Get to know us.
Founded in 2014, Tablecross Inc. is a CSV (Creating Shared Value) company that aims to solve the UN’s “No Hunger” SDG while sharing Japanese food culture with the world. So far, the company has donated the equivalent of 550,000 school lunches to children in need.
Tablecross Inc.’s team is also passionate about bridging the gap between global travelers and local areas of Japan; focusing on regional revitalization, reducing language barriers, and tackling food insecurity and food waste. Through working with local governments, restaurant clients, and individual hosts, Tablecross aims to attract foreign visitors to lesser-visited areas of Japan and combat over-tourism.
Spreading happiness through food!
Just by enjoying a meal in Japan, users help children in developing countries get access to nutritious meals, so they can grow up healthy and happy, and ready to change the world.
VALUES
CEO Joho Kaoru
After witnessing children in poverty while traveling in Indonesia at a young age, I resolved to help make a change.When I was in high school, I learned about a corporate model called CSV (Creating Shared Value), which aims to solve global issues through businesses that create social value, in the United States, where I studied abroad.In 2014, at the age of 20, I established Tablecross Inc. to implement this system in Japan. I have developed a restaurant reservation app that donates school meals to children in developing countries.
In 2019, I met Serkan, which operates Tokyo by Food, which had introduced the same system and integrated it with a restaurant reservation app.Currently, in addition to operating the food platform “byFood.com” for tourists visiting Japan, we also provide consulting to restaurants and brands, and conduct promotional activities with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and local governments. With our connections and experience in the food industry, we provide creative solutions to our clients’ interests and help them succeed domestically and internationally.
Besides our Food for Happiness project, which donates school meals to children in developing countries, another company goal is regional revitalization across Japan. We especially aim to work with businesses that share our interests in sustainability and the SDGs.
COO Serkan Toso
Coming from Bursa, Turkey to study at the International University of Japan, I hadn’t expected to start my own business here. But after falling in love with Japan’s distinct culinary culture, I decided to stay and launch my own food tourism website.
In 2018, I created Tokyo by Food, a food experience platform in Tokyo that integrates a donation system to provide meals to children in need. After that, we met Joho, a company that operates a restaurant reservation app that does charity work, and decided to merge with them. That is byFood.com, a gourmet platform for inbound tourists that we currently operate. In 2023, byFood.com started operations not only in Japan but also in Dubai.
In the past few years, I have found that the travel industry norms are changing. People used to see travel agents and purchase a tour package. But now, due to technology, the way people plan their travels is so different; it’s personalized, infinitely customizable, and is inspired by online content and social media. As a company, we have prioritized platforms such as YouTube and Instagram to reach a global audience.
As a foreign resident in Japan, I understand the obstacles that foreign tourists face here, and am equipped to solve their problems. And with a background in digital marketing, I have adapted to new technologies and am able to help other businesses keep up with the changing landscape of the travel industry and attract international attention.
External director/CRO
Atsushi Saito
After graduating from university, he started an Internet business at Kokusai Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (currently KDDI). He began his career in the media industry at STAR TV at News Corporation, then served as Japan Representative at CNN at Turner Broadcasting, and Asia Pacific Regional Representative at Eurosport at Discovery Channel. Currently working as an advisor for domestic and international media and entertainment companies, he is well-versed in digital strategy, television, digital marketing, social media, and online advertising and promotion, with a focus on international promotion for Japanese and other Asian companies.
External director
Eric Wei
After graduating from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, he joined Amazon Japan in 2005. He was involved in launching the Kindle business in Japan and China. After that, he moved to Google Japan. He will be in charge of developing entertainment services throughout Asia, including Google Play™. After a 13-year career at Amazon and Google, he served as CPO of ride-hailing service DiDi Mobility Japan and CEO of foodpanda Japan, where he specializes in everything from building growth strategies to implementation. Currently, he is founding Dimes Co., Ltd., which operates “timelyhero”, a platform that matches skills and time.
External director
Naonori Maeda
After graduating from the Department of Political Science, School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University, he completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at the same university.
At Samsung C&T Japan Co., Ltd., he was responsible for the import and export of synthetic resin raw materials, gaining experience in international trading company business. He subsequently joined the Miyazaki Prefectural Government, where he worked on agricultural promotion and farmland policy. At Lotte Chemical Japan Co., Ltd., he led ecosystem building utilising global hubs, market research, and business profitability improvement, driving the execution of international business strategies.
He joined kemuri ventures Co., Ltd. in 2024 and was appointed director the following year. Drawing upon his extensive business experience and expertise from both public and private sector perspectives, he plays a key role in supporting the company’s sustainable growth and global expansion.
Auditor
Masamichi Ito
After engaging in accounting duties at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (now NTT), he successively served as head of the accounting and human resources departments at Japan High Speed Communications Co., Ltd. and BALS Co., Ltd.
Subsequently, he gained extensive experience in corporate management, internal controls, and human resources strategy as a full-time Audit & Supervisory Board Member and Executive Officer at companies including Narumiya International Co., Ltd. and Rex Holdings Co., Ltd. Furthermore, he served as Audit & Supervisory Board Member and Director at companies such as Seijo Ishii Co., Ltd., Eltes Co., Ltd., and Graniph Co., Ltd., contributing significantly to strengthening governance and compliance.
With a proven track record of providing management oversight at multiple companies, including listed firms, over many years, he will draw upon his extensive experience to contribute as our company’s Audit & Supervisory Board Member to establishing a sound management foundation.
Advisor
Kotaro Tamura
After graduating from Waseda University, he obtained multiple degrees including an MBA from Keio University, a Master of Laws from Duke University, and a Master of Arts from Yale University. He has served as a professor at the National University of Singapore and a visiting professor at Hitotsubashi University, and has worked in M&A and as president of the Osaka Nichi Nichi Shimbun. He was a member of the House of Councillors from 2002 to 2010, and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office in the first Abe administration. He was the protagonist of a Harvard Business School case study and has invested in the fields of AI and space as an angel investor. He is the author of a best-selling book.
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