On Friday, May 23rd, the 6th installment of Impact Night and notably, the first conducted entirely in English, was held at Nihombashi campus under the theme “A space where passions for creating impact intersect.” with participants from around 10 countries. This groundbreaking event, part of a continuing series led by Shizenkan University Vice President Masataka Uo, brought together a diverse and international audience passionate about social innovation, impact finance, and sustainable development.

The keynote of the first round was delivered by Mr. Royston Braganza, CEO of Grameen Capital India, a pioneering financial advisory firm focused on enabling inclusive growth. Braganza opened with a sobering reminder: “Only 15% of the SDG targets are currently on track, with many actually regressing.” 

He then pivoted to a message of hope and action by showcasing India’s innovative use of impact bonds and investments to advance Sustainable Development Goals in diverse sectors. His examples spanned housing, agriculture, climate resilience, disability inclusion, education, financial access, gender equity, health, and livelihoods – demonstrating how India is becoming a laboratory for scalable solutions.

The second part started with a dialogue deepened with insights from two distinguished guests. First, Dr. Vanmunin Chhieng, CEO of Khmer Enterprise, who shared stories from Cambodia’s emerging impact startup ecosystem. He highlighted the challenges and opportunities of building a social enterprise culture in a rapidly developing economy. Second, Mr. Itsu Adachi, Executive Director at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, shared a story based on his experiences, with a particular focus on two pillars: promoting impact investing and supporting women entrepreneurs. His remarks illuminated how philanthropic foundations can serve as key catalysts for sustainable change.

There was a 20-minute networking session allowing attendees to connect across sectors, countries, and experiences – living up to the event’s title as a space for intersecting passions. Conversations buzzed with ideas for future collaborations and shared commitments to social and environmental good. Leaders from JICA, JICA Scholars, impact investors, foundations and impact startups enjoyed it over drinks and food.

As the final round, the night concluded with a lively Q&A session, where participants engaged directly with Royston Braganza. Questions ranged from technical aspects of impact investing mechanisms to regional case studies from India, Cambodia, Japan, Europe, and Africa. Braganza responded with depth and optimism, leaving the audience inspired and equipped with new ideas.

As the first English-language Impact Night, this event marked a significant step in Shizenkan University’s expanding global engagement. It demonstrated not only the university’s commitment to nurturing globally conscious leaders but also the increasing importance of cross-border dialogue in solving the world’s most pressing challenges.