Why is Tokyo the most important tech destination of 2026?

Every major tech conference has themes. Most of them are vague enough to mean everything and nothing at the same time. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 does something different – ​​four tightly defined technology areas, each supported by live demonstrations, dedicated exhibition floors and sessions featuring the people who are actually building and financing these technologies globally.

TechCrunch is teaming up with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 as an official media partner, and our Startup Battlefield team will be on the ground selecting one of the SusHi Tech Challenge semifinalists to advance to TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200 – one of the most prestigious launchpads in the technology space. Here’s what’s on the ground.

Artificial Intelligence – Beyond the Hype, to the Infrastructure

Sessions featuring Howard Wright (Nvidia), Rob Chu (AWS), and Eric Benhamou (Benhamou Global Ventures) cut through the hype to examine where AI is truly being deployed at scale and where the real risks lie. On the ground, university AI startups are working alongside global players, and the Japan AI Film Festival, a partner event at the Tokyo Innovation Base in Yurakucho, explores how AI is reshaping culture in real time.

Robots – Physical AI has arrived

The robots at SusHi Tech are not behind glass, they are on the ground and interacting. Onstage, Nissan, Isuzu and Applied Intuition’s Qasar Youns study how software-defined vehicles can reshape transportation. Physical AI is not a future trend. He will be in Tokyo on April 27th.

Resilience – cities that survive what comes next

Eva Chen (Trend Micro) and NEC’s Noboru Nakatani address cyber defence, while major climate tech investors from Breakthrough Energy and CleanTech Group examine where global investments are flowing. A virtual reality disaster simulator and tours of Tokyo’s underground flood control infrastructure sites make the risks intensely real.

Entertainment – Japanese cultural engine meets artificial intelligence

Sessions with CEOs of Production IG, MAPAPA and CoMix Wave Films cover what it will take for Tokyo to become the Hollywood of animation. On the ground, startups are using AI to translate manga globally, create music from text prompts, and bring Japanese intellectual property to life in anime form — delivered around the world.

Can’t get to Tokyo? You can still be there

Missing out on SusHi Tech Tokyo doesn’t necessarily mean missing out. Remote participants get more than just a live feed – on-site staff will walk the floor for you, holding a device that displays your face so you can interact with attendees and exhibitors in real-time, face-to-face. It’s the closest thing to actually existing.

Note: Please note that some sessions may not be available for viewing.

Apply for remote participation with on-site staff support here.

Can’t you swing that too? Ticket holders can stream sessions online and take advantage of the programming wherever they are. Browse the full session lineup here.

In conjunction with the startup event, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also hosting a meeting of leaders from 55 cities across five continents. They will discuss the topic “A new urban future built on climate and disaster resilience.” The City Leaders Summit is part of G-NETS (Global Cities Network for Sustainability), organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government since 2022 as a multi-city forum to discuss how to solve common challenges with the focus now on urban climate resilience and citizen well-being. The general public can watch the summit on YouTube in real time and after the event.

G-NETS official website

GNETs channel on YouTube

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 takes place from April 27-29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27-28; The public day (entry is free) is April 29. Register here.