My Story
Masanaga Sato (left in the photo), Representative of Safety Nature Positive Inc.
(A photograph taken when I took part in disaster relief volunteering with son following the flooding in Akita City in Sep 2023)
Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1963. Graduated from the Faculty of Sociology at Meiji Gakuin University in 1987 and joined Sky Family Co., Ltd. (a family restaurant chain within the ANA Group). Worked in store operations, from dishwasher to store manager. Joined ANA Enterprises Co., Ltd. in 1989. Worked in accounting at ANA Hotel Tokyo and experienced one of the strongest typhoon after the war at Kumejima Eef Beach Hotel in Okinawa.
On Sep 2, 1993, Typhoon No. 13 recorded a maximum wind speed of 53.9 m/s on Kume Island in Okinawa, but the observation equipment was subsequently damaged by the strong winds. Judging by the fact that utility poles were knocked down, it was estimated that the wind speed exceeded 70 m/s. Several people on the island were injured, but there were no fatalities, and the power outage at the hotel lasted for three days. The typhoon then moved northward and made landfall in Kyushu, where a landslide struck a house in Kagoshima where people had taken shelter, resulting in 20 fatalities. Learned the importance to minimize injuries and the way to claim insurance.
In 1997, transferred to the General Affairs Department at ANA Enterprises Co., Ltd. Established the comprehensive General Liability insurance scheme for ANA Hotels. Joined IHGANA Hotels Group Japan in 2006. Responsible for Risk Management, securing Japan’s first multi-HACCP certification (Food Safety) for 19 affiliated hotels. Had supported the member hotels at disasters such as 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (ANA Holiday Inn Sendai), 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake (ANA Crowne Plaza Kumamoto New Sky), 2018 Western Japan Heavy Rain (ANA Crowne Plaza Okayama and others), 2019 Typhoon No. 21’s damage (ANA Crowne Plaza Narita and others), and 2024 Noto Earthquake (ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa). Through my supporting hotels across the country, I have observed that the uneven distribution of water vapor caused by global warming is exacerbating wind and flood damage (and triggering droughts), making advance preparation and response essential for hotel operations.
Since Jan 2026, have been providing Safety & Sustainability services to IHG in the limited time as a consultant.