Principal - Head of Japan Practice
With over 20 years of experience in Japan, Australia and the USA, Shoko offers a unique experience and insight into bringing multicultural and multi-disciplinary teams together to support cross-border deals, international expansion, partnership, and business advisory.
As a true cultural bilingual, she provides clear, practical guidance across cross‑border transactions, post‑merger integration, corporate simplification, and accounting and tax matters. Clients value her ability to simplify complex issues, anticipate challenges early, and bring together the right specialists to deliver seamless end‑to‑end outcomes.
Shoko was born in Japan, spent several years in Southeast Asian countries, and went to the USA for further education. After several years in NYC and Los Angeles, she came to Australia to serve Japanese clients. She joined the firm in 2016 to lead our Japan Practice and strengthen the Grant Thornton Japan Desk global network.
Experience
- End‑to‑end cross‑border deal coordination from origination, due diligence, to Post‑merger integration (PMI) and corporate simplification
- Sensible and practical support throughout a course of buy and sell-side deals as well as restructuring projects.
- J-SOX / US-SOX planning, implementing, execution, reporting, and optimising.
- Identifying strategic partner(s) and/or target(s)
- Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- US CPA (Active, California)
- Board member, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Brisbane (since 2013)
- Over 15 years of practical audit / US GAAP / IFRS experience for private and listed companies
- Bachelor of Science – Business Administration (Babson College)
- Business Sustainability Management (University of Cambridge)
