Masumi Murata is a pioneer of sea burial in Japan and the founder of Memento Mori in NYC. An entrepreneur, author, and end-of-life advocate, she bridges Japanese funeral culture with contemporary art and dialogue, inspiring people around the world to embrace life through conversations about death.

Lina Ono has been an entrepreneur and content producer since 2006, with a background in geophysics and science outreach. Inspired by natural organic reduction (NOR) in the U.S. in 2020, she co-founded Death Fes, creating spaces for open conversations around death. In 2026, she founded nanowa Inc. to make NOR a new option in Japan.

Nozomi Ichikawa – a cultural entrepreneur and social designer with over 20 years of experience in community and well-being. She co-founded Death Fes in Japan, a citizen-led festival and platform fostering public dialogue and innovative approaches to life, death, and the future of society.

Natsuyo Lipschutz is a Japanese–English bilingual keynote speaker, cross-cultural communication strategist, and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®). Through her signature philosophy, The Culture of One®, she helps leaders build trust across cultures by embracing individuality, transforming differences into meaningful connection and high-performing collaboration.

Marcela Tovar-Restrepo, PhD, is a social anthropologist, author, and international consultant specializing in death literacy, human rights, and social change. Drawing on her research into Agentic Dying, she explores how individuals and communities can approach mortality with dignity, dialogue, agency, and compassion.

Evan J. Blumenthal, MBA, MS, is a professional speaker, entrepreneur, and growth advisor who inspires leaders to "Be a Grower, Not a Knower." Drawing on 25+ years of experience across Fortune 500, family business, and entrepreneurship, he helps leadership teams gain clarity, drive growth, and unlock their full potential through practical insights and engaging storytelling.

Krishna Desai is a multidisciplinary creator, speaker, and teacher whose work spans writing, poetry, painting, drawing, sculpture, speech, and music. Krishna’s work explores death as a centerpiece of living intentionally in the human experience. Their essays have appeared in Elephants & Tea Magazine; Their paintings and artwork have been exhibited in The Penn Review and galleries globally.

Tetsuo Yamazaki is a Japanese entrepreneur dedicated to redefining memorial culture. Building on Ishihei‘s 279-year heritage, he develops services that extend beyond traditional stonework and support people throughout life’s final chapters. He believes memorial care means wishing for the happiness of those we cherish and creating lasting connections across generations.

Hello, my name is Benben, a kamishibai performer from Japan. Kamishibai is a traditional Japanese storytelling art. Through my original performances, I create meaningful connections, encouraging communication, and offer moments of warmth that comfort people’s hearts. I hope you enjoy my original stories.