Shifts Startup Focus to Nurturing Global Winners

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:09 JST, April 26, 2026

The Tokyo metropolitan government is promoting startups as a catalyst for job growth, positioning SusHi Tech Tokyo and Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) as its two main networking hubs.

SusHi Tech serves as an annual global gathering, while TIB, which is located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, near JR Yurakucho Station, provides a permanent space for collaboration.

Since becoming fully operational in May 2024, TIB has functioned as a hub for entrepreneurs, investors, local officials and students. The facility includes a lab for showcasing corporate technologies and is free of charge. It has already surpassed 80,000 registered users.

“By consolidating various functions, we’re connecting a wide range of players across regional and organizational boundaries,” said Tomonobu Nishigawa of the metropolitan government’s Startup Strategy Promotion Headquarters. “Through collaboration with the private sector, we also aim to serve as a gateway to the various startup support centers scattered throughout Tokyo.”

The Tokyo metropolitan government updated its startup strategy in November 2025 for the first time in three years. Following a significant increase in public-private collaboration and a broadening base of new ventures, the government is now shifting its focus toward nurturing “unicorn” startups capable of competing on the global stage.

Under the name “SusHi Tech Global Startups,” the Tokyo government will select high-potential firms to receive up to ¥200 million in intensive support over a maximum of 18 months. To drive further investment, a joint public-private fund will be created to bolster the startup ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the metropolitan government aims to expand the TIB initiative throughout Tokyo, including the waterfront area — a hub for research institutions — and the Tama area, which boasts a high concentration of universities.