Hiroyuki Murata

President , Murata Associates (Tokio/Japan)

Hiroyuki Murata is a well–known expert on the 50+ market and an opinion leader on aging issues in Japan. Among his noteworthy accomplishments, Murata introduced Curves, the world’s largest fitness chain for women, to Japan and helped make it a successful business. He is also responsible for bringing the first college–linked retirement community in Kobe, Japan. His recent clients include Toyota Motor, NTT DoCoMo, Dentsu, AXA Financial Life Insurance, JTB, Tokyo Electric Power, Nomura Securities, Panasonic Electric Work, Mitsui Fudosan, and many other major leading companies. Murata is the author of several books, including The Business of Aging: 10 Successful Strategies for a Diverse Market, and Seven Paradigm Shifts in Thinking about the Business of Aging, Retirement Moratorium: What Will the Not–Retired Boomers Change? They have been described as “must read books” by more than 30 leading publications including Nikkei, Nikkei Business, Yomiuri, and Japan Industry News. Murata is translator of The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain by Gene Cohen. His next translation will be The Myth of Alzheimer’s: What You Aren’t Being Told About Today’s Most Dreaded Diagnosis by Peter Whitehouse. Murata serves as Professor at Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer (IDAC), Tohoku University. IDAC is only National University institute with name of “Aging” and leading research institute on brain imaging, aging mechanism, and human development. He also serves as a Visiting Professor of Kansai University. Murata serves as a member of Advisory Board to The World Demographic Association (Switzerland) and ThirdAge, Inc. (U.S.), International.