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Motokuni Takaoka

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2025 Judge
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Airweave, Japan

Motokuni’s quest for a good night’s sleep inspired his entrepreneurial journey.

Photographic portrait of Motokuni Takaoka

Motokuni Takaoka is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Airweave, a company he launched in 2004 by taking over his uncle’s fishing line business and inventing Airfiber — a revolutionary resin-based, clean and recyclable material designed to replace traditional spring mattresses. Through the introduction of Airfiber and disruptive ideas, including the concept of customization, Motokuni has transformed the stagnant bedding industry, known for its decade-long repurchase cycle and lack of innovation. 

Motokuni has scientifically validated that Airfiber improves sleep quality through various studies, including collaborative research with Stanford University, his alma mater. This helped him earn trust among those who value sleep most: elite athletes, especially Olympians, who became both product testers and brand advocates. Airweave’s strategy of incorporating the most discerning users’ feedback to refine its products has accelerated its growth in the market. As one of Japan’s leading mattress brands, it directly operates 400+ stores and had cumulative sales of US$1.34b by 2023.

Motokuni is actively seeking opportunities in new markets and industries, leveraging Airweave’s reputation as an official supplier to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Airweave’s bedding has been featured in the athlete villages at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 and will be at the upcoming Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. In March 2025, Airweave opened its first US flagship store in Santa Monica, California. The brand continues to expand globally and diversify, aiming to form partnerships with local businesses and channels and entering the health care and hospitality sectors.

Motokuni remains committed to delivering “The Quality Sleep” worldwide, offering science-driven, high-performance sleep solutions for everyone and everywhere. 

Motokuni is EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2016 Japan.

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