MVPs who bring joy to others and themselves through community work share their unique community experiences.
In Japan, the fiscal year ends in late March, making it a particularly busy time for many professionals as companies wrap up their annual business activities.
Despite this, on March 27, 2025, people from all over the country gathered in Tokyo for the Microsoft AI Tour Tokyo, eager to explore the latest in AI technologies and practical applications. The keynote, featuring the CEO Satya Nadella and highlighting Microsoft’s AI journey in Japan, captivated the audience. Attendees dove deeper into various technologies through breakout and theater sessions and got hands-on experience with AI in six different workshops. At the Connection Hub, participants engaged directly with Microsoft and partner experts. Energy and excitement filled the venue from the morning's opening to the evening's networking party.
The conference was supported by around 30 Microsoft MVPs and Regional Directors (RDs), who served as workshop proctors, theater session speakers, and staff at the Global AI Community and Connection with Microsoft booths in the Connection Hub. Their leadership in the community, shaped by real-world experience using and integrating AI into various domains, stood out even to Microsoft employees. More importantly, their shared goal of creating a better learning experience for attendees truly resonated throughout the event.
As mentioned, late March is an especially demanding time in Japan. And this year, our program’s special opportunity for MVPs, MVP Summit 2025, happened to overlap with the AI Tour Tokyo. Yet, these MVPs and RDs chose to dedicate their time and expertise to support the local community, showing their passion for helping others.
In this blog post, we’ll introduce six MVPs who contributed as staff at Microsoft AI Tour Tokyo. Each of them shares the story of how they started as community leaders and offers messages for those who might be inspired to take their own first steps.
Yoshitaka Seo, AI Platform MVP, Workshop proctor and Connection Hub staff
“I wanted to 'pay it forward' by sharing what I’ve learned with others."
What inspired you to start community activities?
"I benefited a lot from the wisdom of those who came before me in my career as an engineer. I wanted to 'pay it forward' by sharing what I’ve learned with others."
What do you enjoy about being involved in the community?
"I really appreciate meeting passionate people from various technical fields and gaining new knowledge from them."
Mako Azumi, M365 MVP, Theater session speaker and Connection Hub staff
“Start by sharing, and more people will gather."
“I run a community called "Nandemo Copilot" (which means Anything & Anytime Copilot) 🌈 We cover anything related to Copilot, true to its name. We operate online every Wednesday, studying various genres of Copilot, chasing updates, and hosting fun events where everyone can chat together instead of just one-way communication.
Starting this summer, we'll kick off "Nandemo Copilot Global." We'll invite MVPs and users from around the world to learn how Copilot is used globally. The events are mainly held in Japanese, but if you're interested after reading this blog, please feel free to reach out! We’re always looking for global speakers🌍❤️”
What inspired you to start community activities?
"I started because I wanted to find companions who share the same interests and thoughts. I run communities both internally and externally, and my motivation is the same for both. When studying alone, there are limits to the time and what you can do. However, once you start sharing, more and more people gather. Those who come together share the same interests and have collected various information and personal experiences. In the community, we can compile such distributed information and experiences that are not usually visible, and it becomes a learning experience for everyone💭💭."
What do you enjoy about being involved in the community?
"In the community I run, "Nandemo Copilot," anything related to Copilot is welcome. Nowadays, Copilot is integrated into almost every Microsoft product, making it quite challenging to keep up with all the information. However, thanks to the expertise of Microsoft MVPs and the contributions of community members, I learned about various Copilots that I wasn’t aware of. Most participants in our community are M365 users, but when MVPs from other genres present, the atmosphere becomes one of cross-disciplinary learning and gets quite lively. Thanks to their enthusiastic contributions, I feel that the Microsoft love among community members has been increasing😍💞.
Also, in the sense of a third place, it’s been great to find that the community has become a cozy and comfortable space. Gaining connections beyond work and friends through the community has been huge. It has made my everyday life much more enjoyable🙏🩷."
Message to those considering getting involved
"Community activities don’t need lofty goals! they can be just for yourself. Start by sharing, and more people will gather. If you ever want to try it, please ask community leaders who are engaged in activities, or if it's Microsoft-related, ask Microsoft MVPs. After all, loneliness can be tough, so let's learn together."
Tomomitsu Kusaba, Developer Technologies MVP, Workshop Proctor and Connection Hub Staff
“What matters is the desire to share something with others."
"I help run the .NET Lab, a community that covers not only .NET but a wide range of Microsoft technologies. The rules are relaxed, but the discussions are anything but! (Though, sometimes, I do wish for a laid-back session too!)"
What inspired you to start community activities?
"I felt it wasn’t enough to just receive knowledge from others—I wanted to give back and pass what I’ve learned on to the next generation. That’s when I decided to take on the role of sharing knowledge with others."
What do you enjoy about being involved in the community?
"I'm really happy when someone tells me, 'That was a great session!' It makes it all worthwhile."
Message to those considering getting involved
"Even if it’s something small or just a few minutes, what matters is the desire to share something with others. If you have even one thing you'd like to say, try taking the first step by speaking at a .NET Lab Study Group session!"
Atomu Hidaka, Internet of Things MVP, Workshop Proctor and Connection Hub Staff
“You’ll discover the amazing impact of connecting and interacting with others."
"I’ve been involved in a variety of activities depending on the time and situation. This year, I've been focusing more on things I can do on my own, such as answering questions and moderating on the Microsoft community, contributing magazine articles and blog posts, working on GitHub, and creating YouTube videos."
What inspired you to start community activities?
"I originally got started simply because someone reached out to me at a time when I had a bit of free time and flexibility at work. But once I began, I couldn’t stop—even when things got busy. Now it’s been 19 years."
What do you enjoy about being involved in the community?
"What I’ve appreciated most is the connections I’ve made with people. It’s been truly rewarding to expand my network and meet others who either knew about my work or were doing similar things. These encounters are not only fun but also motivating."
Message to those considering getting involved
"If you're thinking about getting started, just give something a try. Figuring out how to make time for it or setting goals can come later. Through doing what you enjoy, you’ll discover the amazing impact of connecting and interacting with others."
Akira Murachi aka Hebikuzure, Windows and Devices MVP, Connection Hub staff
“I found it exciting to be able to go beyond what’s possible in my day job."
"I mainly support Microsoft users through community support forums like Microsoft Q&A, where I answer questions and help moderate discussions. I also give talks at meetups and community conferences and contribute to technical blogs."
What inspired you to start community activities?
"It started as an extension of my work, which includes tech support and document translation. At work, there are limits to how much you can do—but in the community, those boundaries disappear. I found it exciting to be able to go beyond what’s possible in my day job."
Message to those considering getting involved
"Technical communities are all about give and take. Your output matters, but that doesn't mean you have to start big. Try posting your thoughts or experiences on social media or even providing product feedback to Microsoft—that's a great way to begin."
Kazuki Takai, Cloud and Datacenter Management / Microsoft Azure MVP, Workshop Proctor and Connection Hub Staff
“Just give it a try. Experience is the best way to learn."
"I present at study sessions on topics I’ve researched or experimented with on my own. While my focus is primarily on infrastructure technologies, I try not to limit myself. I enjoy introducing topics I find interesting or useful, even if they fall outside that scope."
What inspired you to start community activities?
"Studying alone can get dull, and it’s hard to notice perspectives different from your own. Sharing through the community not only deepens my own understanding but also exposes me to fresh ideas I wouldn’t have come across on my own."
What do you enjoy about being involved in the community?
"At work, I might be the most knowledgeable on certain topics, with no one else to turn to. Through the community, I can ask questions and get insights from others outside the company. Plus—it's just plain fun."
Message to those considering getting involved
"If you’re interested, just give it a try. Experience is the best way to learn."
We hope learning about their individual motivations—their "Why community?"—will inspire you to begin something new as well!
Visit the following pages for more information:
- Microsoft AI Tour Tokyo: https://aitour.microsoft.com/ja-JP/tokyo
- Microsoft MVP Award Program: https://aka.ms/mvp
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