One trip to Tokyo, and you've got Japan's entire startup scene. Why you should check out "SusHi Tech Tokyo" (no, it's not about sushi).

When you hear "SusHi Tech," you're probably picturing sushi robots or some kind of food-tech expo. Fair enough — but no. It stands for "Sustainable High City Tech Tokyo," and it's basically Asia's biggest startup festival, backed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Another government-backed tech conference? Hear me out — because if you've ever wanted to break into the Japanese market, this might be the single most efficient way to do it.

Here's the pitch: one flight to Tokyo, a few days at Big Sight, and you walk away having met the people it would normally take you months (and multiple trips) to reach. Three reasons why it's worth your time.

1. Japan's entire startup ecosystem, in one building

If you've ever tried to get a foothold in Japan's startup world, you know the struggle. Figuring out who the right people are. Navigating a business culture where warm introductions matter more than cold emails. Dealing with the fact that so much of the conversation still happens in Japanese.

Normally, cracking this takes repeated visits, a lot of patience, and a bit of luck.

At SusHi Tech Tokyo, that equation changes. Japanese startups, VCs, corporate innovation teams, and government officials all show up in the same place, at the same time — and they come expecting to meet people like you. The themes this year hit right where things are moving: AI, robotics, disaster resilience, and more.

And here's the thing — it's not just Japan. Founders and investors fly in from across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. So while you're there for the Japanese ecosystem, you end up bumping into people from all over the world. One trip, and you've covered ground that would otherwise take half a dozen flights to different continents.

2. A rare chance to talk to Japanese local governments — casually

This one surprised me. Local government booths.

If you've ever tried reaching out to a Japanese municipality from overseas, you know it's close to impossible. Language barriers, opaque bureaucracies, no obvious point of contact. Most people don't even try.

But the officials at SusHi Tech Tokyo aren't your typical government reps sitting behind a desk. They've come specifically to find startups and companies to work with. You can walk up and say, "I don't have a concrete proposal — I just want to understand what challenges your region is facing," and that's a perfectly normal conversation here.

The kind of introduction that would take months of emails and intermediaries? It might happen over a five-minute chat at a booth.

3. Side events are where the real connections happen

The main venue at Big Sight gives you the big picture — hundreds of exhibitors, keynotes, panels. It's where you absorb everything at scale.

But the real magic often happens at the side events scattered across Tokyo during the conference. These are smaller — think 30 to 100 people — focused on specific themes, and designed for the kind of conversation you can't have in a crowded exhibition hall.

The move is to do both. Hit the main venue to scan the landscape and spot opportunities. Then go deep at a side event where you can actually sit down with the people who matter.

That combination — breadth and depth in the same week — is what turns a conference trip into actual business relationships.

Source: [Report] Held "Startup Ecosystem Night" in NY | pilot boat (https://pilotboat.jp/2025/05/nysam12/)

Book one flight. Destination: Tokyo Big Sight.

You want to work with Japanese startups. You want to understand the market. You want to build a network here. But you don't know where to start.

Start here. SusHi Tech Tokyo pulls together the people who make up Japan's startup ecosystem — founders, VCs, local governments, big corporates — all in one place, over a few days. And because the event draws a global crowd, you're not just plugging into Japan. You're connecting with the wider world at the same time.

One flight. A few days. That might be all it takes to change what comes next.

SusHi Tech Tokyo is divided into Business Days (April 27-28) and Public Day (April 29), making it easy to attend according to your goals. This spring, come shake hands with Japan and the world — all in Tokyo.

• Event: SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026

• Dates: Monday, April 27 – Wednesday, April 29, 2026

• Business Days: April 27–28 / Public Day: April 29

• Venue: Tokyo Big Sight (West Exhibition Hall, Halls 1–4) and other locations

• Organizer: SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 Executive Committee (Tokyo Metropolitan Government, etc.)

• Official Website: https://sushitech-startup.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/

• Unofficial Guide: https://bizintokyo.com/en/posts/eventguide/sushitech2026