What is Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN?
A think tank dedicated to studying sei-katsu-sha
Established in 2014, Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN (HILL ASEAN) is the Hakuhodo Group’s new think tank in the ASEAN region. It is dedicated to helping companies with their marketing efforts in ASEAN countries, as well as observing the new lifestyles emerging in this dynamic region and sharing ideas about them. In going about that mission, it will tap the impressive body of expertise that Hakuhodo has built up on sei-katsu-sha—our term for the holistic person—in the thirty-odd years since launching the Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living in Japan in 1981.
Our philosophy
Sei-katsu-sha Insight

The centerpiece of Hakuhodo’s philosophy is sei-katsu-sha insight. Here at Hakuhodo we describe people not simply as consumers but as sei-katsu-sha—fully rounded individuals with their own lifestyles, aspirations, and dreams. In economics the term consumer is used in contradistinction to producer. Though handy, it has only a narrow meaning. But human beings don’ t exist solely to consume. There’s much more to them than that. They are residents, citizens, voters, and maybe workers. Each falls into a certain age group—child, young person, middle-aged, elderly—and is an individual male or female in their own right. Each is somebody’s son or daughter, and perhaps a parent. At Hakuhodo we use the term sei-katsu-sha to encompass all these facets of the human condition. Going beyond the consumer to understand the whole person and imagine the products and services they desire: that’s the Hakuhodo approach.
Our approach to studying people

Sei-katsu-sha insight entails more than just observing a broad range of human activity. The real question is how you observe. Some things in this world are visible; others aren’ t. You can see what sei-katsu-sha are doing, but you can’ t see the hidden desires driving them to do it. The InsightOut® approach generates insights into the patterns of people’s hidden desires and thus brings out into the open the forces molding tomorrow’s lifestyles. It thus enables us to offer ideas on lifestyle patterns and dynamics in an age when superficial observation is no longer capable of revealing the future. InsightOut® underpins the research to be presented at ASEAN sei-katsu-sha Forum.
Our staff

Arunrote LaocharoenwongAssociate Strategic Planning Director

Haruna YakuRegional Strategic Planning Director

Fay Claudette BalloAssociate Strategy Director (2025-present)
| EXPERIENCE | ||
| 2026 - Present | Associate Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN, Thailand | |
| 2024 - 2025 | Associate Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo International Thailand | |
| 2022 - 2014 | Product Development Strategist, Asset World Corporation, Thailand | |
| 2017 - 2022 | Associate Strategic Planning Director, Socius, Thailand | |
| 2016 - 2017 | Senior Strategic Planner, Hakuhodo Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 2015 - 2016 | Strategic Planner, Verb, Thailand | |
| EDUCATION | ||
| 2015 | Master of Arts in Design and Branding Strategy, Brunel University London, United Kingdom | |
| 2009 | Bachelor of Decorative Arts, Silpakorn University, Thailand | |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2023 - Present | Regional Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN, Thailand |
| 2020 - 2023 | Account Executive, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| 2017 - 2020 | Strategic Planner, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2017 | Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science, Major in Economics, The University of Sydney, Australia |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2025 - Present | Associate Strategy Director |
| 2023 - 2024 | Senior Strategic Planner, IdeasXMachina |
| 2021 - 2023 | Senior Strategic Planner & Social Good Engineer, IdeasXMachina |
| 2019 - 2021 | Senior Strategic Planner, Dentsu One Philippines |
| 2018 - 2019 | Strategic Planner, Aspac Advertising, Philippines |
| 2017 - 2018 | Research Associate, Aspac Advertising, Philippines |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2016 | BS Major in Advertising Management, De La Salle University Manila |

Wimala DjafarDirector of H+ & Innovation

Rachel HanSenior Brand Creative/Consultant

Kumiko HoribaHakuhodo Consulting Asia Pacific Chief Intelligence Officer
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2025 - Present | Director, H+ & Innovation, Hakuhodo International Indonesia. |
| 2023 - 2025 | Growth Strategy Director H+ Indonesia. |
| 2020 - 2023 | Strategic Planning Director LOTUS:H & Hakuhodo Jakarta. |
| 2017 - 2020 | Associate Planning Director LOTUS:H. |
| 2015 - 2017 | Strategic Planning Manager LOTUS:H. |
| 2010 - 2014 | Account Planner Fortune Indonesia. |
| 2009 - 2010 | PR Executive, Strategic Solutions LLC, Dubai, UAE. |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2009 | Bachelor of Communication, University of Indonesia |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2024 - Present | Senior Brand Creative/Consultant, Hakuhodo Consulting Asia Pacific |
| 2022 - 2023 | Branding & Design Lead, Superminted |
| 2019 - 2021 | Senior Brand Designer, MakerLab |
| EDUCATION | |
| Nanyang Technological University (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communication) | |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2018 - Present | Senior Director, Hakuhodo Consulting Asia Pacific (Singapore) |
| 2014 - 2018 | Director, Kantar MillwardBrown (Singapore) |
| 2009 - 2014 | Manager, Kantar Japan |
| 2005 - 2009 | Manager of ThinkTank Devision, Venture Link |
| 2004 - 2005 | SME(Sony Music Entertainment) TV inc, Marketing |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2004 | Waseda University |

Chatchanin ItthipornvithoonStrategic Planning Director

Vu Anh ThuStrategic Planning Manager

Prompohn SupataravanichStrategic Planning Director
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2025 - Present | Communication Planning Director, Hakuhodo Bangkok, Thailand |
| 2023 - 2025 | Associate Communication Planning Director, Hakuhodo Bangkok, Thailand |
| 2022 - 2023 | Communication Planning Manager, Hakuhodo Bangkok, Thailand |
| 2020 - 2022 | Senior Communication Planing and Data Supervisor, Dentsu (Thailand) |
| 2018 - 2020 | Communication Planning and Data Supervisor, Dentsu (Thailand) |
| 2016 - 2018 | Senior Communication Planner, Dentsu (Thailand) |
| 2013 - 2016 | Strategic Executive and Assitant to BD, Idea Fusion Research and Consulting, Thailand |
| 2011 - 2013 | Assistant to President, Shaiyo-AA, Thailand |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2015 | Master in Marketing (MIM), Thammasat University, Thailand |
| 2011 | Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Thammasat University, Thailand |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2024 - Present | Strategic Planning Manager, Hakuhodo International Vietnam |
| 2021 - 2022 | Strategic Planning Lead, Leo Burnett Vietnam |
| 2019 - 2020 | Strategic Planner, Leo Burnett Vietnam |
| 2017 - 2019 | Senior Digital Planner, Hakuhodo International Vietnam |
| 2015 - 2017 | Digital Media Planner, MEC (Wavemaker) Vietnam |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2015 | Bachelor of International Business Economics, Foreign Trade University, Vietnam |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2025 - Present | Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo First |
| 2024 - 2025 | Director, Market Research & Strategy, HILL ASEAN |
| 2021 - 2024 | Associate Director, Market Research & Strategy, HILL ASEAN |
| 2017 - 2020 | Strategic Planning Manager, HILL ASEAN |
| 2014 - 2017 | Project Manager, PRODUCTS Bangkok (Thailand) |
| 2011 - 2013 | Assistant Sales Manager, Nippon Parking Development (Thailand) |
| 2009 - 2010 | International Business Coordinator, Kawasumi Laboratories (Japan) |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2009 | Bachelor of Arts in Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan |

Tomoka TakadaRegional Strategic Planning Director, Global Strategic Planning Division

Yuko ItoFellow Director
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2024 - Present | Regional Strategic Planning Director, Global Strategic Planning Division |
| 2019 - 2024 | Regional Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo Institute of Life & Living ASEAN |
| 2016 - 2019 | Strategic Planner, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| 2013 - 2016 | Account Executive, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2013 | Bachelor of Arts in International Liberal Studies, Waseda University , Japan |
| EXPERIENCE | |
| 2025 - Present | R&D Director, Hakuhodo Institute of Life & Living Japan |
| 2020 - 2025 | Managing director, Hakuhodo Institute of Life & Living ASEAN |
| 2018 - 2019 | Regional Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo Institute of Life & Living ASEAN |
| 2014 - 2018 | Strategic Planning Director, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| 2010 - 2014 | Strategic Planning Supervisor, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| 2003 - 2010 | Strategic Planner, Hakuhodo Inc, Japan |
| EDUCATION | |
| 2003 | Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Japan |

Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN (HILL ASEAN) presents a study that challenges everything we thought we knew about life after 40. As the region moves beyond a youth-only focus, we dive into the lives of the Prime Generations (Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers) to uncover the hidden story of the future self.
Through this study, we debunk three prevailing myths regarding whether the ideal life is a fantasy escape or something more grounded , whether aspiration and self-realization are privileges reserved only for the youth , and whether aging values must view growing older as a fearsome decline to be avoided.
When is the actual "Prime Time" of life?
Step into a journey that redefines growth, connection, and impact. It is time to see these generations with fresh eyes and explore the vibrant possibilities that emerge when we look beyond the traditional scripts of aging.
Download our full report below.
English Version
Hakuhodo Institute of Life and Living ASEAN (HILL ASEAN) presents a study that challenges everything we thought we knew about life after 40. As the region moves beyond a youth-only focus, we dive into the lives of the Prime Generations (Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers) to uncover the hidden story of the future self.
Through this study, we debunk three prevailing myths regarding whether the ideal life is a fantasy escape or something more grounded , whether aspiration and self-realization are privileges reserved only for the youth , and whether aging values must view growing older as a fearsome decline to be avoided.
When is the actual "Prime Time" of life? Step into a journey that redefines growth, connection, and impact. It is time to see these generations with fresh eyes and explore the vibrant possibilities that emerge when we look beyond the traditional scripts of aging.
Download our full report below.
English Version
The economy of ASEAN has grown remarkably compared to the global rate, resulting in an increase in the wealth of individuals in the middle class. These individuals have the potential to become a significant driving force for the ASEAN consumer market.
However, little is known about these individuals who have recently moved up from the middle class and are on their way to becoming part of the wealthy class.
Who are these people? HILL ASEAN refers to this invisible class as the "Emerging Affluent." Although this term may bring to mind the "upper middle class," our research has revealed that the ASEAN individuals in the Emerging Affluent segment differ significantly in terms of their lifestyle, values, consumption behavior, and brand preferences.
Find out more about the Emerging affluent in ASEAN and how brands can adjust their communication to better suit them from our full report below.
English Version
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the behavior and thinking of Sei-katsu-sha. One of the positive changes is the increase in the number of Sei-katsu-sha in ASEAN, who enjoy "fandom" with their peers. In ASEAN, the term "fandom" refers to "the people who are passionate fans of idol singers, manga, sports, hobbies, etc., and the world/ culture formed by these fans”.
The ASEAN Sei-katsu-sha who enjoy sharing their passion towards idol singers, cats, soccer, board games, touring, watches, anime, etc. with their peers were overflowed with energy. Thus, HILL ASEAN researchers who conducted interviews were often inspired by their positive vibes. The benefits that ASEAN Sei-katsu-sha receive from fandom are not only pure enjoyment, but also a wide range of other things. For instance, it includes aspirations that cannot be fulfilled in the real world, mutual support relationships beyond the family, a sense of belonging, and so on. It is also worth noting that the value of fandom is very different from that of Japan, which was surveyed as a comparison.
HILL ASEAN would like to present our findings on "Why ASEAN Sei-katsu-sha are so enthusiastic about fandom", which we have discovered from our analysis of their words and behaviors. Our implications and original solution for creating brand fandoms will be also introduced too.
Discover our full webinar session from below URL,
https://www.hillasean.com/aseanfandom_webinar/
or download our booklets from below.
English VersionPlease also find each countries finding below









Access
HILL ASIA Co., Ltd. (Head office)
140 Wireless Building, 19th Floor,
No.140, Witthayu Road, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
Inquiries
e-mail: info@hill-asean.com