March 13, 2026

Introducing Senior Executive Professional Miho Naganuma, leading the forefront of standardization and rulemaking

International standardization activities are an important initiative in which the public and private sectors work together to strengthen technology and industrial competitiveness. The Japanese government has formulated a standardization strategy and is seeking to accelerate standardization in fields where Japan has particular strengths. At the same time, Japan’s standardization workforce is aging, while participation among younger generations remain extremely low. Developing the next generation of talent has therefore become an urgent priority.

We spoke with Senior Executive Professional Miho Naganuma, who is active on the front lines of international standardization, about current initiatives and future prospects in international standardization activities and talent development.

Profile

The Unique Appeal of Being the One to Set Things in Motion

How did you first become involved in standardization?

I have been engaged in international standardization in earnest since around 2000. I took part in ISO/IEC JTCI ^(*1), where I worked on the standardization of information security, IT services, and IT governance. As these topics were also being discussed in other standardization bodies, I later became involved in ITU^(*2) as well. In addition, I have acted as a bridge between JTCI and ITU, and have also been involved in activities of regional standardization organizations in Asia and Europe.

In my work, I have used standardization frameworks as consulting tools and have helped design standardization approaches in external engagement with governments and related organizations in Japan and abroad. In my current role, I am involved in rulemaking in the digital domain. As a member of international organizations and government committees, I contribute to the overall strategy and rulemaking from a broad perspective, and my current activities are primarily focused on AI.

What is the appeal of standardization?

The appeal of standardization lies in the opportunity to help create new markets and to be directly involved in shaping how they take form. Over the years, I have witnessed the emergence of new markets such as information security and cloud computing. I have seen the United Kingdom promote the standardization of the ISMS ^(*3) as a way to build a market, and U.S. IT vendors lead the cloud market while also strategically securing positions in standardization. More recently, global competition over standardization has also been intensifying in the field of quantum technologies.

At present, one initiative originating from Japan is the push to standardize the Cyber Defence (Security) Centre or CDC ^(*4). This refers to a specialized organization responsible for comprehensively managing and defending against cybersecurity risks for various companies and other organizations. In international standardization, building alliances is essential, but developments often unfold in completely unexpected wayssuch as when counties you never anticipated show interest. It is precisely within this kind of unpredictability, and in the ability to influence how markets evolve, that I find it to be truly exciting to be able to set things in motion.

How are you currently involved in standardization and rulemaking?

In the digital domain, technological and regulatory issues are increasingly intertwined, and it is also essential to remain mindful of international security risks. I work closely with stakeholders in Japan and abroad to stay on top of these developments from multiple perspectives and advance said efforts in a coordinated way.

Gaining Hands-on Experience while Learning from Seasoned Professionals

Can you tell us about your approaches to talent development and any experiences that have shaped your thinking?

Hands-on experience in the field is essential. To develop the ability to read the room, negotiate effectively, and communicate clearly in writing, I believe it is highly effective for younger employees to gain practical experience through on-the-job development alongside more experienced colleagues. For younger professionals, it may also be worth making use of government support programs and other available schemes. In fact, the response from younger employees who have participated in international conferences has been extremely positive.

It is often said that finding role models can be difficult, and that was also the case when I began my career. Through my experiences at international forums, however, I was able to observe many participants and encounter a wide range of role models, regardless of age, gender, and nationality. I believe this broadened my perspective.

Where do you believe Japan’s strength lies in standardization activities?

I believe one of Japan’s strengths lies in the active involvement of industry. This makes it possible to maintain a well-balanced collaboration among industry, government, and academia. Rulemaking requires a certain level of sustained effort and capacity, and in Japan, private-sector companies play a key role in supporting standardization and rulemaking, which also contributes to overall stability. There are countries where younger professionals are actively engaged, but in some cases the balance among industry, government, and academia is uneven, or where there is frequent turnover, making it difficult to maintain continuity.

Do you think the limited number of young professionals is due to a workplace culture where it is difficult for those interested in standardization and rulemaking to speak up, or because the appeal of this work has not been fully conveyed?

I believe both factors are at play. I would strongly encourage young professionals to speak up. I have also seen first-hand how those who participate in international meetings absorb a wide range of experiences and grow to become the next generation of leaders. Standardization and rulemaking may not always receive much attention within organizations, as they do not easily yield short-term results. However, I would very much like to emphasize and convey that they can be used as valuable business tools.

* Affiliated department and title at the time of the interview.

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