Latest Stories

News
Nov 12, 2026Cool Japan Fund postmortem finds video game, anime, and manga investments profitable
#Funding#Ecosystem
Nov 11, 2026Masked wrestler elected to Japan city council gets OK to wear mask in chamber
#Inclusive
Nov 10, 2026Nintendo ROM chip supplier Macronix quits to focus on chips for AI data centers
#Ecosystem
Nov 9, 2026Japan Launches Emergency Cybersecurity Package after Wave of Attacks
#AI#Ecosystem#News
Nov 6, 2026PeopleX Raises 5.45 Billion Yen for HR-Specialized Japanese Large Language Model Development
#AI#Funding
Nov 5, 2026MetroWeather Raises 1.5 Billion Yen for Drone Detection Technology
#DeepTech#Drone
Stories
InsightRedefining luxury: three startups repricing Japanese culture
There's a real gap between how much value people outside Japan place on these products and experiences, and how that value actually gets priced and presented by the companies selling them. Meet three startups seeking to redress that.
Nov 3, 2026#Ecosystem.#Food.#Tourism
InsightCan Japan win in physical AI?
With Japan's physical AI scene heating up over the last few months, we take a deep dive into the local ecosystem surrounding this new fusion of robotics and AI.
Oct 29, 2026#AI.#Robotics.#Ecosystem
InsightMUSVI: how to change global communication
Mr. Sakai of MUSVI talks us through their product Mado, an window to the world. From its inception on his application to Sony to now, he talks about how communication can be used to increase the depth of communication, rather than just facilitating it.
Oct 27, 2026#Telecommunications.#DeepTech
InsightPitching Stars – Global Startup Night event report
iCONM in collaboration with BioLabs hosted Pitching Stars – Global Startup Night at TECH HUB YOKOHAMA. The event convened over 100 global participants, including biotech founders, investors, pharmaceutical executives, and life science leaders as part of BioJapan 2026.
Oct 22, 2026#Event Report.#Events.#Medical.#biotech
InsightPhysical AI Node Salon #1 event report: building machines in a fragmenting world
Tokyo has plenty of robotics events, but until now it has had no regular English-language home for the people actually building physical AI. CIC Tokyo is trying to change that with Physical AI Node Salon, a four-part evening series running from October to February. The first session took place on Thursday, October 15 on the 15th floor of Toranomon Hills Business Tower.
Oct 20, 2026#Event Report.#Events.#AI.#Robotics
InsightAgrivoltaics: a billion-euro market has been created, but start-ups are struggling
Two gigawatts funded by the PNRR, 650 projects in the first concession agreement: developers, funds and energy companies stand to benefit. Find out more in this guest article from Startupbusiness.it
Oct 15, 2026#Agriculture.#Energy.#Ecosystem
InsightWhy Japan's Gacha Machines Keep Selling: A Marketing Breakdown of a ¥196 Billion Market
Capsule toys costing a few hundred yen have become one of the fastest-growing consumer categories in Japan. At a time when inflation has made shoppers cautious, why do toys whose contents you can't even see keep selling, even as prices rise?
Oct 13, 2026#Ecosystem.#Market Insight
InsightTokyo Game Show 2026: Turning 30, and Companies Outside Gaming Are Taking the Stage
Blackbox goes to the Tokyo Game Show 2026, to see what developments are brewing in one of the world's premier gaming events.
Oct 8, 2026#Event Report.#Events.#Game/E-sports.#Ecosystem
Events
Disaster Prevention Tech Startup Conference 2026
online
November 13, 2026Innovation Leaders Summit 2026
Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, Tokyo
November 30, 2026TechGALA Japan 2026: BEYOND
Multiple venues across Nagoya
December 15, 2026Startup JAPAN EXPO 2026 (Winter)
Ariake GYM-EX, Tokyo
December 16, 2026Creative Tech Shibuya 2027
Shibuya Bridge and various locations across Shibuya City
February 8, 2027DIG SHIBUYA 2027
Around Shibuya Koen-dori and surrounding areas, Tokyo, Japan
February 12, 2027














.jpg&w=3840&q=75)




.webp&w=3840&q=75)




