SusHi Tech Tokyo Opens with Gov. Koike Expressing Desire for Tokyo to Become Global Startup Hub

By Hiroyuki Ueba / Japan News Staff Writer

17:20 JST, April 27, 2026

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, an event that brings together innovative startups from Japan and abroad, opened Monday at Tokyo Big Sight in Koto Ward, Tokyo.

In her opening remarks, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike expressed her determination to turn Tokyo into a leading global hub for incubating startups and helping them to compete on the global stage. “Together with all of you, Tokyo will help startups succeed in global markets and enhance quality of life for all,” she said.

Koike also promised the establishment of a system to provide startups with financial support. “We will create a $1 billion flow of investment into startups by next fiscal year in partnership with public and private sectors,” she said. “I am confident the SusHi Tech Global Funds initiative will provide a strong boost for startups seeking to scale up.”

The event, organized by the Tokyo metropolitan government, is one of Asia’s largest global innovation conferences. This is the fourth edition of the event, which has the aim of spurring innovation and new actions for tackling global challenges, such as environmental issues. The name SusHi Tech is derived from the phrase “Realizing Sustainable Cities with High Technology.”

Koike stressed the importance of an event of this kind as the global order undergoes profound change. “SusHi Tech is where we envision a future where we realize a sustainable city through high technology,” she said. “Today, the philosophy behind SusHi is more urgently needed than ever before. That is because we’re living in a time of profound turbulence. We face a volatile international landscape, increasingly frequent natural disasters, growing disruption surrounding energy and resources and a rapidly accelerating AI revolution.”

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended SusHi Tech on Monday as a special keynote speaker. “There is great meaning in leaders of innovation from around the world gathering and promoting actions that lead to global challenges being solved,” she said.

During the three-day event, which mainly focuses on the four key areas of AI, robotics, resilience and entertainment, about 60,000 visitors are expected. About 770 startups are exhibiting their cutting-edge technologies and business models. Additionally, a total of 24 countries and overseas regions and municipalities have set up pavilions to promote business opportunities at the venue, while venture capital firms and investors are on the lookout for promising startups.