneering Driving Purpose-Driven Leadership in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has become a national priority in Japan as the country navigates increasing digital threats and prepares for major international events. With the rise in cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, government institutions, and private enterprises, Japan is ramping up its cybersecurity strategy to enhance resilience across all sectors.
This includes tightening regulations, fostering public-private partnerships, and investing in domestic cybersecurity talent. The Japanese government has been particularly active in promoting cybersecurity awareness and innovation through initiatives led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC).
Amid this, leadership in the cybersecurity space is crucial to advancing these efforts. Industry leaders are not only building technical solutions but also mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity experts and promoting ethical hacking practices.

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Top 10 Leaders in Cybersecurity from Japan - 2025

Japan has established itself as a global leader in cybersecurity dedicated to innovation, resilience, and technology development. Cyber leaders are creating and securing digital ecosystems, protecting against the increasing number of cyber threats, and safeguarding and securing critical infrastructures. Those contributions help to do so much more than protect; they provide frameworks and strategies for capacity building to support the development of digital economies, enhance national defence, and support international collaboration around cybersecurity standards.

Cybersecurity leadership in Japan is intrinsically connected and interdependent with several industries and sectors, from finance to manufacturing, from healthcare to telecommunications. National leaders put in place detailed risk management procedures, followed by extensive risk management policies, to ensure organizations remain private and secure, and maintain reasonable operational efficiency. National leaders also assist companies, particularly small and medium enterprises that are more vulnerable to attacks, with security solutions that help them develop in scalable ways.

This has contributed to marketplace confidence, allowing global investors to appreciate the investment and commitment that Japan is making to secure the country and organizations digitally. The advancement of technology has also accelerated leadership in this space. Japan's cybersecurity journey largely began with advancements in AI, cloud security, blockchain, and IoT protection.

Parallel to that international technological advancement, leaders have swept in and guided the development of many new automated defense capabilities, predictive threat detection and analysis, and secure digital platforms to help address the increasing complexity of cyber risks. As leadership over these strategies matures further, this is another example of how Japan has been able to combine advanced technological capacity with exemplary leadership to keep pace within global cybersecurity, while finding time to prepare for the future.

CEO Insights Asia in this issue presents a list of ‘Top 10 Leaders in Cybersecurity from Japan - 2025' who have leveraged their extensive industry expertise and experience in offering effective skills to the market. The following list has been prepared after being closely scrutinized by a distinguished panel of judges including CXOs, analysts and our editorial board. We recognize their valuable contribution to the ever expanding and competitive market and their ability to sustain themselves and emerge as top contestants through their reliable knowledge.

Top 10 Leaders in Cybersecurity from Japan - 2025

Company Management	Company Name	Company Description
Cartan McLaughlin, Founder & CEO	Nihon Cyber Defence	He has worked for 30 years in Japan in financial technology and cybersecurity, bringing industry expertise and insight, particularly in the financial and government sectors
Duc Doba, Founder & CEO	Tokyo Techies	He specializes in IT consulting, cybersecurity, cloud application development, software testing, SaaS development, web design, mobile application development, and more
Eva Chen, Co-Founder & CEO	Trend Micro	She led the development of a series of industry firsts, from pioneering unique security products to implementing transformative security management strategies
Kyotaro Maeda, Director	National Cybersecurity Office	With expertise in cybersecurity policy, threat intelligence, and international collaboration, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s digital security landscape
Lisa Landau, Founder & CEO	Threatlight	With two decades of experience as an executive in fast-paced, high-growth startup environments, she brings an understanding of corporate strategy, value-driven solutions, and more
Makoto Makita, CEO	GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae	His career is marked by a focus on cybersecurity, industry leadership, and continuous involvement in global security challenges
Mangi Leem, Chief Information Security Officer	Ly Corporation	With over 25 years of experience as a security engineer, he has spent more than a decade managing security organizations and leading teams responsible for legal, anti-fraud, security, and more
Masato Hamamura, Representative Director & President	PowderKegTechnologies	A professional in system engineering and cybersecurity, he has a record in system maintenance, security infrastructure design, and research and development in the field of cybersecurity
Shinichi Yokohama, CEO	NTT Security	He brings decades of experience in cybersecurity and IT strategy, and plays a key role in shaping the firm's vision for secure digital transformation across industries
Yusuf Purna, Chief Cyber Risk Officer	MTI	With over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and risk management, he designs, implements, and sustains robust frameworks for cybersecurity

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