Project members
Dr.Kenji Sonomoto
“I think that it is the most important as a university teacher that basic research results at university are useful for the society, I will do my best.”
Daisuke Teshima
President and CEO, Trife Co., Ltd.
Vice President, Eco Friendly Institute Co., Ltd.
Representative Director, NPO Sell the Challenge
Registered Management Consultant by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Guest Professor, Faculty of Business Administration, Kanto Gakuin University
2015 “Japan’s Entrepreneur Champion” (Japan Venture Awards Grand Prize / Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award)
Around age 26, encouraged by his late best friend Kazuo Nakamura, he challenged obtaining the national qualification of Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant while working. Studying early mornings, late nights, on commuting trains, and at the company library after achieving sales targets. After passing the primary exam, he quit his job upon invitation from a senior at a foreign investment bank he met at prep school, but Yamaiichi Securities collapsed at the same time, leaving him jobless. At that time, he embarked on a solo backpacking trip through South America for about half a year, a dream from his boyhood.
Upon returning to Japan, at the Osaka office of Sanno Consulting Co., Ltd., he engaged in IT strategy, database marketing, SFA, and CRM consulting for electric power companies, etc., together with IBM Japan. After passing the secondary exam and obtaining the Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant qualification, he applied to Tohmatsu Consulting Co., Ltd. (now Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC), which was featured in the Nikkei newspaper for launching a marketing strategy consulting team, and was hired for his pioneering nature in sales × IT, returning to Tokyo. At Tohmatsu Consulting, he engaged in various strategy consulting projects for listed companies, such as management strategy, business strategy, marketing strategy, and new business development. He learned various strategy formulation methods from a diverse group of excellent members in each field, including consultants with U.S. and European MBAs, graduates from the University of Tokyo graduate school or super-elite graduate schools in Asia, and those from the marketing world of foreign consumer goods to luxury cars.
In 2003, for the challenge of international business, he transferred via a recruitment agent to the startup phase of the venture company Idea International Co., Ltd. Restarting as one salesperson in a venture of about 20 people. Gradually gaining positions, he oversaw marketing strategy, MD strategy, buying, production base development in southern China, and global supply chain construction with Hong Kong and Shenzhen as hubs, achieving over 30 million yen in annual import cost reductions, concentration on growth markets, and as head of the marketing strategy office and new business development office, promoting the launch of multiple new businesses such as kids’ interiors.
In 2005, triggered by having a child with disabilities, he explored the development of social businesses. As a new business aimed at creating jobs for the disabled, he launched from scratch the Italian-made organic social cosmetics brand “Agronatura (later Terracuore)” in Piemonte Acqui Terme, Italy, turning it into a brand and mainstay business with a market value of 1 billion yen in 9 months after launch, contributing over 10 million yen in annual donations to NGOs, and to the IPO (stock listing). Becoming the pioneer as the first Japanese to develop a European organic certified cosmetics brand.
In 2006, with support from Italian partner companies, he became independent and established TRIFE Inc. After independence, as a management consultant, he provided regional industry support consulting starting with the revival consulting for the lacquerware industry in Aizu-Wakamatsu City, advisory for aspiring company executives, and as a social × organic brand producer, launched multiple organic social brands simultaneously both domestically and internationally: 2006 “Liclis Luce by United Arrows” made in Italy, 2007 “APODEA” made in Italy, 2008 “Do Organic” made in Japan, 2009 “Infinistoria” made in Italy, 2010 “She with Shaplaneer” made in Nepal and Bangladesh, 2011 “QUON” made in Japan, 2012 “Le Biet by Deuxieme Classe (Baycrews)” made in France, 2012 “Oceanwell” made in Germany, 2013. The organic cosmetics created in Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Nepal, Bangladesh, Japan, and elsewhere exceed 300 items. Additionally, in 2009, he established the volunteer group “NPO Sell the Challenge” based on a group of parents of disabled children who are business professionals, conducting product development and marketing support activities for facilities for the disabled. The activities were featured on NHK Metropolitan News, etc.
After the Lehman Shock, due to economic deterioration and the bankruptcy of Italian partner companies, he lost everything and became penniless. His refrigerator was empty, he moved to a minimal house, and with no transportation fees for volunteering, he continued support activities by bicycle. During tough times, helped by many people, he made a living through corporate consulting, brand production, PR work, and lecture activities.
In 2011, researcher Kohei Nagatoshi, who saw the blog “Try Our Life” that he had written for 5 years on the theme “fusion of welfare and business,” consulted him about the practical application of “highly purified nisin A.” In 2012, triggered by having a second child with disabilities and an incident of isolated death of an aging parent and disabled person in the neighborhood, he learned about the “post-parental death problem” for the disabled. Also, witnessing his father, who had been a solid prosecutor, weakened by oral troubles in terminal cancer, and losing his uncle, who was a lawyer, to cancer and aspiration pneumonia, together with Nagatoshi, he launched the social × bio venture business “ORALPEACE Project” in a small rented room in Aoba Ward, Yokohama City, challenging the promotion of healthy lifespan for the elderly through safe oral care products, the creation of jobs for the disabled nationwide that was difficult to achieve and sustain through volunteering, the resolution of the post-parental death problem, and sustainable “balance of economic and social value.” With capital of 500,000 yen, minimal savings, and cooperation from volunteer members centered on parents of disabled children who share the same anxieties about the future, he started the challenge of developing sustainable social contribution activities to solve family future problems and social businesses that can maintain their own livelihoods without relying on donations or welfare.
One week after his father’s death in December 2012, he held a press conference at the Kyushu University Press Club on the invention of the innovative oral care formulation “Neonisin.” In June 2013, ORALPEACE Project establishment press conference at Kioi Forum. ORALPEACE launched in July. In 2014, double award of Grand Prize and Audience Award at “Yokohama Business Grand Prix.” Gathering over 100 professional volunteer members from various fields through empathy, advancing the project with leadership. One morning in June, due to family circumstances, he had to leave home, starting single life and work in a room of an apartment in Yokohama Chinatown, using an ironing board as a desk. From the great despair of losing everything except the work he believed in, he devoted himself to the business without rest for the next 5 years. In the following year 2015, at “Japan Venture Awards 2015,” he won the Grand Prize and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award from the largest ever 152 recommendations and applications, reaching the pinnacle of Japanese venture executives. In 2016, opened Bashamichi office, conducted on-site support activities for the Kumamoto earthquake, selected as “Japan Foundation Social Innovator / 10 People Shaping Japan’s Future.” In 2017, won “Good Design Award,” held press conference on the invention of “Neonisin-e,” turned profitable for the first time. In 2018, expanded to three continents, in 2019 won “Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry Technology Award,” regained family. In 2020, expanded to 15 countries worldwide, selected for “Entrepreneur in the Asia-Pacific” by Springer, the world’s largest academic publisher, and his activities were introduced worldwide on NHK World program’s “Direct Talk.”
The technological innovation of ORALPEACE, “killing bacteria causing oral troubles while being safely digested and decomposed if swallowed,” by Japan’s national research institutions, became a useful new invention of the 21st century for humanity, and in 2021, selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as an item loaded on the International Space Station (ISS) in which NASA participates. As a space venture connecting space technology to solving social issues on Earth and for humanity, it entered the space personal care market for the first time in the world. In 2022, won the first Good Design Award as a personal care product for space. Following the 2022 relocation to the United States, accelerated the global expansion of the ORALPEACE Project, and in 2025, newly launched a fluorine-free toothpaste gel for babies and children for the U.S. market. In response to the U.S. FDA’s announcement of the withdrawal of swallowable fluorine products for children from the market (safety review to be completed by October 31, 2025, announced on May 13, 2025), developed products utilizing cutting-edge green technology derived from nature. Started sales at Japanese supermarkets in California, planning expansion to high-end supermarkets such as Whole Foods Market. In the future, aims for local production in the U.S. and strengthens local community support. Against the backdrop of social discussions on fluorine regulations (risks of IQ decline in children and neurotoxicity), targets consumers with high environmental and health awareness, evolving a sustainable business model. Proposes alternative solutions derived from nature using the latest green technology. Calls for change to protect future children. This shares the anxieties of parents with disabled children and deepens the mission to support the socially vulnerable. Furthermore, preparations are underway to expand this successful model to Asian countries and worldwide, leading to the present.
Triggered by a major injury received while playing baseball with neighborhood classmates, he dedicated himself to kendo from age 6. Born to a sincere, diligent, and steadfast father from Iyo Province, Teshima Township (present-day Matsuyama City area, Ehime Prefecture), who moved to Tokyo shortly after the war aiming for the legal field, and a mother from a family line that was in the Satsuma Domain’s procession during the Namamugi Incident in the late Edo period and relocated as a clan from Satsuma to Tokyo during the Meiji Restoration, loving art and travel. Maternal roots in Ibusuki, Kagoshima, family crest is a circle with raised feather butterfly and armored butterfly diamond. Raised in a family descending from the defeated Heike warriors in the 1185 Battle of Dan-no-ura, preserving the secret custom of boys dressing as girls on Boys’ Day to hide themselves. Grandfather was Totaro Hiwatari, the actual founder of Meiji University’s shooting club (graduated from Juntendo Middle School, after graduating from Meiji University Faculty of Commerce, served as an officer in the Kumamoto Division then entered the business world, founded a trading company in Kobe about 100 years ago, showed interest in advanced American motorcycles and cars; later served as an army officer from the Osaka Division and died in battle in 1940; rests at Baisen-in in Aoyama). The family resided in Tokyo’s Azabu (and separately Kamakura’s Yukashita) since the Meiji era, nurturing many students from Kagoshima; at the end of the war, young soldiers and kamikaze pilots unable to return home visited for final greetings. The family dispersed to Tokyo suburbs due to Tokyo air raids and the family head’s war death. From postwar decline, uncle (mother’s brother, Kiyohiro Hiwatari) aimed to be a lawyer, father became a prosecutor as friends from Chuo University Faculty of Law, sister aiming for legal field became Supreme Court clerk from Waseda University Faculty of Law. He himself interested in professions and businesses with social value, led to developing highly public-interest social businesses.
Received high evaluations in childhood intelligence tests, excelling in intellectual ability, information processing, memory, possessing deep insight, logical structuring, strategic planning, execution, realization capabilities. Had many injuries up to age 10, but despite March birth and small stature, won silver medal in individual at Machida City Kendo Tournament in final elementary year, later young general in team matches. In public metropolitan high school, lost interest and became truant-like, immersed in band activities; at Sundai Prep School, met like-minded entrepreneurial descendants from rural areas, became student group leader. Thereafter, based on global sense and multicultural understanding cultivated through solo world travels, with vigorous curiosity as foundation, demonstrates unique viewpoints with thoughtfulness and humility. After Meiji University Faculty of Law graduation, achieved top sales at trading company while obtaining Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant qualification. At Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, handled listed company strategic projects, then at venture company successfully launched organic cosmetic brands contributing to IPO. Furthermore, triggered by family difficulties, transitioned to social entrepreneur; after Lehman Shock, continued volunteer activities in penniless life, demonstrating high resilience and mission sense. After repeating successes and failures, leveraged creativity, abstract thinking, leadership to found innovative bio × social venture “ORALPEACE Project.” Developed world’s first natural oral care products fusing disability support and green technology, gathered over 100 professional volunteers through empathy to advance project, has record of loading on International Space Station (ISS), currently expanding to over 15 countries. Won top award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) at Japan Venture Awards 2015, standing at pinnacle of Japanese entrepreneurs. Also, through NPO establishment and university guest professor, continues education and social contribution activities, pioneering paths for social issue solving through business, highly evaluated domestically and internationally. Pursues literary and martial arts like kendo and triathlon; started longboard surfing in 2020, challenged shortboard surfing after U.S. relocation, won beginner category at age 53. Starting from “experience of having family with disabilities,” established social entrepreneurship model fusing lactic acid bacteria technology, space technology, social welfare. In that process, cross-disciplinary approach spanning education, medicine, technology praised by many educators and researchers as rare gifted visionary with passionate heart innovating human health and sustainability, providing insights to next generation children.
In 2025 ongoing serialization “ORALPEACE Story—10-Year Trajectory of the Project” (Quintessence Publishing), reflects on project’s 10-year trajectory. In 10th “How to Realize Life’s Dreams” (published June 23, 2025), confesses penniless state after Lehman Shock and childhood isolation. Advises companions with individuality, “Loneliness and failure are gifted’s fate, but overcome with humility, conviction, comrades.” 9th discusses “Importance of Challenging Without Fear of Failure,” 8th explains “What is Oral Care Product Valued Worldwide,” providing guidelines for next-generation gifted social entrepreneurs. Discusses rise in environmental awareness and 7 points (safety, biodegradability, social value etc.), evoking empathy. After U.S. relocation, continues 50s surfing challenges, as “longboard 3 years, shortboard 2-year beginner surfer,” pursuing martial arts/sports following kendo/triathlon. Positively utilizes gifted negative aspect overexcitability, maintains mental health through work-hobby balance (early morning surfing practice). With potential collaborations with environmental protection groups (ex. ocean protection × biodegradable products) in view, promotes local community participation. Sharing gifted tendencies of family (leadership and communication, music talents, sports abilities, physical skills, bilingual, SMES school) with education-loving mother raised in America and Japan (A descendant of the Aki Kagawa and Satsuma Ijuin families, Japan-U.S. university graduate, NYC and foreign company experience, piano hobby; maternal grandfather former major group U.S. subsidiary president), advocates family-unit talent development, says “Figure challenging everything is future hope.” Emphasizes importance of transforming isolation/adversity into “individuality strengths,” responding to 2025 gifted education needs, initiating support for next-generation social gifted entrepreneurs and gifted children with diverse backgrounds including minorities/low-income, leveraging adversity adaptation through above-average ability, creativity, task commitment based on Renzulli’s Schoolwide Enrichment Model. In university lectures/blogs, advises “Failure is learning, empathy becomes strength.” ORALPEACE Project success evaluated as proof that gifted with individuality change future.
Registered Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2001 commerce department registration). Co-authored book “Marketing Strategy Handbook” (Tohmatsu Consulting Team Malibu / PHP Institute). Guest Professor at Kanto Gakuin University Faculty of Business Administration (from 2022—Theory of Social Entrepreneurship and International Expansion of Japan-Originated Ventures)
Specialty is social entrepreneurship helping the weak and international brand business development. Hobbies are travel, reading, writing, guitar playing, rock, bikes/cars, mountain climbing, outdoors, lure fishing, triathlon, shortboard surfing, foil surfing.
“We are launching new businesses in this Japan that balance social value and economic value, expanding them worldwide. Based on cutting-edge Japanese lactic acid bacteria biotechnology research used in space and medical fields, it’s a project contributing to protecting the health of precious cute babies and entire families, protecting the Earth’s environment for health, reducing caregiving burdens due to global aging, economic independence of the disabled, solving the post-parental death problem for the disabled, and humanity’s space advancement. I think it would be wonderful if, combining forces with many people worldwide, we could be of help to many. Wouldn’t you become a collaborator or fan of the ORALPEACE Project? In the coming era, no matter how difficult the situation, believing in yourself and comrades, tackling with tenacity, utilizing each person’s individuality and abilities, helping loved ones and those in trouble while realizing one’s own dreams, living in mutual support—if we can do that, it would be a truly happy life. I would be grateful if you could lend your strength to this small project. Thank you very much.”
ORALPEACE Founder Daisuke Teshima interview on Japanese National broadcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByuIqlJHxl4&t=26s
Springer Entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific: Case Studies
Daisuke Teshima & TRIFE Inc.ORALPEACE—Creating a New Business to Support the Elderly & Handicapped
https://oralpeace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Springer-Entrepreneurship-in-the-Asia-Pasific-ORALPEACE.pdf
Daisuke Teshima News Video Collection
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBegZ2BmeuTIaOS55wJXZSj7G_-VmPOAF
Daisuke Teshima Reference Materials
https://oralpeace.com/en/library
Media Coverage
http://oralpeace.com/category/news
ORALPEACE Blog
http://oralpeace.com/category/blog
Dr.Kohei Nagatoshi
Scientist
Until the Edo period, the Nagatoshi area in the southern part of Kyushu was the Satsuma(Kagoshima) domain, and the remains and place names of the Nagatoshi castle by Mr. Nagatoshi who occupied this area from the end of the Kamakura period are still present. The grandfather’s dairy company was sold to a major urban capital by M&A to protect local employment, and the Nagatoshi clan left management. His younger brother moved to Hokkaido and runs a ranch with his family. He is father of two college students and one high school student. He has a high level of trust as an active basketball player and as a leader for local children.
“I can connect what I have studied and learned to socially meaningful projects. I will do my best.”
Dr.Hitoshi Komatsuzawa
“I have great expectation for the oral application of new antibacterial agent! We are looking forward to the contribution from Japan to the world and contribute to society. As an expert of antibacterial agent, I will continue to contribute down-to-earth.”
Dr.Takeshi Zendo
“It is with great emotion that the lactic acid bacteria we found is able to help the society, and I will continue to contribute in the future.”
Dr.Emi Sumida
Certified by the Japanese Society of Oral Surgery
Japanese feeding and swallowing rehabilitation society certified person
Doctor of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Her father is Dr. Atsushi Sumida, a well-known researcher of carbon fiber at Toray Industries, Inc. He is a graduate of Kyoto University’s Faculty of Engineering and is an undergraduate student of the Nobel Prize-winning Professor Kenichi Fukui. She also has a doctor’s brother.
She met the ORALPEACE Project at the “Home Health Sciences Association” she attended in 2014. She is an angel mama who lost her daughter with a disability at the age of 0. Although she was in a mentally difficult time, in 2018, she overcame the rehabilitation of her right knee, which had been severely injured during a high school basketball game and lost her meniscus organization.
“Thoughts every day; I want to convey the importance of the mouth to many people. I want to contribute to the creation of mouths that can be eaten deliciously. I want to support the health of many people’s mouths. I want to reduce people’s suffering and illness, and want to go surfing this weekend.
When I first met ORALPEACE, the thoughts I had been thinking about every day seemed to be tightly packed in the green package, and I fell in love at first sight. As a doctor, I would like to objectively evaluate ORALPEACE and study various possibilities of ORALPEACE. “
Dr.Kenji Matsushita
Kenji Matsushit is Doctor of Dentistry, Visiting Professor of Oral Health Promotion Course at Faculty of Dentistry Kyushu University.
Ryoji Kako
Manager of Business Administration
Dr.Miki Matsuo
Miki Matsuo graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry of Kyushu University (Professional Dental Science)
She is affiliate with the following society: Japan Bacteriological Society, Dental Fundamental Medical Society. Her area of expertise is Oral Bacteriology and Bacteriology. she researched on the relationship between the two-component control system of bacteria and bacteriocin. She also researched bacterial sugar metabolism mechanism.
“OralPeace not only prevents tooth decay and periodontal disease, but also gives you the peace of mind and safety that you never have. As a researcher, as a mother of a child, as a daughter with a senior parent, I am very happy to be involved as OralPeace project team.
Noriteru Minezaki
((STUDIO))
Takako Gunasekara Ueda
Head of General Administration Division
She has been a female lacrosse player and captain since high school. She also has a teacher license as an English teacher.Both her parents are teachers and prominent sports leaders who have completed the physical education course at the University of Tsukuba.
“Realization of a society in which no one is left behind. We sincerely hope that everyone can feel at ease and maximize the potential of everyone’s potential. A peaceful world with ORALPEACE!”
Kazuo Nakamura
Entrepreneur
Japan Certified Management Consultant
Aspiring to be an entrepreneur from the judo club and university days until high school, he acquired a qualification as a small and medium-sized business diagnostician at the age of 26 when working at a think tank, became independent at the age of 28, and became an independent consultant under the “Office Security Mark Certification System”. Launch of various certification systems including the “Japan Color Certification System”, and as a think tank business, “Aizuwakamatsu City Regional Energy Conservation Vision Formulation Business, etc.”, “Small and Medium Business IT Utilization Support Manual”, “University-initiated ventures and commercialization possible” Sex survey” and so on. In addition to “Expert.com” as our own business, we are also developing our own Web service business such as “Lecture.com”, “Lecturer.com”, “Fruitya.com” (actually suspended due to the Fukushima City and Tohoku Earthquake). Deployment is also pioneering.
Previous members: Small Business IT Proposal Study Group (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Information Processing Promotion Division) Member, IT Management Textbook Creation Committee Member (IT Coordinator Association), Koriyama Technopolis Regional Strategic Alliance Formation Committee Member, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Information Policy Promotion Department, Information Processing Promotion Department, IT management support team, IT management textbook creation committee member.Dedicated to judo since childhood. Triathlete.
“I’m cheering for my best friend Teshima’s company when I was a teenager when I met him at Sundai Preparatory School.
He had a father of entrepreneurs who had a wide range of businesses in the prefecture, and he aimed to be an entrepreneur from his teens. Having acquired a national qualification as a management consultant at a young age, he had the foresight to start an IT company in his twenties and sincerely devote himself to the business.His way of life, knowledge, and room-filled books have led many entrepreneurs and business leaders of the same age, and many spills to their current positions.During the difficult times of Mr Teshima after the Lehman shock, he gave lectures and other work to support his life.In the fight against the pain of sinus cancer, which has lost the inside of the face for 5 years, he did not emit a weak sound and died in September 2018.After getting sick, he tried to stay healthy for his wife and daughter as long as possible, and at the end, he was taken care of by his wife and daughter, mother and brother, and Mr Teshima, who accidentally visited him.With a hot heart inside, a calm and quiet personality was loved and loved by many people.Mr Kazuo Nakamura, 48 years old with a strong life.