#Ecosystem

Japanese Companies' Overseas Bases Reach 75,531, with Asia Accounting for 70%

Financial Services Agency Plans Regulatory Relaxation for Startup Lending, Amendment to Nonbank Bond Law in 2027

20 Billion Yen Public-Private Investment in Fusion and Plastic Recycling Startups

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.

Komatsu Expands African Business Through Côte d'Ivoire Training Center

Coworking Spaces: Tokyo, part 3

Explore three stylish coworking spaces in Shibuya—WeWork Iceberg, Creative Lounge MOV, and .andwork—as the final stop in this Tokyo series, highlighting their unique designs, international communities, creative atmospheres, and flexible workspaces.

FSA to Relax Regulations on Startup Fundraising, Expanding Non-Bank Financing by 2027

Pitchbook: the mid-2026 ranking of VC startup ecosystems

The United States continues to top the global rankings, but China is closing in rapidly and Europe is making its mark with a few surprises.

JBIC Survey Reveals Trends in Japanese Companies' Overseas Expansion

NXHD Becomes World's 5th Largest Logistics Company Through Major Acquisition, Shifts Global Strategy

Japan's 5-Year Startup Development Plan: What Reinforcement Measures Are Needed?

What foreign founders must know about Japan’s data privacy rules

In this guest article from JETRO, our guest authors explain why foreign startups aiming to enter Japan must understand Japan's legal requirements before offering products or services in the Japanese market. This article focuses on APPI, an area of particular relevance to overseas startups such as SaaS providers, and highlights key differences between APPI and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

China Takes Fintech Patent Lead, Surpasses US as Financial Hegemony Looms

Why 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.

PM Takaichi Shows Commitment to Expanding Startup Support in Talks with Business Executives

OIST: Building a Science and Innovation Hub in Okinawa

JETRO reports on the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), a pioneering graduate university in Japan that brings together researchers from around the world in an interdisciplinary environment designed to advance science and technology. Founded by the Japanese government, OIST was established not only to contribute to science and technology worldwide but also to help catalyze technology transfer, industrial innovation, and economic development in Okinawa.

Foreign Funds' Investment in Japanese Companies Surges 30% in First Half of 2026 as Yen Weakness Increases Valuation Appeal

Health Data Acquisition Competition Intensifies in Digital Health Field

Japan Fintech Week 2026: What FINOPITCH Reveals About Japan’s Fintech Shift

Inside the historic Kanze Noh Theater in Tokyo, FINOPITCH 2026 unfolded in quiet intensity. On a stage known for slow, deliberate movement and layered meaning, startups from Japan and abroad stepped forward one by one, presenting their technologies and services. JETRO guest reports.

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

FinTech Funding Hits Lowest Level in Q1 2026, Concentrated on Late-Stage Growth Firms

Tokyo Startup Campus Project Costs Exceed Expectations at 97 Billion Yen

IVS2026 event report: Japan is Back

“Japan is Back” was the theme of IVS2026, and in Kyoto, it felt like a signal. Over three days, more than 13,000 founders, investors, students, policymakers, and community builders came together for Japan’s largest startup conference. The size was impressive, but the structure behind it stood out more.

Digital Space Conference 2026: How Technology Operates on Infrastructure That Never Stops Moving

JETRO guest authors an event report for their visit to the Digital Space Conference 2026.