Current Role | Co-CEO, LY Corporation (LINE Yahoo) |
Previous Position | CEO, LINE Corporation |
Key Recognition | Japan’s Top Digital Executives | Nikkei 225 Technology Leader | Visionary of the LINE-Yahoo Merger |
Background and Early Foundations
Takeshi Idezawa began his career in the consulting and IT sectors, quickly earning a reputation for blending engineering logic with user-centered design. He joined NAVER Japan in 2009 and played a foundational role in developing LINE — the chat app that redefined mobile communication in Japan and parts of Asia.
By 2014, he was promoted to CEO of LINE Corporation and helped scale the platform to 200+ million users. In 2023, following the merger of LINE and Yahoo Japan, he became Co-CEO of LY Corporation, Japan’s new digital powerhouse.
Today, the Takeshi Idezawa tech leadership story represents Japan’s most important convergence of communication, commerce, and media.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
2013 | Launched LINE’s global expansion across Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia |
2017 | Launched LINE Pay and LINE Financial subsidiaries |
2021 | Led merger discussions with Z Holdings (Yahoo Japan) |
2023 | Became Co-CEO of LY Corporation post-merger, overseeing 80M+ monthly active users |
- Monthly Users: Over 80 million across LY Corp services
- Business Units: Messaging, digital payments, e-commerce, news, and AI search
- Innovation Focus: Super app strategy for Japan and cross-border AI platform development
Leadership Style and Influence
Takeshi Idezawa is a strategic integrator:
- Focuses on consolidating digital ecosystems into seamless user experiences
- Champions data privacy and ethical tech standards in Japan’s highly regulated market
- Prioritizes lean decision-making and product-led growth
Known for his calm demeanor and structured vision, Idezawa remains one of Japan’s most respected behind-the-scenes digital architects.
Legacy and Future Focus
Idezawa’s legacy lies in building one of the few successful Japanese consumer platforms that rivaled U.S. and Chinese tech giants.
Looking forward, he is focused on:
- Building Japan’s next-gen AI search and advertising ecosystem
- Expanding LY Corp’s fintech services to SMEs
- Positioning LY Corp as the “digital nervous system” of Japan’s online economy
He is creating one of the strongest tech bridges between communications, commerce, and content in Northeast Asia.
