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 As of 2025, the Japanese startup ecosystem is seeing increased attention in business media around funding strategies and growth models. Here are the key topics: 1. Growing Investment in Deep Tech Startups Startups with advanced technologies are attracting large-scale investments from both domestic and international investors. ArkEdge Space : A University of Tokyo spin-off developing ultra-compact satellites, raised ¥8 billion in its Series B round. Encoat Technologies : A startup working on perovskite solar cells, raised ¥6.3 billion in its Series C round. These cases highlight the growing investor interest in the deep tech sector. 2. Fostering Unicorns with Government Support The Japanese government has declared a “Startup Creation Year” and aims to nurture 100 unicorns over the next five years. As of 2025, there are around eight unicorns in Japan. However, this number is expected to grow thanks to government initiatives. 3. IPO Market Trends and Diversifying ...

 In Japan, corporate sustainability management and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investment are increasingly being recognized as vital long-term strategies focused on environmental responsibility and social contribution. Below are three companies whose efforts are particularly noteworthy. 1. Eisai Co., Ltd.: Highly Rated in Global Sustainability Rankings Eisai ranked 35th in the 2025 edition of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World , published by a Canadian research firm—placing it as the highest-ranked Japanese company. Eisai is committed to creating social value by improving access to medicines and addressing global health challenges. 2. Kao Corporation: Promoting ESG Management through the “Kirei Lifestyle Plan” As part of its ESG management, Kao has launched the “Kirei Lifestyle Plan,” aiming to reduce environmental impact and address societal issues. The company is working to minimize the environmental footprint throughout its product lif...

  Overview In Japan, the term “Customer Harassment” (カスハラ, Kasuhara) has been coined to describe excessive customer demands, and social awareness about this issue is rising. In the retail and service industries, there has been growing discussion on rethinking the "customer-first" approach and various measures to protect employees. Here are three representative discussions on this topic: ① Breaking Away from "The Customer is Always Right" and Shifting Values Revising the traditional value of "the customer is always right" and shifting toward a mindset that promotes equal relationships between employees and customers . It is essential to create an environment where employees can respond firmly to excessive demands and verbal abuse. ② Clear Distinction Between Manual Guidelines and On-Site Judgment Establishing behavioral standards and guidelines to help on-site staff determine "how far they should go" in their responses. More ...

  Overview What is "Shunto"? "Shunto" refers to the annual spring wage and labor condition negotiations between labor unions and companies in Japan. In the 2025 round of Shunto negotiations, the Japan Council of Metalworkers’ Unions (JCM) highlighted three key points: Record-High Wage Hike Demands : JCM decided to demand a base pay increase of at least ¥12,000 per month , surpassing the 2024 demand of "over ¥10,000." This represents the highest demand ever and aims for wage growth that outpaces inflation. Reducing Wage Gaps Between Large and Small Companies : In response to the widening wage disparity between large corporations and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), JCM announced a policy to raise real wages across the entire organization, including SMEs. This aims to spread wage increases nationwide and encourage a virtuous economic cycle. The Importance of Fair Profit Distribution : Despite rising corporate profits, labor’s share of inco...

  Overview Smart home penetration in Japan is attracting attention against the backdrop of an increase in dual-earner households and elderly households, but the penetration rate is still low compared to other countries. Cost and complexity of settings are considered to be issues. Country Smart Home Penetration Rate Japan Approx. 13% U.S.A. Approx. 35.6% China Approx. 80% Norway Approx. 66% Key Challenges High cost : The high price of smart appliances and related devices makes the initial investment a burden for the average household. 👉Solution Introduce a subscription model : To reduce initial purchase costs, offer a subscription service where smart appliances can be used for a monthly fee. Government subsidies or grants : To encourage the adoption of smart home technology, governments can provide subsidies or tax credits to ease the burden on households. Collective purchasing programs: Neighborhood communities and consumer groups collaborate ...

  Overview This convenient service allows you to store photos from your smartphone or PC in the cloud with no capacity limit. Data backup and sharing is easy and reduces the risk of device failure Three main views Convenience : With no monthly fees, this service is attractive to many users because it allows them to store photos while keeping costs low. Data security : Free services have been noted to have concerns about data security and privacy protection. Competitiveness : Compared to other paid services, limited functionality and capacity may reduce competitiveness. Three typical services in Japan Google Photos : Offers 15GB of free storage, making it easy to store and share photos and videos. Amazon Photo : This service offers unlimited photo storage for Amazon Prime members. MEGA : A secure cloud service offering 20GB of free storage. By Needs Students Google Photos : Offering 15GB of free storage, this service makes it easy to store and share photos and memor...