Advertising Week chooses Tokyo as stage for Asia debut

Led by Yoshihiko Kasamatsu as executive director, the conference will run from 30 May to 2 June, 2016. Kasamatsu is president and executive director of Ignite Inc.

The main venue will be Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi. It will follow a similar format to existing events, but will “be constructed with a keen eye towards the unique culture of the host city/nation and the surrounding region”, according to a statement from the organisers.

The event will feature keynote presentations, seminars and workshops during the day and a series of special events across the city each evening, including an opening gala. The aim of Advertising Week is to educate, inspire, entertain, and encourage young people to join the industry. 

Matt Scheckner, Advertising Week’s founder and chief executive, noted in a statement: “Asia is a booming market and Tokyo sits squarely at the intersection of creativity and technology.”

“Very much like Advertising Week in London grew out of the London soil, the objective here is the same,” Scheckner said. “To ensure we are respectful and cognizant of where we are, to capture the essence of our host city and region, and to help pave the way forward by bringing many of the world’s best and brightest to Japan and Asia-Pacific.”

Scheckner told Campaign Asia-Pacific that hosting the event in Tokyo was "a considered, deliberate and ultimately easy decision". 

"While Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore are often the focal points of conversation about Asia, the fact is Tokyo is the third-largest advertising, marketing and media market in the world," he said. "Japan is a vibrant force in the global economy and with the 2020 Olympics heading to Tokyo, all eyes will be on Tokyo looking at the next quadrennium. So we believe it's the right market, at the right time."

Speakers have not yet been confimed. "What we have now is a terrific venue package for both daytime and evening events, and that's where this begins," Scheckner said. "Many of the industry leaders who have spoken in New York City and London have already reached out regarding Tokyo so we know the interest is there."

Advertising Week Europe launched in London in 2012. The festival has been running for 12 years in New York. Speakers at the most recent event there included Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, WPP’s Sir Martin Sorrell, RGA’s Bob Greenberg, and musical acts such as Snoop Dogg and Bootsy Collins.

According to the organisers, Advertising Week has attracted more than 2 million participants from around the world since it began in 2004.