Tokyo Unveils AI Strategy at Sushi Tech 2025 Conference

Tokyo, Japan—Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike opened Sushi Tech Tokyo 2025 on Thursday, announcing plans for the city's first artificial intelligence strategy and reporting increased international participation at the annual startup conference.

Koike said during the opening ceremony that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will formulate its first AI strategy this summer based on discussions at the conference.

According to official figures at the conference, pavilions from 16 countries, cities, and regions are participating in the event, three times more than last year.

The number of pavilions presenting open innovation initiatives from large companies has increased from 29 to 47.

The conference includes sessions on quantum computing, which Koike said is expected to address AI's power consumption issues.

Other focus areas include sustainable agriculture and food technology.

Koike reported that Tokyo's "10 by 10 by 10 Innovation Vision," which targets tenfold increases in startups, unicorns, and public-private collaborations, has achieved its public-private collaboration goal in the first year.

Koike said the Tokyo government has allocated US$900 million of a planned US$1 billion in startup support over five years.

According to Koike, the Tokyo Innovation Base, which opened in November 2023, has received over 180,000 visitors.

The facility has doubled its floor space to occupy an entire building in Tokyo's Ginza district, and the expanded facility will open on May 8.

The 2025 conference introduces an "Empower Her" stage with sessions on diversity and women's empowerment. 

The third day will be open to the public for the first time, allowing broader participation.

The conference has expanded its international initiatives through the "G-Nets", which have implemented projects addressing carbon emissions in Helsinki, Finland, and flood risk management in other cities.

Sushi Tech Tokyo 2025 continues through May 10.