Shoji Kurasaka
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined Japanese National Railways in April 1985 and was assigned to the Personnel Section of the General Affairs Department at the Osaka Railway Operating Division. In the April 1987 breakup and privatization he moved to the Personnel Section of West Japan Railway's Personnel Department, and served as Executive Officer and General Manager of Personnel from June 2009 and Executive Officer and General Manager of Public Relations from June 2014. From June 2016, as Managing Executive Officer, he headed the headquarters for supporting victims of the Fukuchiyama Line accident, and from June 2018 also headed the council office on measures related to the accident and the General Affairs Department. He became head of the Corporate Planning Headquarters in June 2020 and Representative Director and Executive Vice President in June 2021.
Selection
In June 2025 he became Representative Director and President, succeeding Kazuaki Hasegawa, after four years as Representative Director and Executive Vice President from June 2021. In the fiscal year ended March 2025, the year before he took office, consolidated revenue was ¥1,707.9 billion, operating income ¥180.2 billion and net income ¥113.9 billion, back above the pre-pandemic revenue of ¥1,529.3 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2019. The appointment appears to have entrusted the balancing of safety and growth to a man whose career ran through accident response and corporate planning.
Initiatives
In his first year, the fiscal year ended March 2026, consolidated revenue was ¥1,845.8 billion, operating income ¥198.1 billion and net income ¥127.5 billion, all above the previous year's ¥1,707.9 billion, ¥180.2 billion and ¥113.9 billion. Operating income also exceeded the pre-pandemic ¥196.9 billion of the fiscal year ended March 2019.
Career
Career
Japanese National Railways
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1985 | Joined as Osaka Railway Administration Bureau, General Affairs Department, Human Resources Section |
West Japan Railway
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Apr 1987 | Worked as Human Resources Department, Human Resources Section |
| Jun 2008 | Human Resources Department, General Manager |
| Jun 2009 | Executive Officer, General Manager, Human Resources Department |
| Jun 2012 | Executive Officer, Deputy General Manager of Headquarters, Kinki Headquarters and General Manager, Osaka Branch Office, Kinki Headquarters |
| Jun 2014 | Executive Officer, General Manager, Public Relations Department |
| Jun 2016 | 常務執行役員福知山線列車事故ご被害者対応本部長 (translation pending) |
| Jun 2018 | 取締役兼常務執行役員福知山線列車事故ご被害者対応本部長、福知山線列車事故対策審議室長、総務部長 (translation pending) |
| Jun 2019 | Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, General Affairs Department |
| Dec 2019 | Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, General Affairs Department and General Manager, Tokyo Headquarters |
| Jun 2020 | Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Planning Headquarters |
| Jun 2021 | Representative Director, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Planning Headquarters |
| Jun 2021 | Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Corporate Planning Headquarters and General Manager, Gabanansu Promotion Headquarters |
| Jun 2022 | Representative Director, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer |
| Jun 2025 | Representative Director, President |
References 1
References (Japanese primary sources)
- 西日本旅客鉄道 有価証券報告書【役員の状況】