An internationally renowned expert in computer science and a pioneer in the evolution of open-source software for autonomous driving technology, Shinpei served as an associate professor at Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Information Science from 2012 to 2016, where his team created Autoware, the world’s leading open-source software for autonomous driving technology.
He was also a postdoctoral scholar at Keio University, the University of Tokyo, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of California.
In 2022, Shinpei was among researchers recognized for contributions to science and technology by the Japanese government’s National Institute of Science and Technology Policy.
Satoshi Sakaguchi, a CPA, brings extensive experience in financial audit, investment, and corporate management. As CFO of TIER IV since 2018, he oversees finance operations. He holds a BEc from Kyoto University.
I aim to apply my expertise to support the growth of TIER IV, a company that is developing technology to address challenges impacting societies worldwide.
Masashi Shinkai is responsible for exploring new business opportunities that contribute to TIER IV’s accelerated growth and deliver lasting value to society. Through partnerships across industry, government, and academia, he promotes efforts to accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving technology. Before joining TIER IV in 2023, he worked at a major insurer, where he led collaboration initiatives with automotive firms.
Deep tech holds infinite potential. However, advancing and implementing this technology is not easy to achieve alone. At TIER IV, we believe in the power of collaboration with like-minded partners to create meaningful societal impact. Together with our partners, we aim to drive innovation, accelerate growth, and unlock the full potential of deep tech.
As COO, Ko Miyoshi leads business and product development. He oversees business operations from strategy to execution, driving the deployment of autonomous vehicles. He joined TIER IV in 2020, bringing expertise in infrastructure projects and private equity. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an LLB from Keio University.
I’m passionate about using technology to fundamentally enrich lives and society, while building a sustainable business model. I am fully committed to the global deployment of TIER IV’s autonomous driving technology.
Hironori Muraoka joined TIER IV as CHRO in 2025, overseeing human resources, general affairs, legal and compliance, public relations and marketing, and information systems. He has held senior HR positions at Hitachi, PwC Japan, and Rakuten Group. Hironori holds a degree in Literature from Kyoto University and is a certified labor and social insurance attorney.
I believe autonomous driving technology has the potential to revolutionize the automotive sector, one of Japan’s core industries. From the perspective of people and organizations, I aim to establish a strong culture and team dynamic that can serve as a reference, positioning TIER IV as a global leader in the autonomous driving industry.
Tomohiro Tatekawa joined TIER IV in 2023 as a project manager in the Business Unit. He subsequently managed the Corporate Planning Department in the Finance Unit before assuming his current position. He began his career in the Strategy Consulting Division at PwC (Strategy&), specializing in management consulting for the automotive, mobility, and manufacturing sectors. He spearheaded a wide array of projects spanning corporate and business strategy formulation, new business launches, global expansion, M&A and PMI, operational improvement, and corporate restructuring. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Engineering.
Open source and autonomous driving technology hold immense potential. By advancing the deployment of autonomous driving, I am committed to solving various societal challenges and contributing to the advancement of the automotive and mobility industries.
Global business expansion
Research and development of deep learning for autonomous driving
