Rob Claar, CEO and founder of healthcare investment, development, and commercialization platform HekaBio joins us to discuss how overseas healthcare companies can gain regulatory approval in Japan and put their innovations in the hands of Japanese doctors and patients.

Ahead of the Juneteenth holiday, we sit down with LaTonya Whitaker, executive director of The Legacy Foundation Japan, to talk about plans for the foundation’s Seeds of Hope gala at Tokyo American Club.

As an entrepreneur, the Mississippi native is well known to many in our community for Soul Food House, the comfortable and delicious oasis of authentic Southern food in Azabu-juban. But her work extends far beyond those flavors. In this interview, LaTonya shares her experiences learning about the history of June 19, the inspiration for the gala (now in its second year), and how the business community can get involved.

Can women overcome obstacles to fill Japan’s tech gap?

I would like to pause and reflect on the journey we’ve been on and look ahead with positive energy. Over the past several months, talking to leaders of companies large and small, I have found that they are fairly optmistic about the prospects for this year. They are hopeful about moving forward and getting on with business. Of course, there are challenges—supply chains, travel—but there is a feeling that these can be overcome as the ongoing pandemic evolves into a new normal.

Written by Laura Younger | Read by C Bryan Jones