Eitaro Shibasaki Appointed Chief Business Officer at Warner Music Japan

Eitaro Shibasaki named Chief Business Officer at Warner Music Japan

September 14, 2026 By Mandy Dalugdug

Warner Music Japan has appointed Eitaro Shibasaki as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer.

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Shibasaki also joins the company’s board.

He takes up the role on October 1 and will report to Takeshi Okada , President and CEO of Warner Music Japan.

The appointment was announced on Friday ( September 11 ).

Shibasaki will oversee business development and commercial operations for Warner Music in Japan.

His remit at Warner Music Japan covers strategy, partner relationships, market share, and revenue growth.

Japan is the world’s second-largest recorded music market, behind only the United States .

The market returned to growth in 2025 , expanding 8.9% YoY after a flat 2024, according to the IFPI .

That rebound was the primary driver behind the global recovery in physical revenues last year, the IFPI said, because Japan is also the world’s largest physical music market.

Shibasaki joined Label Mobile Inc. in May 2008 , where Warner says he helped scale the business, leading marketing and licensing negotiations.

The company was renamed RecoChoku Co., Ltd. the following year.

From 2015 he served at RecoChoku as Executive Officer, Head of Marketing, and Head of Platform Business.

During that period he co-founded the Eggs Project , launched with telco NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and Tower Records Japan Inc. to support independent artists.

RecoChoku and Tower Records incorporated the venture as Eggs Co., Ltd. in December 2019 , with Shibasaki as its President.

He held that post alongside his RecoChoku role until Eggs was merged back into the parent. Its platform and agent businesses passed to property and rail group Tokyu Corporation on March 31 , with the remainder absorbed on April 1 .

“I am delighted to join Warner Music Japan as it continues its dynamic transformation under the leadership of President Takeshi Okada,” said Shibasaki . “By acting quickly on emerging trends and taking bold, novel risks, my goal is to expand opportunities for our artist roster, forge deeper commercial partnerships, and deliver fresh value to music fans across Japan.”

> “By acting quickly on emerging trends and taking bold, novel risks, my goal is to expand opportunities for our artist roster, forge deeper commercial partnerships, and deliver fresh value to music fans across Japan.” Eitaro Shibasaki , Warner Music Japan

“Eitaro Shibasaki has played a pivotal role in shaping Japan’s digital music ecosystem and championing artist success for over two decades,” said Okada . “Having trusted him as a close business partner for many years, I know firsthand the deep respect he commands across the industry.

“I am delighted to welcome him to our leadership team as we strongly accelerate our growth strategy and push the boundaries of what a modern music company can achieve.”

> “Eitaro Shibasaki has played a pivotal role in shaping Japan’s digital music ecosystem and championing artist success for over two decades.” Takeshi Okada , Warner Music Japan

Shibasaki will work alongside Okada and Franck Pidou , a board director at Warner Music Japan who serves as Warner Music APAC Regional CFO, on the next stage of the company’s growth in Japan.

Okada himself was appointed President and CEO of Warner Music Japan in October 2024, taking up the role that December.

He joined from EMI Records Japan , a Universal Music Group label, where he had been Managing Director since 2018 .

Okada succeeded Kaz Kobayashi , who had led the company since 2014 .

Warner Music Japan sits within a regional structure led by Lo Ting-Fai , known as Lofai , who was appointed President of Warner Music APAC in August 2025.

Lofai oversees the company’s recorded music territory heads across Asia-Pacific and reports to Robert Kyncl , CEO of Warner Music Group .

In June, Warner Music APAC launched Listen Up , an artist accelerator built to take talent from the region to international audiences.

Its Asia-Pacific roster includes Warner Music Japan acts PSYCHIC FEVER and Luv .

Warner Music Japan has also been building out its commercial position at home and abroad.

In September 2025, the company signed rapper Yuki Chiba in partnership with 300 Entertainment , the WMG label acquired in 2021 for around USD $400 million .

It struck a global label deal with PSYCHIC FEVER in February 2025, and partnered with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan on anime-related music in December 2024. Music Business Worldwide

News Japan Eitaro Shibasaki Takeshi Okada Warner Music Group Warner Music Japan

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_Originally reported by [Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/eitaro-shibasaki-named-chief-business-officer-at-warner-music-japan/)._