For the second Macro Salon of 2025, Jesper and Bill are joined by Taro Kono, former Minister for Digital Transformation and current member of the House of Representatives. They explore the impact of US tariffs, the latest advancements and challenges in the tech sector, and the evolving landscape of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Taro Kono is a 10th-term Member of the House of Representatives. Among positions he has held in the past are Foreign Affairs Minister; Defense Minister; Digital Minister; Minister for Cybersecurity; Minister in charge of COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out; Minister for Administrative Affairs; Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, or Minister in charge of the National Police Organization; Minister for Civil Service Reform; Minister for Disaster Management; Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety; and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. He is a graduate of the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. He was Chairman of the Japan Race Horse Association and Chairman of the Shonan Bellmare Football Club, the 1995 Asia Champion Soccer Club. He is married to Kaori and has a son, Ippei.