§ 02    SEMINAR

Three tracks,
one community.

i. TRACKS

B1 · B2 · Graduate.

The seminar runs three independent tracks. Each is self-contained, but the community around them — reading groups, seminar camps, joint research — is shared.

Beyond seminar activity itself, IBER-Kotosaka partners with a wide range of companies and regularly hosts senior executives as guests — primarily through joint sessions in the B2 English track. A representative sample of those guests and partner organisations is listed below.

Bain Capital · Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · BlackRock · CJ Group · Daimler Truck Financial Services · DeNA · Egon Zehnder · Gojo & Company · JT · M Power · Microsoft · MIT Sloan School of Management · Nissan Motor Corporation · Panasonic · Rakuten · SMBC Nikko Securities · Sony · Steinbeis University Berlin · UBS · Waseda Business School · Yahoo! Japan · YJ Capital · Yokogawa Electric.

B1 Japanese Track
TRACK · 01

B1 — Japanese Track

Weekly seminar in Japanese. Case-based discussion of Japanese and global firms, individual research. Members enrol as their primary (A-type) seminar at SFC, and work in close coordination with the B2 English track.

Language日本語
YearUndergrad 1–4
AffiliationSFC Aタイプ
MeetingWeekly
B2 English Track
TRACK · 02

B2 — English Track

Monday 5th period. English-language seminar partnering with Japanese and international companies for applied research. Members enrol as their primary (A-type) seminar at SFC, working in close coordination with B1 and — given the shared English-language environment — operating as a single community with the Graduate track.

LanguageEnglish
YearUndergrad 1–4
AffiliationSFC Aタイプ
MeetingMon · 5th
Graduate Track
TRACK · 03

Graduate Track

Flexible schedule. Monthly 1:1 with Prof. Kotosaka; optional participation in B1 and B2 seminars (encouraged). Operates as a single community with B2 in particular, given the shared English-language environment.

LanguageJP / EN
YearMaster / PhD
Affiliation修士・博士
MeetingMonthly 1:1
ii. ADMISSION

How to join.

The seminar is part of Keio SFC's kenkyukai (research-seminar) system. Admission schedules differ between undergraduate and graduate tracks.

Undergraduate — B1 / B2

Applications are accepted twice a year, aligned with SFC's seminar-selection windows: spring intake (around February) and autumn intake (around August).

Spring · 春 Fall · 秋 B1 / B2
Selection process
  1. Document screening — Statement of Purpose
  2. Group discussion
  3. Student interview (in-person)
  4. Faculty interview (online)
Statement of Purpose
  • Brief CV / background to date
  • Your "uniqueness" — experiences, passions, what you want to explore
  • What you want to give to and take from the seminar
  • Vision after graduation
  • How you currently spend a typical week
Two tracks

A short-form Specialist track with fewer steps is also offered for students who already hold a clear specialty, breakthrough experience, or strong "passion" and are looking for an entry point into management studies.

All members are required to pursue an individual or group research project — not limited to academic research; industry analyses by founders or aspiring founders also qualify. Potential is highly valued, so 1st-year and 2nd-year undergraduates are prioritised in admissions.
Students who have taken Prof. Kotosaka's classes and earned top-tier grades receive a degree of preferential consideration in the selection.
For details on the current cycle (deadlines, templates, submission form), please reach out to a current seminar member.

Graduate — Master & PhD

The Graduate Track accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, in parallel with Keio's official application portal. Reach out directly to begin the conversation.

Year-round · 通年 Master · 修士 PhD · 博士
Who we look for

Highly motivated candidates with a strong academic background in strategy, international business, entrepreneurship, and institutional theory — and an interest in the four contemporary currents of strategic-management research (strategy-as-practice and -action, multi-layered boundary strategy, non-market and institutional strategy, and the algorithmic and robotic era; see our research focus). Ideal applicants demonstrate critical thinking, research potential, and a clear interest in these fields.

Past candidates

Past successful candidates have come from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, representing top-tier universities such as the University of Toronto, LSE, and ESCP Business School. Many have also received scholarships from the Japanese government or other competitive funding institutions.

Recommended preparation

A solid foundation in the seminar's core research areas is highly recommended. For applicants without that background, we encourage engaging with academic literature from the Financial Times Top 50 (FT50) Journals to develop the necessary theoretical and analytical foundation.

Required materials
  • Self-introduction about your background
  • English proficiency test scores (e.g., TOEFL, GMAT, GRE)
  • Research plan
  • CV
Process

Submit the materials by email to the faculty / university, in parallel with Keio's official application portal. Only shortlisted applicants receive a response, typically within 10 business days. Initial interviews are conducted by current graduate students, followed by further assessments.

Application portal: see Keio's official graduate-school admissions page. Please contact Prof. Kotosaka in advance to confirm his acceptance as your research supervisor.
iii. CURRENT MEMBERS

The people in the room.

The cohort is a mix of first-year undergraduates through doctoral researchers, working across Japanese, English, and mixed-language projects. Below, two current members share their experience in their own words.

42
Students
現役ゼミ生
30
Undergraduates
学部生
12
Graduate Researchers
大学院生
8
Nationalities
出身国
180+
Alumni
OB・OG
2013
Founded
設立年(立命館大学にて)
Keio since 2016

Members' voice

Yuki Miyazaki / 宮崎悠生

Yuki Miyazaki

Atlas株式会社 代表取締役 / Founder & CEO

自社技術である Atlas Technology(様々な役割に特化したAIを簡単に連携・差し替えできるAtlas社のAI技術規格)を活用し、企業や自治体との共同研究・共同開発を行う。代表的なサービスとして、位置情報と音声技術を駆使したガイドAI『Melody』があり、複数の観光地域で導入・運用中。

琴坂研究会には一年生の頃から所属し、四学期学んだ後、在籍中に起業しました。会社の舵取りで論理と直感を行き来する日々のなかで、論理の基礎を作り上げてくれたのは間違いなく琴坂研だと思っています。
atlas-tech.co.jp →
Tamaki Kojima / 小島環

Tamaki Kojima

株式会社エンターファイナンス 代表取締役 / Founder & CEO

慶應義塾大学総合政策学部1年。高校2年次に小中学生向け金融教育をテーマに株式会社エンターファイナンスを創業。小学生から投資が学べるボードゲーム「金融すごろく」を開発・販売。次世代教育分野へ活動の幅を広げ、客員起業家として「トラべリンガル」も開発中。

琴坂研究会は、経営戦略の理論からケーススタディまで基礎・応用を学べる環境です。事業相談会で先生やゼミ生から助言をいただき、学んだことを直ぐに実務に活かせる「躬行実践」を体現したい起業家にとって最高の場だと感じています。
enterfinance.studio.site →

Individual profiles and the full member list are shared privately with accepted applicants and partners. Above are members who have agreed to be featured publicly.

iv. ALUMNI · OB/OG

Where alumni go next.

Our alumni take on a wide range of paths — strategy consulting, overseas graduate study, founding their own ventures — and are now active around the world.

Voices from alumni

Takuma Sakamoto / 坂本拓馬

Takuma Sakamoto

株式会社ジャパンM&Aインキュベーション 代表取締役COO

メリルリンチ日本証券(現BofA証券)資本市場部門・投資銀行部門にて、M&Aおよび資金調達業務に従事。その後、米系PEファンドのカーライルに参画。国際航業・TOTOKUの非常勤監査役の兼務に加え AutoForm を担当。2024年5月にジャパンM&Aインキュベーションを共同創業。

起業をして、数多くの「10年後の戦友」となった琴坂研の仲間に支えられながら、日々格闘しています。志高い学生の皆様とご一緒できることを心から楽しみにしています。
jmai.co.jp →
Ryusei Kumazawa / 熊澤龍生

Ryusei Kumazawa

nook株式会社 代表取締役CEO

「二次流通×AIで奇跡の出会いを日常に」をミッションに掲げる nook 株式会社を2023年に創業。出会いに特化した二次流通マーケットプレイス ReList を運営。東大IPC 1stRound や incubatecamp など複数のアクセラレーターに採択。慶應義塾大学総合政策学部卒。2023年度未踏アドバンスト採択。

視座の高さを共有しつつ、やっていることはバラバラな学生と教授が集まるゼミです。尊敬しあえて愛着の湧く仲間ができて、「将来一緒にデカいことしようぜ」なんて子供みたいな約束が現実になります。
Ayumi Yamamoto / 山本愛優美

Ayumi Yamamoto

e-lamp.社 代表取締役

2022年にコミュニケーション・テクノロジースタートアップ e-lamp. 社を創業。2023年に慶應発スタートアップに認定、同年6月にベンチャーキャピタル ANRI よりシードラウンド資金調達。慶應義塾大学環境情報学部卒業ののち、2023年春から同大学院メディアデザイン研究科に進学し HCI 領域 Social Biofeedback 研究に従事。

まさに理論と実務の往来をさせていただいた空間です。同時に、琴坂研に集まる人たちのコミュニティは素晴らしいと思います。今後も起業エコシステム研究を続けたいと思っており、引き続きお世話になります。