TEAM
Managing Partner
Yuko Mizuno
While working for Mott MacDonald Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of a British technology consulting company, Mizuno was seconded to Adaro Energy, one of the largest coal plant developers in Indonesia, under a project supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. After returning to Japan, she worked for a consulting company affiliated with a megabank, mainly advising on overseas IPP projects. She founded the PHOTON Group in 2014 with other members of the company to become a co-founder of the group. She is the managing partner of PHOTON CAPITAL LLC and co-president of PHOTON JAPAN LLC.
Partner
Taisuke Hitomi
Hitomi started his career at The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan. After serving at the bank’s Singapore branch, head office and NY branch, he became CEO of Yasuda Enterprise Development America Inc. (in Palo Alto), investing in US start-ups. He then established a joint GP business succession fund with the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation and became the fund manager. After that he supported business succession and MBOs at Asset Managers Co.,Ltd. (now Ichigo Inc.) and Merchant Bankers K.K. and was appointed as a director and representative of the investee companies. He joined the PHOTON Group in November 2016.
Director
Reijiro Okawa
After working for SHOWA LEASING CO., Ltd., a part of the Shinsei Bank Group, Okawa gained experience in investment banking at a domestic securities firm. He was involved in solar power plant acquisition, project management and listed infrastructure fund exit procedures at Ichigo ECO Energy. Now he is engaged in PHOTON CAPITAL’s development and asset management operations, including information gathering, analysis, financing arrangements, investment execution, investors relations building and project management for domestic solar power plants.
Senior Vice President
Kei Yamaki
Yamaki worked for Yamagata Bank in sales operations focusing on corporate and personal loans. Now he is engaged in PHOTON CAPITAL’s development and asset management operations, including information gathering, analysis, financing arrangements and project management for domestic solar power plants.
Vice President
Koji Shibata
Shibata worked for an accounting firm and a consulting company before taking up an accounting position at MORIMURA BROS., INC. While working at their Shanghai office, he experienced general administrative work. Now he is engaged in PHOTON CAPITAL’s power plant management, accounting services, financing arrangements and asset management services.
Senior Associate
Takuya Iimura
Iimura worked in manufacturing engineering at Koki Holdings Co., Ltd (formerly Hitachi Koki), where he was mainly responsible for technical guidance on tooling and prototypes. Now he is engaged in PHOTON CAPITAL’s development and design of solar power plants.
