Ziv Nakajima-Magen

Deal Dynamics

Co-Founder & COO — Nippon Tradings International (NTI) / Nippon Bridge (NB)

Ziv Nakajima-Magen is a Japan real estate advisor and consultant known for helping overseas buyers, investors, and property owners navigate the Japanese market with clarity, care, and long-range perspective. As Partner & COO at Nippon Tradings International (NTI), he has been involved in Japan real estate advisory and portfolio support since 2011, building a strong reputation for practical guidance across acquisition, ownership, and ongoing management matters. Over the years, Ziv has become a recognized voice in the field for international clients seeking informed, grounded advice on buying and managing property in Japan. His work sits at the intersection of market knowledge, cross-border communication, and on-the-ground execution, with a focus on helping clients make sound decisions in a market that can often feel complex or opaque to non-residents.

Emil Gorgees

Buy Smart: The Fundamentals of Choosing the Right Home in Tokyo

Founder & CEO — RealEstate.Jp

A Tokyo real estate agent who specializes in helping foreign and mixed families find their perfect family home. Emil is an Australian, and has been living in Japan for the past two decades – nine years of which he’s been actively buying, selling and managing real estate properties in the city, on behalf of his own family and a great many happy clients. Emil also acts as a mortgage broker on behalf of his clients.

Blanka Kobayashi

How to Plan Ahead for a Successful Renovation Project

Director - Marketing & Public Relations — Ark Reform

Blanka Kobayashi is Director Of Marketing And Public Relations at "Ark Reform" - Tokyo's leading bi-lingual renovation & repair firm, providing comprehensive interior design, renovations and installations of residential and commercial properties nation-wide.

Tracey Northcott

Due Diligence or Disaster

Founder — Tokyo Family Stays / Tracey Northcott Consulting

Australian Tracey Northcott of Enfour, Tokyo Family Stays and Tracey Northcott Consulting, is a serial entrepreneur and multi-preneur based in Tokyo, Japan. She is one of the most successful AirBnB hosts in Tokyo. She also runs Software development company Enfour with her family as well as Tracey Northcott Consulting where she helps other hosts discover the true potential of their STR or AirBnb business maximizing their investment, enjoyment and hospitality standards.

Shu Matsuo Post & Brett Lee

Everyone loves free stuff...and cats

Founders — Akiya Hub

Shu Matsuo Post is a passionate real estate investor - his journey began in the U.S. in 2018, where he rapidly scaled his portfolio to 19 rental units in just four years. After discovering Japan’s akiya phenomenon & the growing number of abandoned homes, he saw an incredible opportunity. In late 2023, he has purchased his first akiya, and in less than a year, has expanded to six properties in Kanagawa. Now, together with his partner, Brett Lee, a serial founder, entrepreneur and investor who has built and scaled multiple million-dollar companies, they are on a mission to help others unlock the potential of Japan’s hidden real estate gems, via the establishment of the "Akiya Hub" online platform and community.

Alicia Qin Wang

2026 Update - Non-Residents Can Now Finance Condo Units

Managing Partner — Axolotl Capital

Alicia is a seasoned real estate investor in both the US and Japan. She has been helping foreign investors to acquire great cash flowing investment properties and obtaining loans from Japanese banks, as well as providing creative financing options to help clients purchase properties, identifying investment properties, profitability analysis, loan application & processing, and property management. She holds law degrees from both Japan and the US, and is also a licensed attorney, real estate agent and loan officer in the US.

Matt Ketchum

Creating Value

Founder — Akiyaz

Matt’s spent close to 7 years hunting down details and exploring lifestyle opportunities across Japan’s rural real estate landscape. With "Akiyaz", he is working towards building a more robust and reliable real estate data environment, while also offering clients buyer representation and brokerage services to assist in the often confusing akiya acquisition process.

Chai Kanda

Founder & CEO — Shiki Properties

Chai Kanda is a Kyoto-based real estate expert and serial entrepreneur dedicated to helping foreigners invest in and manage traditional Japanese properties. Born in Sydney to an Australian father and Japanese mother, he moved to Japan in 2007. Following a successful professional career, Chai leveraged his deep understanding of Japanese culture to found Shiki Properties in 2014. Today, his company is renowned as one of Kyoto’s most internationally friendly real estate and property management firms. With extensive experience in domestic tourism and strong government connections, Chai is committed to preserving Japan’s architectural heritage while making property investment seamless and profitable for global buyers.

Mark Drabkin

Founder — Yen Loans

Mark Drabkin is the founder of Yen Loans, a Tokyo-based non-bank lender providing mortgages in yen to non-resident buyers of Japanese real estate. He has more than 25 years of Japan-related experience across credit markets, real estate, and fintech investing. Before Yen Loans, Mark was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, holding senior credit trading roles in Tokyo, New York, and Hong Kong.

Ben Tanaka

Founder — Retire Japan

Ben Tanaka (also Shearon) was born in Germany, grew up in northern Spain, yet claims to be British. He has founded and has been running the widely recognised and popular blog, website, YouTube channel & online community "RetireJapan.com" since 2013, to help people living in Japan learn more about personal finance, investing, retirement, and life in Japan, in English.