Kaname is the Founder and CEO of GROOVE X, Inc., the company responsible for designing and developing Lovot - a next generation household robot, that touches people's hearts and inspires affection. Before founding GROOVE X in November 2015, Kaname was part of the team behind SoftBank's humanoid robot "Pepper" from 2012 to 2015, responsible for developing and launching the first model to the market. Kaname started his career at Toyota in 1998, working as an aerodynamics engineer, involved in developing the LEXUS's first supercar "LFA" and Toyota's Formula One racing cars. While still at Toyota, he enrolled in SoftBank Academia in 2011, a leadership program created by SoftBank's Founder and CEO Masayoshi Son. Catching Son's eye, Kaname was asked to lead the new "Pepper" project and joined SoftBank in 2012.

Robotics, Artificial Intelligence Innovation, Virtual Reality, Virtual Worlds, Technology,