Author
Keito Okabe
Sustainability, Femtech, Art
Bio
Keito is a startup ecosystem builder and media writer at SUNRYSE, covering sustainability, femtech, childcare, art, and fashion in Japan and abroad.
She is currently studying Business and Japanology at university, and when she’s not at the office or university, she’s hunting for cheap flights and discovering new corners of the world. Keito aims to serve as a bridge between Japan and the global community by bringing fresh perspectives from her travels into the stories she tells.
Stories by Keito Okabe
InsightWhy global investors are looking to Kyoto's deeptech rise
Tokyo remains, without question, Japan's largest startup city. But in tech fields that require years, sometimes decades, of sustained research and development, Kyoto has developed a distinct and increasingly visible edge. Add in a creative industry built on gaming and traditional performing arts, and a city long associated with names like Nintendo and Omron starts to look less like a historical curiosity and more like a serious technology hub.
Jul 30, 2026
InsightWhen robots come home: reinventing domestic life & housekeeping with Physical AI
Japan has introduced numerous policies to combat its declining birthrate including childcare subsidies, expanded daycare capacity, and financial support for families. Yet fertility continues to fall, reaching a record-low total fertility rate of 1.20 in 2023. The reason may be simpler than economics: many couples just don’t feel they have the time or energy to raise another child. Is Physical AI the answer?
Jul 2, 2026
InsightHow Physical AI is transforming elder care in the world's most aged society
At first glance, the phrase “Japan and Physical AI” may sound somewhat paradoxical, since Japan is often ranked among the slowest adopters of AI technologies among advanced economies. Whether in generative AI utilization or software-based AI development, the country is frequently portrayed as having fallen behind the digital transformation wave. How, then, could Japan emerge as a leader in Physical AI?
Jun 23, 2026
InsightEvent report: SKS JAPAN 2025
SKS JAPAN 2025 showcased how Japanese agritech startups are addressing issues such as food waste, resource circulation, and declining domestic demand while exploring opportunities for global expansion.
Nov 5, 2025