#AI

DIG SHIBUYA 2027

DIG SHIBYA 2027 is a three-day urban festival celebrating the intersection of art, technology, and innovation. Taking place across Shibuya's public spaces, the event transforms the city into an "Urban Living Lab," where artists, entrepreneurs, and technologists present immersive installations, performances, and experimental projects. Visitors can explore how creative technology and urban innovation are reshaping the future of cities through interactive, real-world experiences.

Kyoto Smart City Expo 2026

Kyoto Smart City Expo 2026 is an international conference and exhibition showcasing the latest innovations in smart cities and sustainable urban development. Held in Keihanna Science City, the event brings together startups, corporations, researchers, and government leaders to explore solutions in AI, mobility, energy, digital transformation, and smart infrastructure. Through exhibitions, keynote sessions, and business matching, the expo fosters collaboration and highlights technologies shaping the cities of the future.

CES 2026: humanoid robots, AI agents, and deep tech

Media partner Startupbusiness.it brings us their report from CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where JETRO also arranged a significant Japanese presence.

Mirai Saien Accepts PwC Foundation Grant for AI Pest Prediction App

Toyota to Deploy Advanced Autonomous Driving AI in 2028, Pursuing Full In-House Development

Maker Faire Tokyo 2026

Maker Faire Tokyo 2026 is Japan's largest maker event, celebrating creativity, technology, and hands-on innovation. Bringing together inventors, engineers, artists, students, and hobbyists, the event showcases robotics, AI, electronics, digital fabrication, and interactive projects through exhibitions, workshops, and live demonstrations. It offers a unique opportunity to experience grassroots innovation and connect with Japan's thriving maker community.

Takashi 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.

High Density, High Stakes: AI Expo Japan 2026 and the Frontier of Physical AI

AI Expo Japan 2026 showcased a clear divide between today’s enterprise AI and tomorrow’s Physical AI, offering a glimpse into how Japanese companies are approaching robotics through data, edge computing, reliability, and safety.

SoftBank Launches AI Data Center Initiative in Southeast Asia

Physical AI Leads Startup Funding in Q2 2026

44-Company Consortium Including Honda and Sony to Develop Domestic AI with 1 Trillion Yen Government Support

Rakuten AI Optimism 2026

Rakuten AI Optimism 2026 is Rakuten Group's flagship AI conference, bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators to explore the future of artificial intelligence. The event features keynote sessions, panel discussions, and interactive exhibitions showcasing AI applications across industries including retail, finance, telecommunications, and marketing. Visitors can experience Rakuten's latest AI technologies while gaining insights into how one of Japan's leading technology companies is driving enterprise AI adoption. The event offers a valuable opportunity to discover emerging trends, connect with industry leaders, and better understand the evolving AI ecosystem in Japan.

Autonomous Truck Startup T2 Raises 5 Billion Yen in Series B

Health Data Acquisition Competition Intensifies in Digital Health Field

NEXT BUSINESS EXPO SUMMER 2026

NEXT BUSINESS EXPO SUMMER 2026 is a business exhibition and conference showcasing the latest AI and digital transformation solutions for enterprises. Bringing together technology providers, startups, and business leaders, the event features exhibitions, expert-led conferences, and networking opportunities focused on generative AI, automation, data analytics, robotics, and enterprise DX. It offers a practical look at how AI is being implemented across industries to drive business innovation and operational efficiency.

Japan Formally Launches Physical AI National Project with Up to 6.1 Billion Yen Investment

WebX 2026

Asia's premier Web3 conference connecting global blockchain leaders, startups, investors, enterprises, and policymakers through talks, exhibitions, and networking.

Government Regulatory Council Promotes Physical AI Robot Field Trials

Medtronic Launches "Touch Surgery Ecosystem" in Japan for Surgical Education

When 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?

AI Startup Funding in Q1 2026 Surpasses Full Year 2025 Figures

LPIXEL Receives Approval for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Support AI

What AI and data startups must know before betting on Japan

Guest writer Masaru Ikeda brings us an overview of the Japanese AI startup ecosystem courtesy of JETRO.

Japanese AI Startups Gain Attention as Homegrown LLMs and Generative AI Deployment Accelerate