# Hikari Nonaka

> Hikari Nonaka is the Okinawa-based co-founder and co-CEO of HelloWorld, which organizes homestays with international residents in Japan, English-language city quests and online school exchanges through WorldClassroom. Born on Ie Island and raised in Naha, he studied at the University of the Ryukyus, worked in consulting and reconstruction support, and founded Ryukyu Mirai before co-founding HelloWorld with Keisuke Tomida in 2020.

- **Role:** Co-founder and Co-CEO at HelloWorld
- **Organizations:** HelloWorld Inc., Ryukyu Mirai, Startup Lab Lagoon Koza
- **From:** Ie Island, Japan
- **Education:** University of the Ryukyus
- **Known for:** Founded Ryukyu Mirai in 2016., Co-founded HelloWorld Inc. in 2020., Supports entrepreneurs as a representative of Startup Lab Lagoon Koza.

## Career timeline

- **High school** — Studied in a desert region of the United States as an exchange student.
- **University years** — Traveled through eight Asian countries while studying at the University of the Ryukyus.
- **Before 2013** — Worked at a consulting company in Tokyo and on reconstruction support in Miyagi.
- **2013** — Returned to Okinawa.
- **2016** — Founded Ryukyu Mirai.
- **2018** — HelloWorld service launch, as described in the company’s 2020 interview; distinct from incorporation.
- **2020** — Co-founded HelloWorld Inc. with Keisuke Tomida; company established October 1.

## Achievements

- Founded Ryukyu Mirai in 2016.
- Co-founded HelloWorld Inc. in 2020.
- Supports entrepreneurs as a representative of Startup Lab Lagoon Koza.
- HelloWorld received the ICC Summit Social Good Catapult 2023 Gold Prize (company award).
- HelloWorld’s online international exchange project received EDU-Port Japan supported-project selection for a third consecutive year in 2026 (company milestone).

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — HelloWorld announced a third consecutive EDU-Port Japan supported-project selection for its online international exchange initiative.
- **2026-02** — Nonaka and three colleagues visited U.S. Consul General Andrew Ou to discuss cooperation around the United States’ 250th anniversary and longer-term exchange.
- **2026-02** — Featured as the guest on Okinawa Television’s Okinawa Business Frontline on February 14.
- **2025-10** — HelloWorld announced a Philippine Department of Education advisory introducing its online international exchange program.

## Links

- Website: https://inc.hello-world.city/en/
- LinkedIn: https://jp.linkedin.com/in/hikari-nonaka-a338b9123
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hikari.nonaka.94

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/hikari-nonaka
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23