#Event Report

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.

Rakuten Group Hosts Rakuten AI Optimism Event Showcasing AI

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.

Content Tokyo event report: where art meets tech

This year’s Content Tokyo took place from June 17th to June 19th at Tokyo Big Sight, bringing together the worlds of art & graphic design with a slew of technologies such as AR/VR and blockchain. Read about some of the highlights of our visit!

Creative Tech Shibuya 2026: residency program & visa support for entrepreneurs

An event report of Creative Tech Shibuya 2026, from one of its organizers. With this year marking the launch of the five-day residency program, we take a look a how events like this can survive in Japan's changing legislative environment.

Pitch events at Umeda Innovation Week: the Japanese startup ecosystem grows up

We attended the three major pitch events of Umeda Innovation Week over Sept 16-19 2025. They indicate a tipping point in the Japanese startup ecosystem being reached, with Kansai at the forefront.

Event 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.

Blackbox press event and Regional Government Roundtable

Event Report: BLAST Setouchi Oita

Setouchi Blast fosters community in the Setouchi area. It is a place where you can experience attractive remote islands, art and culture.

Hiroshima Unicorn 10 Tokyo Pitch @ TiB

Check out the 11 Hiroshima Unicorn 10 adopted startups

2025 February: the Japanese startup event triple feature

In February 2025, three large-scale startup events will be held around Japan; in Aichi, Shibuya, and Hokkaido — hosted by the local governments of each region.

IVS 2024 KYOTO / IVS Crypto 2024 KYOTO

IVS 2024 KYOTO / IVS Crypto 2024 KYOTO, Japan's largest startup conference for entrepreneurs and investors, was held for three days from July 4 to 6, 2024, at Kyoto Pulse Plaza.

IVS KYOTO is coming again!

Event Report : Takeoff Tokyo 2024

“Takeoff Tokyo” Event was held for the second time on Aprle 10-11, 2024, with the aim of fostering a generation of startups that aspire to be the best in the world, not just in Japan. Blackbox was a media partner of the event and reports on the venue and the pitch contest in this article.

TAKEOFF TOKYO　 Builders Weekend 2024

Takeoff Tokyo is not just a single conference, but an ecosystem of related events happening over the course of several weeks. One of these is the Builders Weekend, a 48-hour hackathon. This year it hosted over 70 participants at the Golden Egg in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Event Report: CEATEC 2023

CEATEC 2023, an exhibition of digital innovation sponsored by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), was held at Makuhari Messe in Tokyo from October 17th to 20th.

Event Report: DCENTRAL

DCENTRAL is the largest web3 conference in the United States, held regularly in Miami, Florida. The inaugural Japanese version of the event, DCENTRAL Tokyo, was held at Shibuya Stream in Shibuya over September 19th and 20th.

IVS 2023 KYOTO Event Report

IVS is one of the largest startup events in Japan, with a lifetime total of over 20,000 participants. This year from June 28 to 30 saw IVS2023 KYOTO open the doors of its new location at two venues: the main event in Miyako Messe, and the pitch event in Rohm Theater Kyoto.

Takeoff Tokyo 2023 Event Report

"Takeoff Tokyo" Event was held for the first time on June 8-9, 2023, with the aim of fostering a generation of startups that aspire to be the best in the world, not just in Japan. Blackbox was a media partner of the event and reports on the venue and the pitch contest in this article.

Event Report:Bright Moments Tokyo

Bright Moments, a community that is expanding the potential of NFT by creating galleries around the world to facilitate IRL Minting (IRL = In Real Life) of digital art and NFT art, held events at Shibuya PARCO Building (Shibuya, Tokyo) and Kyu Asakura House (an important cultural asset constructed in 1919) from May 5th to 10th. 

City_Tech. Tokyo 2023 Day2

This report continues from Day 1, introducing the latest technology exhibits at the venue, the Startup Demo Day on Day 2, and the Pitch Contest.

City_Tech. Tokyo 2023 Day1

City-Tech.Tokyo 2023, Tokyo's first and largest startup event in Japan, was held at the Tokyo International Forum on February 27 and 28, 2023.