#Startup Support

"Towards Safe Maritime Navigation: Making Autonomous Navigation the Global Standard" Yujin Kimura, Eight Knot

Fascinated by his beloved sea, Kimura founded his company after a "terrible" first sailing experience. We spoke with him about his challenges in developing the autonomous navigation platform "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN" to make maritime navigation safer worldwide, how he overcame those obstacles, and his message for future entrepreneurs.

Nagoya'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.

Passion for Problem-Solving Leads the Way to Next-Generation Heat Dissipation Materials - Kenji Nishitani, CEO of U-MAP

As heat dissipation in electronic devices becomes an increasingly critical issue with the proliferation of data centers, EVs, and AI, we spoke with Kenji Nishitani, CEO of U-MAP, about his entrepreneurial journey, the company's unique materials technology, and his vision for the future of Japanese manufacturing.

Nagoya: where the start-up era meets innovation and craftsmanship

Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture, which lies right in the center of Japan’s main island of Honshu. Aichi Prefecture is an economic powerhouse, second only to Tokyo in terms of GDP and per capita income, and is the host to a nascent start-up boom.

From 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.

Kitakyushu: the city of steel

Kitakyushu is the second most populous city in the Kyushu region. Formerly known as the Kitakyushu Industrial Zone, one of four major industrial zones in Japan, Kitakyushu was famous for its steel industry thanks to the Imperial Steel Works, the second steel mill built in Japan and the largest in the country for some time after its construction in 1896.

A 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.

Startup Ecosystem in Fukuoka

Fukuoka is emerging as one of Japan’s top startup cities, offering strong support for foreign entrepreneurs, affordable living, and a vibrant business ecosystem. With startup visas, incubators, and global connectivity, it’s an ideal base for innovation and growth.

Fukuoka: A city connected to the world

Japan is a distinctively shaped nation; a gracefully curving archipelago that is considerably longer than it is wide. As a result, its major cities form a chain along the length of the country, connected by highways and the tracks of the famous shinkansen bullet train. Fukuoka City is the westernmost of these metropolises, located on the island of Kyushu.

The wave of entrepreneurship from Okayama's “Momo-Sta”

Supporting 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.

Tokyo and Aichi sign innovation agreement

From 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.

How to Run Your Startup and Survive Thrive in Japan & East Asia

Learn how foreign entrepreneurs successfully navigate challenges and scale their startups in Japan

Kyoto University opens startup lab

Hokkaido Innovation Week 2025

Open to ambition. Open to failure. Open to you.

Gastronomy Innovation Campus Tokyo establishes itself as a base for food science

STATION Ai grand opening!

STATION Ai, Japan’s largest innovation hub, has opened in Nagoya, blending Aichi Prefecture’s manufacturing legacy with global start-up opportunities.

Making Entrepreneurship the New Normal at STATION Ai - Ms. Matsuyama, Aichi Prefecture Startup Promotion Division

Discover Japan’s Startup Potential 〜Global Press Event〜

Key leaders in supporting international startups in Japan will take the stage to share insights on the country's current landscape.

University support for startups

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has been implementing various measures to support the creation and growth of university-based startups.

Startup Visa in Japan

You have an idea for a business, but you haven't taken the first step yet? That's okay! There is a chance to come to Japan and start a business. The “Startup Visa” is a new visa category that will help you realize your dreams.

Prominent US VCs gather in Osaka

Japan's largest startup hub STATION Ai opens