[Japanese Interviews: Life in LA] Akira Minamiura President, Kintetsu Enterprises Company of America Miyako Hybrid Hotel Torrance / Miyako Hotel Los Angeles

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“When I was in college, I went on a long journey with a friend. It was my first time traveling abroad, and we visited various countries from Europe to the Middle East. During that journey, I found myself deeply reflecting on the meaning and value of a ‘place.’ It sparked an inner exploration—where is that one place with true meaning for me? The answer I arrived at was my hometown, Nara. That realization ultimately led me to join Kintetsu Railway, the line that runs through my home region. Looking back, it shaped the first half of my life.”

Akira Minamiura was born in 1965 in Uda City, Nara Prefecture. In his childhood, he was a passionate baseball player, serving as pitcher in elementary and junior high school. He went on to study at Unebi High School and commuted over an hour each way by Kintetsu train. During high school, spirited debates with close friends led him to believe that economics, more than law, drives society—so he enrolled in the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics.

It was not the classroom but life at the Nara Prefecture dormitory in Myogadani, Tokyo, that left the deepest mark on him. The modest building along the railway tracks housed about 60 students. Until his third year, he shared a room; in his final year, he finally had his own. He worked part-time at a somen noodle company long associated with the dorm—handling warehouse sorting, selling at department store events, and even traveling to entertain clients. His time in Tokyo was defined by the strong, meaningful relationships he formed in that tight-knit community.

Minamiura graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1988. “I never wanted to become a scholar, and I knew working in Tokyo wouldn’t suit me.” Honoring the clarity he gained from his travels, he joined Kintetsu Railway and began his career as a station staff member at Tsuruhashi Station in Osaka. In 1990, he moved to the corporate planning division, joining the hotel team. Ever since, he has been deeply involved in hotel operations and development.

“It all feels like fate,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to be part of city-building, and hotel development is a key pillar of that. I’ve been fortunate to do work I’m passionate about.” In 2016, he served as the General Manager of the Shima Kanko Hotel, the venue of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, where he led 300 staff members in welcoming world leaders. He also spent over five years working in San Francisco in his 30s, making his current assignment in the U.S. his second international post. Throughout his career, he’s worked with a mindset of always brightening what lies ahead.

Minamiura is set to celebrate his 60th birthday next month. “Japan’s economy may have shrunk on the world stage, but our culture still has so much potential to expand. I believe that conveying the richness of Japanese culture will be the key strength of our hotels.” The mural of Shohei Ohtani on the wall of Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo has already become a downtown Los Angeles landmark. Meanwhile, plans are underway for a third U.S. property in Plano, Texas, with a targeted opening in fiscal year 2027.