Sendai — Moving Mountains in the Wake of an Earthquake

Basic Information About Sendai

Sendai is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tohoku region, with a population of over one million people. It is also the only designated ordinance city in the Tohoku region, meaning it enjoys the same administrative powers as Japan's major metropolises. Located just an hour and a half from Tokyo by Shinkansen, Sendai has become a bustling regional hub for businesses and government offices alike. Nestled between temple-dotted mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Sendai is a compact city with an abundance of natural beauty on its doorstep. Cool summers and relatively mild winters—characterized by light snowfall—make it a comfortable place to live all year round. The city takes pride in its rich greenery and eco-friendly infrastructure, and this pride is reflected in its official slogan: “The Greenest City.”

Although Sendai tends to be overshadowed by cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto when it comes to tourism, those who do take the time to visit find a city steeped in cultural and culinary heritage. Much of the city's historical significance is tied to Date Masamune, a renowned warlord whose iconic crescent-moon helmet adorns his statue at the Sendai Castle ruins, one of the city's most popular landmarks. Culinary highlights include grilled beef tongue (gyutan), sasakama fish cakes, and zunda—a sweet, light-green bean paste that can be found in everything from mochi to milkshakes.

Impact of the 2011 Earthquake

In 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated the Tohoku region. Sendai was one of the hardest-hit areas, with around 30,000 buildings destroyed and over 900 people confirmed dead. The total cost of the damage suffered by Sendai alone was estimated at over 1.3 trillion yen. The earthquake and ensuing tsunami had a profound impact on the city and transformed the lives of its residents. (https://www.city.sendai.jp/okyutaisaku/shise/daishinsai/higai.html)

Following this tragedy, Sendai has emerged as a leader in disaster prevention and resilience. In 2012, the city was designated as a Role Model City by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). One of the key initiatives underpinning this status is the Sendai BOSAI-TECH Innovation Platform, which brings together stakeholders from various sectors—including business, technology, and government—to develop new solutions to disaster-related challenges. The platform fosters innovation between large corporations and startups with cutting-edge technologies and ideas. It also hosts conferences such as the Sendai BOSAI-TECH Conference to promote the exchange of information on disaster prevention and strengthen collaboration. Furthermore, the platform offers financial support to companies working on disaster-prevention projects, with grants of up to 2 million yen for prototype development and up to 1 million yen for experimental research.

(https://sendai-bosai-tech.jp/en/)

The push for new industries in the aftermath of the 2011 disaster is also visible in neighboring Fukushima Prefecture, home to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that suffered catastrophic damage as a consequence of the earthquake and tsunami. The Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework, a national initiative, aims to rebuild the region’s industrial base. For example, the town of Okuma, which was completely evacuated following the disaster, is now home to the Okuma Incubation Center, which supports the creation of new businesses. This initiative is just one example of how Sendai's influence as the center of innovation and startup culture can be felt throughout the Tohoku region.

Public Support for Startups

Sendai prides itself on its proactive support for startups. In January 2014, the city opened the Ashi☆Sta entrepreneurship support center, and in March 2024, it launched the Sendai Startup Studio, which aims to provide comprehensive, one-stop support for startups. In July 2020, the city partnered with the Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry to establish J-Startup TOHOKU, a regional expansion of a national initiative developed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

The Sendai Startup Studio stands out among these initiatives, focusing on helping businesses scale up and strengthen ties with stakeholders in the Greater Tokyo Area. The studio offers several programs tailored to the specific needs of startups at different stages of development, and its diverse pool of mentors from various industries provide multifaceted support. Notably, the organization also offers consultation services for foreign entrepreneurs planning to start businesses in Sendai.

Another key provider for startups in the city is the Sendai Startup Ecosystem Promotion Council, which works to create an environment that fosters entrepreneurship. The council is responsible for drafting the Sendai Startup Strategy and promoting collaboration between industry and academia. Sendai is home to Tohoku University, one of Japan’s top universities, which plays a major role in these efforts. In particular, the Tohoku University Startup Incubation Center was set up to support student and faculty entrepreneurs. The university also runs the Michinoku Academia Startup Platform which promotes university-based entrepreneurship across the region, in partnership with several other Tohoku universities. One of the platform’s most exciting initiatives is the Social Innovation Accelerator College, a six-month program that brings social entrepreneurs and students together to spark new innovations.

Sendai is also home to Social Innovation SENDAI, which supports the implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, autonomous vehicles, and drones. This initiative, part of Japan’s National Strategic Special Zone program, makes it easier to experiment with these technologies in fields such as social entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, next-generation technologies, healthcare, and public space utilization. Moreover, the city has introduced a Startup Visa program that facilitates the residence status requirements for foreign entrepreneurs. The program supports businesses in key sectors such as knowledge creation, healthcare, environmental protection, disaster prevention, tourism, and trade—all industries that contribute to Sendai’s ambitions on the global stage.

(https://www.city.sendai.jp/startup-sogyo/jigyosha/kezai/jigyosho/joho/startupvisa-kigyo-english.html)

Links

Unlike in Tokyo and Osaka, many startup events in Sendai are held in Japanese only. It is advisable to regularly check information posted on relevant websites.

SENDAI STARTUP STUDIO: https://sendaistartupstudio.com/english/

SENDAI STARTUP ECOSYSTEM(Only in Japanese):https://sendai-startup-ecosystem.jp/supportlist/

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