Tag
#Interview
20 items
StoryHana Himura, CEO of OTO: spreading Japanese traditional crafts to the world
How is one startup building the bridge between centuries-old Japanese master artisans and the global marketplace? In this interview, we sit down with Hana, founder and CEO of OTO, to go in-depth on how she is scaling traditional Japanese craftsmanship globally. From navigating complex supplier relationships with rural artisans to building a modern B2B platform for international buyers, Hana breaks down what it takes to turn cultural heritage into a sustainable global business.
StoryBuilding Bridges Between Culture and Technology: Sara Doolotbekova of BeART World JAPAN
JETRO interviews Sara Doolotbekova, co-founder of BeART World JAPAN, on her founder's journey via the Startup Visa program in Hokkaido.
StoryChristian Park from UNCHAIN: securing the soul of AI through the "Doraemon" philosophy
We sit down with wunderkind Christian Park, youngest selectee for Softbank’s Masayoshi Son’s successor program and 20-year-old founder of UNCHAIN, to find out about his company, his views on entrepreneurship, and what a blue cartoon cat has to do with AI in Japan.
StorySebastien Hebert on Building in Japan: What Slows You Down—and What Moves You Forward
Four years ago, Sebastien Hebert decided to build his company in rural Japan. That decision has meant going back to language school at 40, navigating regional startup visa rules, searching for office space in a small coastal town, and restarting operations after an earthquake. JETRO sat down with him to go over the hows and whys.
StoryUnlocking Japan’s Healthcare Potential: Dr. Yoshiki Sawa’s Vision for a Global Innovation Hub at Nakanoshima Qross
Japan’s startup ecosystem—especially in deeptech and healthcare—has seen both its share of successes and challenges. At the center of a bold attempt to reshape that landscape stands Dr. Yoshiki Sawa, a pioneer in regenerative medicine and one of the driving forces behind Osaka’s newest life sciences hub, Nakanoshima Qross. Soft-spoken and self-effacing, Dr. Sawa describes himself as “just a small player.” Yet his decades of experience, global exposure, and hard-earned achievements tell a very different story. Through Nakanoshima Qross, he is attempting nothing less than a structural transformation of how Japan brings healthcare innovation to the world.
·osaka
StoryHe Screamed a Founder's Name on a San Francisco Street. Here's Why That Matters for Japan's Startup Scene.
We sit down with Antti and Kensuske of Takeoff Tokyo to talk about their event, its goals, and the health & future of the Japanese startup scene.
StoryInterview with Waka Someno of YOUNEEDS: paving the way for foreign businesses
Waka Someno launched YOUNEEDS to smooth the way for foreign business owners in Japan. We it down to hear about some of the common pitfalls people face.
StoryInterview with Nick Hafner, Refined Robotics
Today we sit down with Nick Hafner, CEO and co-founder of Refined Robotics, to talk about his startup journey in Japan—from academia in Osaka to boots on the ground in Tokyo.
StoryKansai deeptech steps onto the global stage with KSAC
In Japan’s Kansai region (which includes Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Shiga, and Nara), a quiet transformation is underway. Once defined by its manufacturing and trade, the region is now becoming a serious contender on the global deeptech stage—a shift driven in no small part by initiatives like the Kansai Startup Academia Coalition (KSAC).
·osaka
StoryYuko Mishio: CEO of Impact HUB Tokyo
Yuko Mishio, CEO of Impact HUB Tokyo, shares her journey from studying and working across Europe to leading one of Japan’s most vibrant coworking and incubation spaces. Rooted in an old print factory, Impact HUB Tokyo fosters entrepreneurs, artists, and changemakers through co-working, a community café, and an upcoming artist-in-residence program. Mishio highlights Japan’s structured yet slow-moving business culture, the growing opportunities for startups, and the importance of resilience in times of change. Her vision is to create a supportive space where creativity and entrepreneurship intersect, encouraging young generations to embrace risk and shape society.
·tokyo
StoryConnecting with the World through Japanese Craftsmanship - Monozukuri Ventures Founder Shares His Entrepreneurial Journey
Monozukuri Ventures has built an innovative ecosystem connecting Silicon Valley startups with Japanese small and medium manufacturing enterprises. We spoke with the founder about his journey that began with a passion for regional revitalization, the strengths and potential of Japanese manufacturing, and how Japanese companies can compete in the global arena.
·kyoto
StoryNagoya's Vision for a Manufacturing-led Startup Future - Toshio Sumi (City of Nagoya)
Nagoya, Japan's manufacturing heartland, is building a new startup ecosystem. We interviewed Toshio Sumi, the first director of the Startup Support Division established five years ago, about initiatives to foster regional innovation.
·nagoya
StoryFrom Tsukuba to the World's Premier Science City, Mr. Otsuka, Tsukuba Center Inc.
In Tsukuba, a city of 250,000 residents known as one of the world's leading research and development hubs, 29 national research institutions operate alongside 20,000 researchers.
·tsukuba
StoryA New Choice for Weddings - Satoshi Murata, CEO of ParaLux
"Making weddings more free and expressive of who couples are."We spoke with founder Murata about the challenges in the wedding industry, his innovative approach, and his vision for the future.
·kitakyushu
StorySupporting International Startup Expansion - Mr. Ono from Fukuoka Growth Next Global Business Support
At Fukuoka's startup support facility "Fukuoka Growth Next," the Global Business Support (GBS) team works towards attracting international startups and helping local startups expand overseas. We spoke with Mr. Ono, who serves as a startup support concierge while being an entrepreneur himself, about Fukuoka City's startup support ecosystem.
·fukuoka
StoryFrom Disaster to Future: Sendai City's Startup Challenge - Koji Sakai (City of Sendai)
We spoke with Mr. Sakai from Sendai City about how the region's entrepreneurial support evolved after the earthquake, the growth of their unique startup ecosystem and their vision for the future.
·sendai
StoryKathy Liu (Plug and Play Japan)
We spoke with Kathy Liu, Head of the Osaka branch at Plug and Play Japan. Based in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play is a leading global accelerator and venture capital firm. The Osaka branch is actively collaborating with OIH on initiatives to revitalize Osaka, and we spoke to her about these efforts.
·osaka
StoryNae Nakamura (Osaka Innovation Hub)
The blackbox editorial team visited Japan’s second-largest city, Osaka. They interviewed the “OIH,” an innovation creation center established by Osaka City in 2013.OIH is located in the Grand Front Osaka complex in Umeda and operates under the theme “From Osaka to the World.” It serves as a gathering place for entrepreneurs and technologists, supporting the creation of new businesses and their scale-up efforts. Through approximately 200 events and programs annually, OIH facilitates the exchange of diverse people and ideas, contributing to developing an innovation ecosystem in the Kansai region.For this interview, Nae Nakamura, the director of OIH’s Startup Support Division, discussed the organization’s activities and Osaka’s appeal.
·osaka
StoryShiori Fukuda (Life-Tech KOBE)
Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture has been on the front foot in its efforts to support startups in Japan. We invited Ms. Shiori Fukuda, an innovation specialist at the Life-Tech KOBE, a regional startup ecosystem who has been supporting local startups aiming to expand their business overseas as well as startups from other countries interested in developing their business in Japan, to talk about her background and the initiatives of Kobe City.
·kobe
StoryWhat needs to change to make Japan ‘global’? by Antti Sonninen(Takeoff Tokyo)
Antti Sonninen, who organizes and manages the startup conference Takeoff Tokyo, talked about the issues related to the startup scene in Japan and the uniqueness of his event.