At CTIS, We build futures!
Leadership Team
Takahiro Sato
CTIS Inc. CEO
While attending university, Mr. Sato commercialized facilities for the disabled and nursing homes for the elderly. Later as a new graduate, he was appointed as a section manager of the Nagano prefectural office and then, at the age of 24, became a director of the prefectural office. After departing the prefectural office, he founded LITALICO Inc. (a publicly listed company on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange), which provides employment support and assistance for people who have difficulty finding employment, becoming the elected representative director for the company. Subsequently, he retired from LITALICO in order to run for the mayor of Sendai. Currently, Mr. Sato is a serial entrepreneur with his company SEKAISHA and a medical corporation group, as well as the founder of the CTIS corporation. As an angel investor, Mr. Sato supports about 40 start-up companies in the entertainment business such as movies and is participating in the establishment of companies researching and developing pharmaceuticals. He is also supporting the education of children, our future leaders of tomorrow, by establishing an incorporated foundation.
Yuta Igarashi
CTIS Inc. CFO
Graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University with a degree in International Political Economy. After graduation, he joined Mizuho Corporate Bank, where he was consistently in charge of major corporate clients. When he was transferred to Mitsui & Co., he was in charge of the restructuring projects of affiliated companies and overseas investment projects.
After that, he joined PwC Advisory and worked in the turnaround support division and then as a founding director of a private equity fund, and later joined SEKAISHA Inc. a company that develops new education services as a founding member, where he is currently the president. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of CTIS, he participates as a hands-on board member in several companies including medical service providers in Japan and abroad.
Director of Keio Research Institute at SFC, Keio University
Visiting Professor of the School of International Education Institute, Wenzhou Medical University
Akiko Yamada
CTIS Inc. Head of Educational Business Unit
Ms. Yamada returned from England to enter a university in Japan. After graduating from university, she worked for a major TV station group company, where she was involved in copyright management, music production, and merchandising rights management while launching a new in-house business in her second year with the company. Since then, she has managed new businesses and projects in various industries, not only the music industry but also IT, TV, radio, food and beverage, and education. As a director and representative director, she launched and managed subsidiaries of publicly listed companies.
While conducting employee training, she felt the need to develop the skills required at work before they become adults. She moved to Kadokawa Dwango Gakuen, an educational corporation, where she was in charge of producing PBL programs and coaching AL students (students with special areas of excellence). Currently, at CTIS, she is also making efforts to support activities and learning to help students develop the ability to survive in society.
Gustav Helman
Head of School
Gustav Helman has been teaching in international schools for the past 31 years, in Zambia, USA, Argentina, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Brazil, and Japan. He comes to CTIS with a vast experience in the four IB Programmes, as a teacher, department coordinator, head of faculty, DP and MYP Coordinator, and Principal. He is also a DP Examiner, DP Workshop Leader, IB Consultant, and Online Facilitator for MYP and PYP. He has also worked towards the IBDP authorization and review processes, as well as WASC, CIS, and NEASC accreditation. He is a “Third Culture Kid” (he is of mixed parentage, Polish and German), and grew up moving countries and continents due to his dad’s job. After obtaining a degree in education, he pursued post-graduate studies in Curriculum Development and Comparative Linguistics at Yokohama National University. He is currently finishing his MBA at the University of Cumbria. During his free time, he enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, and trying “all-things-technology”.
Neil Bluett
PYP Coordinator/Head of Section
Graduated from the University of Hull with a B.A. in Drama. Studied contemporary British theater, journalism, literature, government, and politics.
After graduation, he spent 3 years teaching English in the UK and 6 years in Japan, followed by 4 years in an IB school (Kindergarten), beginning as a PYP teacher and eventually as a PYP coordinator, working through the process to becoming an IB-accredited school.
By observing and analyzing individual students, he is able to use different teaching and speaking styles to suit each student. He is skilled at building rapport, which has contributed greatly to providing an educational environment that develops the interests and strengths of each student at CTIS.
He is a sports enthusiast and used to play rugby himself at a very high level. He also continues to be involved in theater and contemporary playwrights, which he still loves.
