Believe has appointed industry veteran Kazunari Imai to the newly created role of Chairman & Strategic Business Relations Senior Executive Director of Believe Japan.
Imai will report to Erika Ogawa, Managing Director of Believe Japan, and Sylvain Delange, Believe’s President for APAC, co-leading the company’s business strategy and identifying potential M&A and joint-venture opportunities, including Label & Artist Solutions.
Since entering the Japanese market in October 2023, Believe says that it has invested in building a local team and infrastructure aimed at serving artists and labels at all stages of their careers. Recent initiatives include the February 2024 launch of PLAYCODE, a hip-hop-focused imprint, and a partnership with Teichiku Entertainment in March 2025.
“we find strong alignment with the vision outlined by Japanese industry bodies and stakeholders. We are confident that now is the moment to jointly lead the digital transformation of Japan’s music industry.”
Kazunari Imai
Delange said: “As Believe continues to build up its position in Japan and deploy its artist development strategy at its center, local artists and labels, we are reinforcing our long-term commitment to the local ecosystem, and contribute to exposing Japanese artists internationally.
Added Delange: “I am delighted that Kazunari Imai has accepted to join our ranks. With his decades of executive leadership, deep industry expertise, and broad network, no one is better placed than him to embody that ambition and help drive the next phase of Believe’s growth in Japan.”
“we are reinforcing our long-term commitment to the local ecosystem, and contribute to exposing Japanese artists internationally.”
Sylvain Delange
Ogawa added that Imai’s experience would be pivotal in shaping Believe Japan’s long-term roadmap, supporting the digital transformation of the local music market.
Ogawa said: “Japan holds extraordinary soft power through its music, pop culture, and the unique cultural experiences it brings to the world.
“Japanese music and culture have the potential to deliver a truly transformational impact on digital, and with Believe’s global digital expertise, amplification strategy, and executional capabilities, the new local leadership team is committed to unlocking this opportunity in a way that is distinctive to Believe, with a local-first approach.”
Imai said: “I am honored to join Believe Japan in this newly created role and to put my extensive experience across all fields of the Japanese music business at the service of its mission to develop local artists and labels.
“Japan is one of the world’s leading music markets, yet its digital sector still holds significant room for growth. By bringing global expertise that has supported the expansion and strengthening of digital music markets worldwide, particularly across Asia and now into Japan, we find strong alignment with the vision outlined by Japanese industry bodies and stakeholders. We are confident that now is the moment to jointly lead the digital transformation of Japan’s music industry.”
“Japan is currently the world’s second largest music market, and, as it continues to digitalize, one in which Believe is deeply invested. Imai’s seniority and expertise will play a pivotal role in shaping and accelerating our long-term growth roadmap in Japan.”
Erika Ogawa
Imai brings a 40-year career spanning senior leadership roles at Victor Entertainment, JVC Networks, Pony Canyon, and his own consulting agency KiSML Inc., with experience across J-POP, rock, and label operations.Music Business Worldwide
