Author
Arata Ida
Bio
A graduate student in urban engineering passionate about tackling climate change risks for cities. When not diving into data, he’s out exploring streets and uncovering hidden urban gems. He blends research and wanderlust to write about startups and the future of cities—proving serious work can still be fun!
Stories by Arata Ida
InsightJapan’s Bold Startup Gamble: 100 Unicorns in 5 Years
The Japanese government announced its ‘Startup Development Five-year Plan’ in November 2022. Now-former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida presented the Five-Year Startup Plan as part of his grand design for a new form of capitalism in Japan. While Abenomics led to higher stock prices and corporate profits, it did not translate into higher wages.
May 29, 2025
InsightTokyo: a world-leading city
Tokyo was named the world's best trending destination in Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations 2024. The number of foreign tourists visiting Tokyo has been increasing rapidly in recent years, with the city ranking 4th in the “Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023” published by Euromonitor International. Tokyo is attracting increasing attention.
May 8, 2025
InsightTokyo, the heart of Japan
An explanation of the innovation ecosystem that is spreading in Tokyo, the premier destination for start-ups.
May 7, 2025
InsightTsukuba: city of research
we learned Tsukuba’s claim to fame: having more researchers per capita than any other city in Japan. But how did the city come to be a thriving center of research and technology?
Apr 22, 2025
InsightTsukuba: city of science and technology
Located about 50 km from Tokyo, Tsukuba City is not exactly famous among tourists. However, it does have a reputation among scientists and researchers, being home to one of Japan's leading universities, the University of Tsukuba, as well as many national and corporate research institutes.
Apr 21, 2025
InsightFukuoka: A city loved by locals
A recent survey by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting, a Japanese think tank, revealed how much Fukuoka City is loved by locals. In fact, the city ranked first in the nation in terms of “attachment” and “pride” felt by its residents. In this article, we will find out why the people of Fukuoka love their hometown.
Apr 11, 2025
InsightKitakyushu: the city of steel
Kitakyushu is the second most populous city in the Kyushu region. Formerly known as the Kitakyushu Industrial Zone, one of four major industrial zones in Japan, Kitakyushu was famous for its steel industry thanks to the Imperial Steel Works, the second steel mill built in Japan and the largest in the country for some time after its construction in 1896.
Mar 20, 2025
InsightKitakyushu: city of iron and steel
The history and culture of Kitakyushu is deeply rooted in the production of iron and steel. In this article, we’ll explore the essential role this city played in the modernization of Japan, its rebirth as a tourist destination, and the beauty of its natural surroundings.
Mar 18, 2025
InsightFukuoka: A city connected to the world
Japan is a distinctively shaped nation; a gracefully curving archipelago that is considerably longer than it is wide. As a result, its major cities form a chain along the length of the country, connected by highways and the tracks of the famous shinkansen bullet train. Fukuoka City is the westernmost of these metropolises, located on the island of Kyushu.
Mar 13, 2025
InsightThe Greenest City, Sendai
We turn our attention to one of Japan's most historically beautiful cities; Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture.
Mar 7, 2025
InsightSendai — Moving Mountains in the Wake of an Earthquake
Sendai City, which bore the brunt of a 2011 megaquake, is on the front line of defense against future disasters.
Jan 14, 2025