DAY 2
Search Synthesis：Insights from Advertising and SEO Experts
13:00 – 13:30
Facilitator Mako Saito hosts a talk session with two leading figures: Go Sugihara, a pioneer in search advertising, and Takahiro Watanabe, a legendary name in the SEO world. Together, they’ll explore the essence of the “AI Search” movement and the future of the search ecosystem.
While noting that “we can’t even predict a year ahead,” Sugihara-san offers sharp insights into Google’s strategy. Watanabe-san, drawing on his deep expertise, reflects on consumer search behavior from even before Google’s rise. From the intersection of their perspectives, key points for the future of search marketing come into focus. This promises to be a truly special session.
Topics
Language
Giveaways
登壇者
Mako Saito
Chief Editor of LIG Blog, LIG
Born in 1992. After graduating from Kyushu University’s Faculty of Design in 2014, joined a recruitment consulting firm as a new graduate. Gained experience in corporate sales, new business development, and marketing before moving to LIG in 2018. Appointed Editor-in-Chief of the LIG Blog in 2023 and Head of Human Resources in 2024, currently overseeing both marketing and HR. Also works as a freelance writer on the side. Nicknamed “Makoriinu.” Author of Web Writing to Maximize Digital Marketing Results (Nihon Jitsugyo Publishing).
Go Sugihara
CEO, ATARA Corporation
After graduating from Keio University’s Faculty of Law, he worked at KDDI and Intel before moving on to Overture (now Yahoo! Search Ads) and Google Japan, where he was responsible for advertising sales strategy. In 2009, he founded Atara, a company providing marketing consulting services and tools. He is also one of Japan’s few platform business analysts, sharing the latest insights on platform advertising and retail media. He runs the “Platform Thinking” channel on X, LinkedIn, and Voicy.
Takahiro Watanabe
Head of SEO, DMM.com
SEO expert who launched Japan’s first SEO business in 1997 and has since supported numerous companies in Japan and abroad. Specializes in enterprise SEO, content marketing, and UX/UI. With 29 years of industry experience, he is recognized as a leading authority, actively publishing and speaking on SEO. His major works include The SEO Textbook for Ranking High in Search and How to Interpret Google Core Updates.