The Asian Cultural Council Japan Foundation (hereinafter “ACC Japan Foundation”) is pleased to announce that Mr. Kohei Terada, President and CEO of Warehouse TERRADA, has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees, effective February 10, 2026.
Mrs. Kazuko Aso, former Chair, has remained on the Board of Trustees.

 

 

Message from the Former Chair of the Board of Trustees
Kazuko Aso

The ACC Japan Foundation was established in November 2018 by Mr. Yuji Tsutsumi and myself to operate the Japan office of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC), a nonprofit organization based in New York. 

Since its founding, I have served as Chair of the Board of Trustees and worked to ensure the steady implementation of ACC’s grant programs while strengthening the Foundation’s financial base. Under  the vision of John D. Rockefeller 3rd—to foster exceptional artists and deepen connections among people through their international cultural exchange—we have sought to advance cultural exchange by consistent support to artists.

 As the Foundation now enters a new phase of development, I believe that entrusting this journey to new leadership will ensure its continued growth and evolution. I am pleased to pass the baton to Mr. Kohei Terada as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees. I sincerely look forward to seeing the ACC Japan Foundation move forward with renewed strength under his leadership, drawing on his experience as an accomplished entrepreneur and his deep engagement with the arts.
 I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the ACC headquarters in New York, our partner foundations across Asia, our many supporters in Japan, and especially Mr. Yuji Tsutsumi, as well as the Board Members, staff, and all those who have supported the ACC Japan Foundation throughout this journey.

Kazuko Aso
 


Appointment of the New Chair of the Board of Trustees

Mr. Kohei Terada, who has been actively engaged in community development through the arts and in supporting artists alongside his corporate activities, has been appointed as the new Chair.
Mr. Terada has been involved with the ACC Japan Foundation since 2022 as a member of its founding supporters. He subsequently joined the Board of Trustees in October 2024 and was appointed Vice Chair in February 2025, progressively deepening his engagement in the Foundation’s governance and activities.
 


Looking Ahead

Under its new leadership, the ACC Japan Foundation will further strengthen its support for artists and researchers in Japan, Asia, and the United States, and continue contributing to the creation of a more harmonious and peaceful world through cultural exchange.
 


[Profile of the New Chair ]

Kohei Terada
President and CEO, Warehouse TERRADA

After working at Mitsubishi Corporation and founding Bit-isle Inc., Mr. Terada assumed his current position in 2019. Based in Tennoz, Tokyo, Warehouse TERRADA provides comprehensive, one-stop services related to fine art, including storage, transportation, exhibition support, packing, conservation, and insurance. Mr. Terada has also played a central role in branding Tennoz as an international art district. Since April 2023, he has served as Vice Chair of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai).
 


Message from the Chair

“I am deeply honored to succeed Mrs. Kazuko Aso, the founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of the ACC Japan Foundation, and I feel a profound sense of responsibility in assuming this role.
Through ACC’s work as a bridge between Japan and the world, I hope to further deepen cross-border cultural exchange and, through multifaceted forms of support, encourage the next generation of artists to engage with diverse perspectives and pursue new creative possibilities.”
 

 

Board Composition (Effective February 10, 2026)

Chair of the Board of Trustees  
　Kohei Terada

Trustees  
　Kazuko Aso  
　Daniel Fujii
　Daisuke Kan
　Judy Kim
　Yoshimichi Makiyama
　Yuki Niinami
　Miko Oyama
　Takafumi Takahashi
　Junko Watanabe

Auditor  
　Takayuki Saito

Councilors  
　Hiroo Chikaraishi
　Ernest M. Higa
　Josie Cruz Natori
　Akira Tatehata
　Yuji Tsutsumi