A light appetizer before the main course, SusHi Tech’s pre-event set the tone for the upcoming SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 conference. Highlights included a speech from Vice Governor of Tokyo, Manabu Miyasaka, as well as pitches and short summaries from participants on how innovation and technology will integrate into daily life. The stage is now set for April 27-29, and here’s what to expect at the conference.

Vice Governor Miyasaka: Sustainable innovation

Leading the event, Vice Governor Miyasaka emphasized the goal of transforming Tokyo into “a sustainable city through high technology.” He highlighted the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s new initiative, launched in November 2025 — Global Innovation Strategy 2.0. This campaign is designed to support small startup companies, both in their initial stages and eventually when scaling up to expand. This is achieved through the support of the local government, larger corporations and even academic professionals to ensure startups have a healthy foundation upon which to grow.

Vice Governor Miyasaka also highlighted the four main areas of focus for SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026: AI, Robotics, Resilience and Entertainment. The panelists and presenters at the event will have a variety of issues to discuss within these larger topics, but among those Miyasaka raised were:

• AI: The frantic pace of AI growth, and the variety of everyday tasks being automated through AI
• Robotics: How the integration of robotics and AI is creating convenient solutions to many issues, with the Vice President of Nvidia, Howard Wright, offering his personal insights
• Resilience: How technology can create innovative solutions to natural disasters and other pressing global issues, creating a resilient populace
• Entertainment: An exploration of how AI and technology can assist in making entertainment media, such as anime and manga, more accessible and varied

Big business takes the stage with innovative ideas

SusHi Tech itself also promotes the growth of early-stage startups, with several of them presenting at the pre-event and the main event in April. As part of the 2026 forum, they have launched the SusHi Tech Global Startups program, in which SusHi Tech will use its connections with both domestic and international businesses to provide extensive support to growing startups.

Beyond support, however, SusHi Tech also incentivizes collaboration between startups and established businesses, with networking and collaboration opportunities open for all guests to the conference. Previous SusHi Tech events have hosted participants from over 100 countries, giving exhibitors and innovators access to the global market and companies from around the world. This is bolstered by the Tokyo Government’s G-NETS initiative, which brings city officials and leaders into the SusHi Tech fold, creating a multinational audience like no other.

Guests from government, industry and media

Among the expected renowned names from the Tokyo Government, domestic and foreign businesses and media outlets, several offered short prologues to their upcoming presentations at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. These included:

• Kayako Sawada, Director for Global Alliance and Startup Promotion Division from the Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry
• Kiyoshi Seko, President, Chief Operating Officer and Representative Director from Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.
• Shinpei Kato, Representative Director and Chief Executive Officer from Tier IV Inc.
• Tomoyo Ouchi General Manager in the Open Innovation and Collaboration Department, Business Acceleration and Collaboration Division from Sony Group Corporation
• Yasuhiro Saito, Head of Innovation and Investment and Chief of Public Policy Office from Yamato Holdings Co. Ltd.

With names and corporations such as these attending, and the carefully planned initiatives prepared by both the Tokyo Government and SusHi Tech, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 promises to be one of Japan’s most exciting and productive conferences of the year.