Author
Taiki Iwasaki
Stories by Taiki Iwasaki
InterviewTakashi Miki, CEO of Solid Surface: the focus is not on robots, but on ‘operation’
We are increasingly seeing food-serving and cleaning robots on our streets. However, it is still difficult to say that robots have become widely established in our work and daily lives. Takashi Miki, CEO of Solid Surface, believes the reason for this lies not in the performance of the robots themselves, but in the ‘operations’ required to ensure they continue to be used effectively on site. Solid State does not manufacture the robots themselves: instead, it provides an operational platform that connects multiple robots from different manufacturers with people, building infrastructure and the cloud, enabling them to operate in a way that suits the specific site. We spoke to Mr Miki at the company’s Haneda Innovation City office.
Sep 1, 2026
InsightTIB CATAPULT and Tokyo’s Railway Innovation Cluster
TIB CATAPULT is an initiative that brings all of Tokyo's railway systems together to co-create with startups, corporations, and municipalities to foster innovation. Multiple clusters span fields such as railways, healthcare, and tourism.
Dec 19, 2025
InsightHow to: Start a Business in Japan
Whether you are relocating your business or establishing a new company, Japan is an exciting place to develop, and a fantastic market to expand into. With the world's third largest GDP, the Japanese economy boasts stability and high growth potential.
Mar 11, 2025