Forbes JAPAN has named our representative, Takaya Mitsunaga, to its “NEXT100” list, recognizing him as one of the 100 global innovators shaping the future and bringing hope to the world.

Representative Profile:

Takaya Mitsunaga
Representative Director of HYTEK Inc.

Born in Chiba Prefecture, Mitsunaga was first introduced to performance culture at the age of 12 when he encountered street basketball courts near Kaihin Makuhari Station. This experience profoundly influenced his life and career. After enrolling at Keio University, he took a leave of absence to travel to the United States, where he immersed himself in the performing arts. Upon returning to Japan, he balanced a dual life for five years—working as a creative professional at Hakuhodo during the week and performing as an artist and director on weekends under the alias “mic.”

In 2015, Mitsunaga founded HYTEK INC., a tech-entertainment label. As a creative professional, he has led global client campaigns in promotion, PR, and copywriting, earning awards across media, art, copywriting, and innovation. As a performing artist, he has gained international recognition for his freestyle basketball and dance performances, which creatively utilize physical expression within the constraints of objects, spaces, and contexts. In February 2018, he made history as the first Japanese freestyle basketballer to perform at an NBA official game with his team, Osaka Rōkyūkai.

Mitsunaga has also appeared on platforms such as TEDxKEIO, major festivals, and TV shows. As a choreographer and director, he produced the performance unit “NINJA SKILL BALLERZ,” which has been featured at Tokyo Olympics organizing committee events, NHK E-Tele specials, and NTV programs like “Sukkiri” and “ZIP!.”

Guided by the philosophy of “designing culture to endure, not just to create,” which he developed through his dual life as both a performer and a behind-the-scenes creator, Mitsunaga aspires to be a “Cultural Architect.” His lifelong goal is to design cultural blueprints that bridge mass and street cultures, front-stage and backstage talents, and ensure that unrecognized talents gain the recognition they deserve. He dreams of fostering a diverse range of cultures in Japan that inspire passion and admiration.

○Forbes JAPAN

https://forbesjapan.com/articles/detail/71570