1.
DiscoverICMG Digital
Creating and innovating the future digitally
We accelerate social innovation by connecting the purpose and vision of management to the power of digital
Japan's digital market lacks the skills to understand and implement the purpose and vision of large corporations. This gap between management and implementation teams often leads to services that don't meet client intentions and aren't used by business users or consumers, as tasks are outsourced to vendors. ICMG Digital bridges this gap by aligning management's vision with digital expertise, bringing together top talent from inside and outside the company to ensure clients' visions succeed through digital innovation.
Our Approach
Human-Centered Design (HCD)
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is not merely an aesthetic design methodology. It is a strategic approach that places people at the core of the innovation process to create solutions with lasting and meaningful impact.
We begin by gaining a deep understanding of the true needs, behaviors, and contexts of the people we aim to serve. This insight enables us to consistently deliver solutions that are intuitive, relevant, and value-creating throughout the entire development process.
The Three Elements of Value Creation in HCD
The most impactful digital solutions emerge from the “golden intersection” where the following three elements overlap. Achieving this balance is essential to ensuring business viability and driving corporate transformation, ultimately determining the success of a digital strategy.
We start with the most critical foundation—human needs (Desirability)—and rigorously validate that the solution is both technically feasible (Feasibility) and sustainable as a business (Viability).
What We Do
How did we help?
ICMG Digital was established in response to the many requests from clients to strengthen their DX initiatives. ICMG Digital is an organization that leads the end-to-end process from digital strategy formulation to execution, collaborating with a diverse range of experts.
The organization covers the entire process from the conceptualization of digital strategies, conceptual design of digital services for new businesses, design of customer experiences, and planning and development of digital products and platforms for the execution of these strategies. We are committed to creating innovative value through the ICMG Group's global partnerships.
The organization covers the entire process from the conceptualization of digital strategies, conceptual design of digital services for new businesses, design of customer experiences, and planning and development of digital products and platforms for the execution of these strategies. We are committed to creating innovative value through the ICMG Group's global partnerships.
Challenges Our clients Face
CHALLENGE
We aim to go beyond financial metrics that reflect past performance and make visible the company’s intellectual capital—such as talent, technology, and customer relationships—as the true drivers of future growth and long-term enterprise value.
OPPORTUNITY
Data is fragmented across the organization, and there is no integrated dashboard that enables executives to make timely and informed decisions.
CHALLENGE
While there are ideas for new services, they have not been translated into concrete UI/UX designs, slowing down customer validation and prototyping.
CHALLENGE
There is a shortage of in-house digital talent, resulting in ineffective cross-functional project management (PMO) and poor vendor control.
CHALLENGE
DX remains at the slogan level, with no clear roadmap linking digital initiatives to concrete business growth or monetization.
CHALLENGE
AI adoption is being considered, but projects stall at the proof-of-concept (PoC) stage, with no clear path to business deployment.
CHALLENGE
The company aims to move away from its existing analog business model but lacks clarity on how to monetize its offerings as digital products.
CHALLENGE
Digital initiatives are being pursued in a fragmented manner across departments, with no integrated, enterprise-wide digital strategy in place.
Our Process
Sustainable Corporate Value Creation Model
- Intellectual Capital Visualization
Assessing an organization’s digital capabilities through a proprietary framework to identify the sources of value creation and develop strategies that maximize return on investment. - Human-Centered Research
Uncovering users’ latent needs through qualitative research such as behavioral observation, enabling the design of truly valuable user experiences free from internal assumptions. - Technical Research
Evaluating the feasibility of advanced technologies such as AI and robotics from an engineering perspective, and identifying and resolving technical challenges early to ensure smooth implementation.
2.
Design- Executive Advisory
Providing strategic guidance to executive leaders as a trusted compass for digital transformation—supporting decision-making through flexible engagement, from visualizing the current state to delivering the latest insights. - AI Strategy
Developing strategies that maximize business impact by positioning AI as a source of competitive advantage—from identifying business challenges to selecting technologies and designing the organizational framework. - DX Strategy
Supporting end-to-end digital transformation—from defining the overall vision for new business creation and strengthening existing operations to developing actionable execution roadmaps. - Data Strategy
Enabling data to be leveraged as a strategic management asset by supporting the development of data collection and analytics platforms, governance frameworks, and data talent development.
3.
Deliver- UI/UX Prototyping
Designing innovative services based on customers’ latent needs and rapidly developing prototypes to accelerate the creation of highly valuable products. - Robotics Prototyping
Integrating digital strategy with physical implementation to rapidly support the development of service robots aligned with user needs up to the proof-of-concept (PoC) stage. - PMO
Leading large-scale and complex development projects to successful completion through rigorous management of progress, quality, and risks, while coordinating diverse stakeholders.
4.
Disclose- Purpose Integration
Embedding a company’s purpose deeply across all levels of the organization to inspire autonomous behavioral change among employees and foster a shared sense of unity, ultimately driving long-term corporate value. - Integrated Reporting Implementation
Connecting non-financial capital with the company’s financial value creation story to deliver consistent and compelling disclosures that resonate with investors and other stakeholders.
Our Services
Intellectual Capital Visualization
We conduct a comprehensive assessment of your company’s digital capabilities—including human, organizational, and technological capital—using ICMG’s proprietary methodology to clarify the sources of future value creation. Based on these insights, we develop a strategic roadmap for highly feasible digital services and products. This approach enables optimization of development resources by identifying priority investment areas and maximizes return on investment.
Human-Centered Research
Through qualitative research methods such as behavioral observation and in-depth interviews, we gain deep insights into users’ contexts and psychology. This allows us to uncover latent challenges and unmet needs that are not immediately visible. By formulating hypotheses grounded in objective, real-world user insights, we eliminate development risks driven by internal assumptions and define solution and UX directions that deliver genuine value to users.
Technical Research
In advanced technology domains such as robotics and AI, we evaluate technical feasibility and optimal architectures from an engineering perspective. Our specialists identify potential technical challenges early—including algorithm selection and hardware control validation—and propose solutions to ensure a smooth transition to implementation without costly rework.
UI/UX Prototyping & Design
Based on human-centered design principles, we deeply explore customer needs to design innovative digital service concepts and customer experiences (CX). Through rapid prototyping and validation, we develop highly desirable products and significantly accelerate the path from concept to commercialization and deployment.
Robotics Prototyping (Implementation Support from 0 to 0.9)
We provide integrated capabilities that bridge digital strategy and physical implementation. Leveraging a human-centered design approach, we rapidly support the development of service robots aligned with end-user needs and business objectives, delivering implementation support up to the pre-commercial proof-of-concept (PoC) stage.
Executive Advisory
We provide executive advisory services to CXOs and business leaders across digital strategy execution, business transformation, and organizational capability development. From visualizing the current state and setting strategic goals to delivering cutting-edge insights and supporting critical decision-making, we offer flexible workshops and tailored sessions that serve as a trusted compass in the digital era.
DX Strategy
We develop comprehensive digital transformation (DX) strategies to enable business transformation. From defining the overall vision for creating new digital businesses and strengthening existing operations to developing execution roadmaps and concrete project plans, we provide end-to-end support to ensure successful DX implementation.
AI Strategy
We support the development and execution of AI strategies designed to maximize business impact. From identifying key business challenges and selecting appropriate AI technologies—including generative AI—to planning proof-of-concepts and designing organizational structures, we provide strategic roadmaps that position AI as a core source of competitive advantage.
Data Strategy
We develop data strategies that enable new value creation and advanced decision-making. By treating data as a strategic management asset, we support the establishment of data collection and analytics platforms, data governance frameworks, and data talent development—fostering a truly data-driven organizational culture.
PMO
We provide PMO support to maximize the success rate of large-scale, complex digital and system development projects. As digital experts, we rigorously manage project progress, quality, budget, and risks while coordinating diverse internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
Our Presence
20+Projects
20+Exparts
3+提携パートナー企業数
Our Activity
ARRO®︎
As one of ICMG Digital’s initiatives to bring innovation into real-world application, we are developing robots and their control programs under the name “ARRO.”
By combining our creative and engineering capabilities with our clients’ assets, we plan to present concrete use cases and solutions in the near future.
By combining our creative and engineering capabilities with our clients’ assets, we plan to present concrete use cases and solutions in the near future.
Our Experts
Accelerating the transformation of businesses and society through the global application of technology and data, thereby realizing a more sustainable and efficient future.
Kenta Kuno
Managing Director
Head of Digital & UI/UX Consulting
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional
J.S.A. Certified Wine Expert
B.A. in Turkish, Department of Foreign Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Osaka University
After graduating from university, he gained experience at Accenture Japan Ltd., PwC Consulting LLC, and EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd. before joining ICMG Digital in July 2025. He possesses end-to-end experience in technology consulting, spanning concept development to system implementation, and operation and maintenance, primarily within the electric power and gas, government, and chemical industries. He specializes in ERP system implementation, hyperautomation, and the conceptualization and implementation of digital intelligent platforms. He has a deep passion for travel, surfing, and wine, is known as one of Japan's foremost experts on Turkey, and holds a J.S.A. Wine Expert qualification.
Creating a society where children of the future can interact with safely, both physically and psychologically.
Hiroyuki Wada
Representative Chairman of the Board, ICMG Digital
ICMG Director
Former COO of Hitachi Information & Telecommunications Group
Former President & CEO of Hitachi ICT Business Services
Master's Degree from Waseda University Graduate School of Science and Engineering
He has held roles as COO of Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Group and President & CEO of Hitachi ICT Business Services. He joined Hitachi in 1980 and served as the Senior VP at Hitachi Computer Products Inc. (USA) in 1998, Head of IP Network Division at Hitachi Enterprise Server Division in 2001, Head of IP Network Business Unit at the same company in 2003, President & CEO of Alaxala Networks in 2004, Head of Communication Network Business Unit at Hitachi Information & Telecommunication Systems in 2011, and COO of Information & Telecommunication Group at the same company in 2013.
Yasuyuki Yamashita
Executive Officer, Digital Platform Projects
After graduating, he worked for a foreign consulting firm and a securities company before joining ICMG Digital. He has worked on a wide range of topics from strategy formulation to implementation support, focusing on the financial, manufacturing, and telecommunications high-tech industries. He has extensive experience in the promotion of digital transformation and the planning and development of new businesses, and specializes in cross-functional facilitation management. At ICMG Digital, he promotes projects with the mission of social implementation that leverages the power of digital, starting with intellectual capital.
Diana Povieng
Director of Narrative, Spatial Computing & Visual Communication Design
Diana is an experienced design leader with over 17 years of expertise, including 8 years co-building Airlift, a San Francisco-based design consultancy company. Throughout her career, she has excelled in tackling complex challenges across physical and digital platforms, delivering thoughtful solutions and guiding projects to success. Her portfolio includes diverse projects, from autonomous aircraft experiences for Airbus to human-centered design initiatives for Zeiss.
Passionate about cutting-edge technology, we are committed to pursuing innovation and providing new value to our customers.
Mitsuichi Hiratsuka
ICMG Digital CTO
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S. in Applied Systems Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
After graduating from Kyoto University, he worked at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Realtime Robotics, Inc. in the US before joining ICMG Digital in 2023. He received his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and was mainly engaged in industrial robot controller development at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. He then joined Realtime Robotics, where he contributed to the development of the company's real-time robotics technology.
Eiji Shintani
Director of Industrial Design & Special Projects
Eiji Shintani is an accomplished industrial designer who has served as the Chief Art Director at Sony and Sony Ericsson. With more than 30 years of experience in industrial design, Eiji has led the creation of products for Sony’s Walkman and VAIO lines. He has also led the design of wearable devices, earpieces, phones, cameras, a mixed reality cart, and a host of other products. Eiji brings this vast experience to his role as Director of Industrial design at Digital where he aims to expand the role of industrial design. For Eiji, Industrial design for is not just about designing products. It’s also about designing the “air” around the products while considering the entire experience of ownership and use. The overall aim is to make people’s lives more modern. During his experience in Sweden, Eiji came to appreciate many aspects of the Swedish culture including their lifestyle, working style, and Scandinavian design.
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