⚑ Tokyo, Japan

Kenji leads one of the SDK teams for Arene, Woven by Toyota’s software development platform. Bringing together members from a wide range of nationalities and industries, his team supports end-to-end software development — from design and evaluation to implementation. Enabling safer, higher-quality software to reach customers more quickly, Kenji reflects briefly on his own growth, and shares how Woven by Toyota’s approach to software development, including hardware-free evaluation and a deep commitment to safety and quality, shapes the way he and his team work every day.

Q: What kind of platform is Arene?

Arene is a software platform that supports a wide range of development stages — not only implementation, but also evaluation and delivery.

Q: Who are your customers?

The SDK I’m responsible for is designed for developers who build applications on top of the vehicle cockpit. It provides foundational tools that make it easier for them to design, test, and implement new, human-centric in-vehicle experiences.

Q: Why did you decide to join Woven by Toyota?

I wanted to contribute to the development of a forward-looking pillar of software. I was also drawn to the fact that Woven by Toyota hires talented engineers from around the world — that global, diverse environment was a major attraction for me.

Q: How has your experience been so far?

The high level of engineering expertise and diversity of perspectives in this team is incredible. Discussions on complex topics, especially in English, can of course be challenging at times, but I see those moments as valuable opportunities to learn and grow.

"The high level of engineering expertise and diversity of perspectives in this team is incredible."

Q: What do you value most in development?

Because the software we create must ultimately help safeguard human life, safety and quality are absolutely essential. These are the values I prioritize most in development.

Q: What kind of challenges have you helped to solve?

In the past, integration testing across different (vehicle) domains was often done later in the software development process, after the hardware was ready.

In using Arene, we’ve made it possible to conduct integration tests even without hardware, allowing issues to be identified and addressed much faster and sooner.

In using Arene, we’ve made it possible to conduct integration tests even without hardware, allowing issues to be identified and addressed much faster and sooner.

Q: What makes someone a good fit for Woven by Toyota?

At Woven by Toyota, engineers from around the world come together in a culture of respect and collaboration. The diversity of perspectives here creates the best environment for those who want to push boundaries and grow through challenging software work.

Q: What's next for you?

Genuinely, I simply want to help accelerate Toyota’s shift toward software-defined vehicles and contribute to strengthening Toyota’s competitiveness.