Daisuke Watanabe
SB OAI Japan GK / SoftBank Corp.
Japanese Certified Scrum Alliance Trainer™ (CSAT™) and Certified Team Coach™ (CTC™).
I currently serve as VP and Head of Engineering at SB OAI Japan, a joint venture between SoftBank Group and OpenAI. My work focuses on turning advances in AI into systems that can be effectively used in real-world enterprises and society, while building and leading large-scale engineering organizations. In parallel, I contribute to the SoftBank Group’s ASI strategy and support national-level initiatives such as the KOSEN Semiconductor Talent Development Project.
My approach is grounded in hands-on product development and practical engineering. I focus on integrating engineering practices, leadership, and ways of working to achieve sustainable business outcomes, rather than applying frameworks in isolation.
I have been working in software engineering since 1994, starting in traditional development environments and later adopting agile practices after encountering the Agile Manifesto in 2000. Since then, I have supported teams, leaders, and organizations through Scrum, XP, Lean, and DevOps, always with an emphasis on real-world applicability.
Throughout my career, I have taken responsibility for mission-critical systems and large-scale platforms across media, telecommunications, and internet services. This includes leading development of high-availability systems such as live national event platforms, and later driving engineering and organizational strategy in companies such as Gunosy, Yahoo! JAPAN, and LINE Yahoo, including platforms used by millions of users and organizations of over 1,000 engineers.
In addition to my industry work, I contribute to the development of future engineers and the broader ecosystem through education and community initiatives.
My guiding belief is that strong engineering outcomes are built on trust, learning, and healthy organizational systems, and that software development is ultimately a human-centered practice.
Certifications: CSAT, CTC, ATC, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, Certified LeSS Practitioner
Courses offered
5.00 out of 5 stars (2 ratings)
About
Japanese Certified Scrum Alliance Trainer™ (CSAT™) and Certified Team Coach™ (CTC™).
I currently serve as VP and Head of Engineering at SB OAI Japan, a joint venture between SoftBank Group and OpenAI. My work focuses on turning advances in AI into systems that can be effectively used in real-world enterprises and society, while building and leading large-scale engineering organizations. In parallel, I contribute to the SoftBank Group’s ASI strategy and support national-level initiatives such as the KOSEN Semiconductor Talent Development Project.
My approach is grounded in hands-on product development and practical engineering. I focus on integrating engineering practices, leadership, and ways of working to achieve sustainable business outcomes, rather than applying frameworks in isolation.
I have been working in software engineering since 1994, starting in traditional development environments and later adopting agile practices after encountering the Agile Manifesto in 2000. Since then, I have supported teams, leaders, and organizations through Scrum, XP, Lean, and DevOps, always with an emphasis on real-world applicability.
Throughout my career, I have taken responsibility for mission-critical systems and large-scale platforms across media, telecommunications, and internet services. This includes leading development of high-availability systems such as live national event platforms, and later driving engineering and organizational strategy in companies such as Gunosy, Yahoo! JAPAN, and LINE Yahoo, including platforms used by millions of users and organizations of over 1,000 engineers.
In addition to my industry work, I contribute to the development of future engineers and the broader ecosystem through education and community initiatives.
My guiding belief is that strong engineering outcomes are built on trust, learning, and healthy organizational systems, and that software development is ultimately a human-centered practice.
Certifications: CSAT, CTC, ATC, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, Certified LeSS Practitioner
Experience and services
- Additional services
- Open to co-training
-
Career history
- 01/01/2026 - present - SB OAI Japan GK (VP,Head of Engineering)
- 08/01/2025 - present - SoftBank Corp. (Group ASI Strategy Office)
- 01/07/2013 - 02/28/2015 - MACROMILL, INC. (Manager of Development Div.)
- 10/01/2023 - 03/31/2026 - LY Corporation (Head of the Technology Research Office)
- 03/01/2015 - 09/30/2018 - Gunosy Inc. (Head of Development Div.)
- 10/01/2018 - 09/30/2023 - Yahoo Japan Corporation (Head of the Technology Research Office)
- 01/04/2010 - 12/28/2012 - AXELMARK,INC. (Chief of Development Div.)
-
Industries
-
Area of expertise
My certifications
