BY RADA KUZNETSOVA
Japan’s leading startup event, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, opens today with the ambition to turn the city into “a hub where the world’s leading technologies meet.” For three days, the event’s venue, Tokyo Big Sight, Japan’s largest international exhibition center, will host over 500 startups and welcome up to 60,000 visitors.
The main draw is physical AI and robotics – Japan’s answer to the demographic crisis and immigrant labor. Entertainment is also garnering interest. Most likely, Kokuho, the critically acclaimed historical drama, has something to do with it. Video games are amply represented, a tribute to Japan’s enduring reputation in this industry.
Energy and clean tech startups are also out in force, but their number this year shows only a slight increase over last year. Their tally has held flat for several years, which testifies to the fact that innovation in Japan’s energy sector remains in the hands of major corporations.
Yet there is a small number of startups seeking to ignite innovation in the domestic clean energy scene, primarily in technologies related to hydrogen, carbon and solar. So, what do these new businesses tell us about the direction of travel for Japan’s energy sector?