BLACKBOX as Japan's Startup Media

In a world where over 800 million people face food insecurity and the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, food production is reaching its limits. Japanese plant-based food company dishwill approaches this crisis with a unique perspective.

As climate change increases disaster risks, addressing aging urban infrastructure has become an urgent challenge. Leading this challenge is Mr. Park Jongduk, CEO of a disaster prevention AI company based in Hamamatsu City.

My interest in the themes of war and peace began during a school trip to Nagasaki. As a young student, visiting the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum left an indelible mark on my mind.

Hiroshima Prefecture is located in the Chugoku region on the western side of Honshu, the main island of Japan, and has prospered as a checkpoint connecting the north and south of the country. Hiroshima City, which is the location of the prefectural government, has a unique history.

Fascinated by his beloved sea, Kimura founded his company after a "terrible" first sailing experience. We spoke with him about his challenges in developing the autonomous navigation platform "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN" to make maritime navigation safer worldwide, how he overcame those obstacles, and his message for future entrepreneurs.

Nagoya, Japan's manufacturing heartland, is building a new startup ecosystem. We interviewed Toshio Sumi, the first director of the Startup Support Division established five years ago, about initiatives to foster regional innovation.

Located right at the heart of Japan, between Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya bridges East and West Japan both geographically and culturally. This central positioning has created a blend of traditions and influences, resulting in a unique and harmonious cultural identity. While Nagoya may not be as popular a tourist destination as Kyoto or Tokyo, those who visit quickly discover its charm—particularly through its vibrant food scene.

As heat dissipation in electronic devices becomes an increasingly critical issue with the proliferation of data centers, EVs, and AI, we spoke with Kenji Nishitani, CEO of U-MAP, about his entrepreneurial journey, the company's unique materials technology, and his vision for the future of Japanese manufacturing.