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Rio Kakui
Strategic Logistics Expert, Author, and Entrepreneur
About Rio Kakui
Ryoichi "Rio" Kakui is a strategic logistics expert and entrepreneur based in Tokyo, CEO of Progress Inc., and Founder and Senior Advisor of e-LogiT. Born in Osaka and raised in Nara, he completed all of his credits in economics at Sophia University in three years, then earned an MBA in Marketing from Golden Gate University in the United States in just one year and three months. After consulting for retailers at Funai Consulting and working in his family's logistics business, he founded e-LogiT in 2000. The company grew into a leading e-commerce fulfillment provider in Japan and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2021.
Rio has published more than 42 books, including titles in English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Each year he writes "Butsuryu Kakumei" (Logistics Revolution) for Nikkei, a series now in its 8th year. He regularly explains logistics issues on Japanese TV and radio, including NHK, Fuji TV and TBS. He also runs the Progress Club, which trains logistics professionals, and organizes the annual Strategic Logistics Summit in Tokyo. He leads study tours that connect Japanese logistics executives with innovators abroad.
Key Credentials
Education: Sophia University, Economics (completed all credits in three years); MBA in Marketing, Golden Gate University, USA (earned in one year and three months)
Career: Funai Consulting (retail consulting); Koki Butsuryu (logistics); Founder and Senior Advisor, e-LogiT Co., Ltd. (founded 2000, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2021); CEO of Progress Inc. (since 2016)
Author: more than 42 books, published in Japan, the US, China, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam. Notable titles include Butsuryu Kakumei (Logistics Revolution), an annual series from Nikkei (Nihon Keizai Shimbun), 8th year; Saisentan no Butsuryu Senryaku (Cutting-Edge Logistics Strategy), PHP; Kokyaku wo Tsukamu Senryaku Butsuryu (Strategic Logistics that Wins Customers), Nippon Jitsugyo Publishing; Amazon to Butsuryu Daisenso (Amazon and Logistics War), NHK Publishing; and English editions Strategic Logistics in Japan and Omni-Channel Strategies in U.S. and Japan.
Media: commentator on Fuji TV, TBS, NHK, MBS, Chukyo TV and J-WAVE, on topics such as last-mile delivery, redelivery and labor shortages; NewsPicks Pro-Picker
Academic Roles: Visiting Professor, Tama University Graduate School; Professor, Global Biz Professional University; member of the Japan Logistics Society
Advisory Roles: Partner, Funai Soken Supply Chain Consulting; Special Advisor, Japan Light Cargo Association (Zenkeikyo)
Events and tours: organizer of the Strategic Logistics Summit (26th edition in November 2026); leader of executive logistics study tours, including Dallas–Fort Worth in December 2026
Speaking: lectures at Stanford University, Waseda Business School, Japanese government ministries, financial institutions and industry associations
Entrepreneur's Organization (EO): member since 2000
Selected Books
Logistics Revolution 2020–2026 (annual series): 『物流革命2020』〜『物流革命2026』, Nikkei (Nikkei Mook; Nikkei Publishing)
Cutting-Edge Logistics Strategy: 『最先端の物流戦略』, PHP Business Shinsho
Strategic Logistics That Wins Customers: 『顧客をつかむ戦略物流』, Nippon Jitsugyo Publishing
Amazon and Logistics War: 『アマゾンと物流大戦争』, NHK Publishing. English edition: Amazon: A Comparative Analysis of U.S. and Japan Logistics. Also published in Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) and Simplified Chinese (mainland China). Selected for China's 13th Five-Year Plan list of National Key Publications.
Understanding Logistics (2nd edition): 『物流がわかる＜第2版＞』, Nikkei Bunko. English edition: Strategic Logistics in Japan.
Omni-Channel Strategy: 『オムニチャネル戦略』, Nikkei Bunko. English edition: Omni-Channel Strategies in U.S. and Japan. Also published in Simplified Chinese.
Amazon, Nitori, ZARA… Amazing Logistics Strategies: 『アマゾン、ニトリ、ZARA…… すごい物流戦略』, PHP Business Shinsho. Also published in Vietnamese.
Logistics Clash: 『物流大激突 アマゾンに挑む宅配ネット通販』, SB Shinsho
Logistics Crisis: 『物流大崩壊』, Takarajimasha
Everything About Logistics, Illustrated: 『図解 よくわかる物流のすべて』, Nippon Jitsugyo Publishing. Also published in Simplified Chinese.
IT Logistics Made Easy: 『よくわかるIT物流』, Nippon Jitsugyo Publishing. Also published in Korean and in Traditional and Simplified Chinese.
How to Improve Logistics: 『物流改善の進め方』, Kanki Publishing
E-commerce Logistics Trends and Mechanisms Explained: 『最新EC物流の動向と仕組みがよ〜くわかる本』, Shuwa System
Logistics Made Easy with Manga: 『マンガでやさしくわかる物流』, JMA Management Center
English titles in italics are informal translations, except for the editions published in English and the titles used on ourprogress.jp (Logistics Revolution, Amazon and Logistics War, Logistics Crisis, Logistics Clash).
Selected Speaking Engagements
Universities: Stanford University; Waseda Business School; Waseda University; Sophia University; Tama University Graduate School
Government: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT); City of Kitakyushu
Financial institutions: J.P. Morgan; Citigroup Global Markets Japan; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities; Mizuho Securities; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC); Shoko Chukin Bank
Industry associations: Japan Association for Logistics and Transport (JALoT); Japan Warehousing Association; Japan Institute of Logistics Systems (JILS); Japan Logistics Society; Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Junior Chamber International Japan (JCI Japan); All Japan Supermarket Association; G1 Ventures
Corporations: AEON; AEON (China); Calbee; Senko; Nittsu Research Institute and Consulting (now NX Logistics Research Institute and Consulting)
Media and international: Foreign Press Center Japan; Nikkei (Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
Recognition
Received the 2025 Logistics Industry Development Contribution Award as a representative of e-LogiT at the 14th International Fashion Product Logistics Summit in Shanghai, China, on December 19, 2025. Fellow recipients included LVMH and Li-Ning. (Award name translated from Chinese.)
Areas of Expertise
Last-mile and home delivery, including drone and autonomous delivery
E-commerce fulfillment and omni-channel logistics
Logistics labor shortages and Japan's "2024 Problem"
Logistics DX, automation and robotics
Amazon and global retail logistics strategy