Tokyo Vice Governor: Sushi Tech Tokyo Garners Tangible Business Opportunities for Startups

The Yomiuri Shimbun

6:00 JST, April 27, 2026

For Tokyo Vice Gov. Manabu Miyasaka, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is “an event where leaders from Japan and abroad will take the stage and people from around the world will gather.”

Miyasaka, who spearheads the capital’s startup initiatives, previously served as chairman of Yahoo Japan Corp. He was appointed to his current position in 2019, becoming the first person from the private sector to hold the post in 12 years. He has since taken the helm of the Tokyo metropolitan government’s digitization efforts.

He spoke with The Yomiuri Shimbun about the significance of hosting the event. The following is excerpted from the interview.

SusHi Tech Tokyo this year highlights four areas, with the concept of urban sustainability at the core. One of the areas is resilience. There are many energy-related exhibits in this area. I hope many people will come to see them, as changes in the international situation are heavily impacting energy supplies right now.

The event has been held three times, offering business opportunities to startups. Last year, we sent questionnaires to the participants six months after the event, and 45% of respondents said the event led to them securing business collaborations or funding.

One venture company researching and developing nuclear fusion, which won in a pitch event at SusHi Tech Tokyo in 2023, said the company was able to meet investors from around the world, which helped them secure funding.

Tokyo has a lucrative financial market. With a concentration of universities and major companies, the city has an intriguing business environment. Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, is a meeting point for many people from startups. Local governments from across Japan also use TIB to hold many events. I hope more people will make good use of this place as an innovation hub. The country is connected to the world via Tokyo.

Startups create jobs. Generating high-quality jobs in particular is a key priority for administrations. Jobs will not grow unless we nurture growth sectors, such as real estate and food service, rather than artificial intelligence and autonomous driving, among other cutting-edge technologies. Administrations must focus on fostering companies that are in their growth phase. That is why supporting startups is so important.

Newly established firms are trying so hard to survive that they cannot pay much in taxes. However, once they enter their growth phase, the situation changes dramatically, resulting in more jobs and tax revenue.

While SusHi Tech Tokyo is an event attracting startups from across the globe, there are many major firms as well as midsize and small firms among participating companies. The majority of speakers and the sessions are women, and 60% of the speakers come from abroad. It’s truly an event with diversity.

The final day is open to the public. Last year, many families with children came to SusHi Tech on the public day. I hope children will get to know that there are many technologies that lead to paths they can choose from in the future.

Starting next year, we are planning to hold the event at multiple places in Tokyo. In the future, I’d like to hold the event outside Japan and create a place where startups from Tokyo can meet relevant people overseas on a large scale.

Manabu Miyasaka

Miyasaka joined Yahoo Japan Corp. in 1997. He became president in 2012 and chairman in 2018. He assumed his current position in 2019 and was reappointed in 2023. He spearheads startup strategies and digitization initiatives.