Kota Matsuda
Kota Matsuda is a Japanese entrepreneur, business executive, and former politician. He is best known as the founder and former President and CEO of Tully’s Coffee Japan, and as a former member of Japan’s House of Councillors representing the Tokyo at-large district from 2010 to 2016. Matsuda also served as the leader of the political party The Assembly to Energize Japan from 2015 to 2016.
Early life and education
Matsuda was born in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, on 3 December 1968.He spent part of his childhood abroad, living in Senegal and the United States before returning to Japan.
He graduated from the University of Tsukuba in 1990.
Business career
After graduating, Matsuda joined Sanwa Bank.In 1997, he left the bank and founded Tully’s Coffee Japan, opening the first Japanese branch of the Seattle-based chain in Ginza, Tokyo.
Under Matsuda’s leadership, the company grew rapidly to become Japan’s second-largest specialty coffee chain, with more than 300 outlets nationwide by the early 2000s.
Tully’s Coffee Japan was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2001.
After stepping down from Tully’s, Matsuda became involved in several other ventures in the food and beverage sector, including Eggs ’n Things Japan, where he oversaw the restaurant brand’s expansion into Japan and other Asian markets.
He later diversified into renewable energy, hospitality, and technology investments through his private firm KooJoo Co., Ltd. and advisory roles at Japanese corporations.
Political career
In July 2010, Matsuda was elected to Japan’s House of Councillors as a representative of the Tokyo at-large district.He was a member of Your Party until its dissolution in December 2014.
Following the party’s disbandment, Matsuda announced the formation of a new political group, saying he aimed to "energize Japan through reform and innovation."
In January 2015, Matsuda officially founded the centrist political party The Assembly to Energize Japan, and became its leader.
He served until his term in the House of Councillors ended on 25 July 2016.
During his time in the Diet, Matsuda focused on entrepreneurship, deregulation, and innovation policy, advocating for reforms to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to expand internationally.
Later career
After leaving politics, Matsuda returned to private enterprise. He has served as an outside director of Vector Inc., one of Japan’s largest PR and communications groups, and continued to develop ventures in the renewable energy sector, particularly in biomass and solar energy in the Tōhoku region following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.He has also been an active commentator and lecturer on entrepreneurship, business ethics, and innovation policy in Japan.