JETRO guest authors an event report for their visit to the Digital Space Conference 2026.

Japan has introduced numerous policies to combat its declining birthrate including childcare subsidies, expanded daycare capacity, and financial support for families. Yet fertility continues to fall, reaching a record-low total fertility rate of 1.20 in 2023. The reason may be simpler than economics: many couples just don’t feel they have the time or energy to raise another child. Is Physical AI the answer?

This year’s Content Tokyo took place from June 17th to June 19th at Tokyo Big Sight, bringing together the worlds of art & graphic design with a slew of technologies such as AR/VR and blockchain. Read about some of the highlights of our visit!

Guest writer Masaru Ikeda brings us an overview of the Japanese AI startup ecosystem courtesy of JETRO.

At first glance, the phrase “Japan and Physical AI” may sound somewhat paradoxical, since Japan is often ranked among the slowest adopters of AI technologies among advanced economies. Whether in generative AI utilization or software-based AI development, the country is frequently portrayed as having fallen behind the digital transformation wave. How, then, could Japan emerge as a leader in Physical AI?

MoRo is an industry cluster focused on next-generation mobility and robotics, operating under Tokyo's TIB CATAPULT startup support program. Led by DMM and supported by a diverse network of corporate and institutional partners including Haneda Future Development, MoRo is designed to support startups throughout the entire commercialization journey, from technology development and field testing to initial deployment and international expansion.