Masaharu Ban

Masaharu has built a diverse career as a journalist, working across social affairs, regional news, editorial layout, government, and corporate reporting. These roles have provided broad experience in addressing a wide range of topics, with a current focus on technology and investigative journalism.

His recent work has concentrated on big tech and artificial intelligence. In addition to contributing to Nikkei, Masaharu serves as a lead writer for the publication Digital Governance. While generative AI continues to create additional tasks rather than reducing them, Masaharu aims to utilize AI as a tool to produce stories that this emerging technology would be unable to.

A particularly notable project involved chronicling a 100-mile trail run around Mt. Fuji, a 40-hour experience that involved sleep deprivation and hallucinations. Although transitioning to the sports desk is unlikely, Masaharu hopes to revisit that series in the future.

Outside of work, Masaharu lives with a wife, two young children and his sleepy Shiba Inu. He says his family life serves as a grounding influence and an occasional source of inspiration for new stories.