About

Sayaka Watanabe is the CEO and a founding member of re:terra, an organization that focuses on business development in rural areas and developing countries and supports human talent incubation and cultivation. 

In Tohoku, re:terra started the Kesen Tsubaki Dream Project, which works to revitalize the local community through the development of products using Camellia oil, made from seeds found in the forests surrounding Rikuzentaka, Ofunato, Minamisanriku and Kesennuma. The first product was the Kesen Tsubaki (Camellia) Hand Cream, and due to the success of the hand cream, it also produces a lip balm. Prior to founding re:terra, Sayaka worked for IBM as a business consultant, where she worked on developing new businesses and operational improvement, and the reduction of CO2. She has a BA from International Christian University and an MA in Human Security from The University of Tokyo.