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Fall 2025 to spring 2026 will see a host of startup events for many industries and scales all across Japan. This article provides an overview of key upcoming events, including their dates, focus areas, and target audience.
■ CEATEC
Location：Chiba
Dates：October 14 - 17
Focus Area：IT, electronics, smart cities
Target Audience：Startups, manufacturing, corporations
Overview：Cross-industry corporations interested in smart cities and next-generation infrastructure will gather under the theme "Innovation for All." CEATEC features talks and exhibitions of the latest technologies and products, creating opportunities for collaboration and business partnerships to foster economic growth and solve social issues.
■ SKS Japan Summit - Global Foodtech Summit
Location: Tokyo
Dates: October 23 - 25
Focus Area: Foodtech / Agritech
Target Audience: Food and agriculture startups, VCs, researchers, companies
Overview: A specialized conference where food and agriculture innovators from around the world gather for cross-industry collaboration and fundraising through exhibitions, interactive sessions, and a matching system.
■ Social Innovation Week Shibuya
Location: Shibuya (Tokyo)
Dates: October 27 - 31
Focus Area: Social issue solutions, Sustainability
Target Audience: Startups, companies, and new business developers interested in social issues
Overview: A social innovation event taking place across the entire city of Shibuya. Various stakeholders such as NPOs, corporations, local government bodies will gather to discuss social issues and city planning.
■ GRIC
Location: Tokyo
Dates: November 11 - 13
Focus Area: Growing industries, next-generation technology
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, startups, investors, open innovation representatives from large corporations
Overview: A conference specializing in growing industries such as environment, healthcare, and digital sectors held by forStartups. Featuring pitch and business contests, the event will host entrepreneurs and investors representing both domestic and international startup ecosystems.GRIC will be a hybrid format event, offering both online streaming and on-site sessions to ensure accessibility for those unable to attend in person.
■ Innovation Leaders Summit（ILS）
Location: Tokyo
Dates: December 1 - 4
Focus Area: Open innovation, industry-academia collaboration
Target Audience: Startups, large corporations, venture support staff
Overview：An event focused on fostering collaborations between corporations and startups, featuring a range of one-on-one business meetings and matching sessions designed to build strong partnerships.
■ TechGala
Location: Nagoya
Dates: January 27 - 29
Focus Area: Mobility, manufacturing, advanced technology
Target Audience: Startups, corporations, universities, municipalities, investors
Overview: In Nagoya, a hub for mobility and manufacturing, companies from diverse industries gather under the theme of “coexistence with the Earth,” aiming to contribute to addressing global social challenges through innovation. Alongside exhibitions and pitch contests featuring over 150 companies, unique side events such as karaoke and a running session will be held to foster business matching and promote global collaboration.
Location: Hokkaido
Dates: February 13 - 19
Focus Area: Primary industries, food, space, environment and energy
Target Audience: Startups, researchers, municipalities, support organizations
Overview: A regional startup event aiming to promote innovations originating in Hokkaido to the world, Hokkaido Innovation Week supports the training of startups that leverage Hokkaido's strengths and provides opportunities for collaboration to solve challenges specific to cold-weather regions.
Location: Tokyo
Dates: March 15
Focus Area: Startup careers, recruitment
Target Audience: Students, professionals, and startups interested in startup careers
Overview: Hosted by Coral Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in companies from seed to late-stage, Startup Aquarium offers matchmaking chances where people interested in working at a startup can schedule meetings with startups actively hiring. The event also provides networking opportunities for startups to connect with each other.
Location: Tokyo
Dates: February 26 - March 6
Focus Area: Fintech, financial DX
Target Audience: Fintech startups, financial institutions, investors, government bodies
Overview: One of the largest FinTech events in Japan—hosted by the Financial Services Agency—Japan Fintech Week aims to develop Japan's fintech industry by bringing together national/ocal government bodies and private corporations. During the event there will be startup pitches by leading Japanese fintech companies, roundtable discussions, networking sessions, and booth exhibitions. A variety of side events are also planned such as FUTURE OF DIGITAL MONEY, a digital currency conference for practitioners, policymakers, tech companies, and academics.
Location: Tokyo
Dates: March 31 - April 1
Focus Area: Global expansion of startups
Target Audience: Startups, investors, students, large corporations, startup ecosystem builders
Overview: An international conference for startups aiming to expand internationally to and from Japan. Conducted entirely in English, it offers business negotiation opportunities for startups and investors, as well as panel sessions with entrepreneurs active globally.
SSS will continue to promote overseas collaboration efforts and support overseas startups to enter the Japanese market. If you are interested in the Shibuya Startup Support program or the Shibuya Startup Visa, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and follow us on social media to keep up-to-date on upcoming events!
More information on Shibuya’s Startup Visa program: https://shibuya-startup-support.jp/sws/
Shibuya Startup Support’s social media accounts:
LinkedIn：https://www.linkedin.com/company/shibuya-startup-support/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/shibuya.startup.support
X (formerly Twitter)：https://twitter.com/ShibuyaStartup
Shibuya Bridge B-5,
1-29-3 Higashi, Shibuya City, Tokyo
JAPAN 150-0011
Shibuya Startup Support
