ULI Japan held its annual Spring Conference on May 18 at the newly opened Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Conference facilities, drawing over 240 individuals from across the real estate industry. The day was packed with an impressive lineup of speakers, having backgrounds ranging from academia and architecture to top names in real estate investment, economics, and hospitality.

Opening lunch session with Keio Associate Professor Jorge Almazan

The day kicked off with a lunch session presentation from Jorge Almazon, Keio University Associate Professor and architect, sharing the research outlined in his book Emergent Tokyo. The book traces the flow of development in Tokyo and the unique features that define Tokyo’s built environment, the forces that shaped this landscape, and his vision for a future Tokyo that continues to embrace and protect the things that make this urban center so special amongst the world’s cities—lending voice to an alternative perspective in contrast to the usually unquestioned and unending major development and renewal of Tokyo.

Opening keynote with economist Robert Feldman

This was followed by the day’s opening keynote, led by economist Robert Feldman, longtime expert and commentator on the Japanese economy, as he skillfully led the audience through a breakdown of the world economy and Japan’s place in it over the next year. One audience member commented later, “His passion for the topic is clear. That was the most refreshing approach yet, detailed breakdown of the macroeconomics of Japan I think I have ever heard.”

Sarah Bader (L), Gensler, and Hiroichi Yanase (R), Tokyo Institute of Technology, School of Liberal Arts Research and Education, Media Studies

The afternoon featured two sessions, one featuring Sarah Bader, Gensler, and Hiroichi Yanase, Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology, School of Liberal Arts Research and Innovation, Media Studies. The spoke on Yanase’s research and development patterns around Route 16, and Gensler’s survey research on how people are living and working in urban areas after covid.

Hidetoshi Ono (L), Tsao Family Office, and Taisuke Miyajima (R ), Kenedix, Inc.

The second session featured a series of one-on-one segment updates moderated by Hidetoshi Ono, Tsao Family Office. The talk featured office, logistics, downtown retail, housing, and hospitality, pulling on the expertise of five speakers all experts in their respective areas for a series of excellent rapid-fire question and answer sessions.

Sonny Kalsi, Co-CEO BentallGreenOak

Finally, the day concluded with a closing keynote from Sonny Kalsi, co-CEO of BentallGreenOak, a rockstar in the real estate investment world with long term ties to Japan. His message centered around “head winds and tail winds” facing the Japan and world economies, followed by a lively and engaging period of audience questions and answers.

Attendees from 121 different companies from all facets of the real estate world, including individuals who traveled from as far away as the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore participated in the event. One speaker, a first-time attendee of ULI events, commented following the conference “It was a truly international event. This is the first time I have seen such a degree of integration between local and international participants in any academic or professional forum in Japan. My congratulations to you and the whole team!”