Every major tech conference has themes. Most are vague enough to mean everything and nothing at the same time. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is doing something different — four tightly defined technology domains, each backed by live demonstrations, dedicated exhibit floors, and sessions featuring the people actually building and funding these technologies globally.
TechCrunch is partnering with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 as an official media partner, and our Startup Battlefield team will be on the ground selecting one standout semifinalist from the SusHi Tech Challenge to advance to the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200 — one of the most prestigious launchpads in tech. Here’s what’s on the floor.
AI — beyond the hype, into the infrastructure
Sessions featuring Howard Wright (Nvidia), Rob Chu (AWS), and Eric Benhamou (Benhamou Global Ventures) cut through the noise to examine where AI is genuinely deployed at scale and where the real risks lie. On the floor, AI-themed university startups pitch alongside global players, and the AI Film Festival Japan, a partner event at Tokyo Innovation Base in Yurakucho, explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping culture in real time.
Robotics — physical AI has arrived
The robots at SusHi Tech aren’t behind glass — they’re on the floor and interactive. Onstage, Nissan, Isuzu, and Applied Intuition’s Qasar Younis examine how software-defined vehicles are reshaping transportation. Physical AI isn’t a future trend. It’s in Tokyo on April 27.
Resilience — the cities that survive what’s coming
Eva Chen (Trend Micro) and NEC’s Noboru Nakatani tackle cyber defense, while top climate tech VCs from Breakthrough Energy and Cleantech Group examine where global investment is flowing. A VR disaster simulator and site-visit tours of Tokyo’s underground flood-control infrastructure make the stakes viscerally real.
Entertainment — Japan’s cultural engine meets AI
Sessions with the CEOs of Production I.G, MAPPA, and CoMix Wave Films tackle what it takes for Tokyo to become the Hollywood of animation. On the floor, startups are using AI to translate manga globally, generate music from text prompts, and bring Japanese IP to life as anime — delivered worldwide.
Can’t make it to Tokyo? You can still be there
Missing SusHi Tech Tokyo doesn’t have to mean missing out. Remote participants get more than a livestream — on-site staff will walk the floor on your behalf, carrying 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 being there.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, CA
|
October 13-15, 2026
Note: Please note that some sessions may not be available for viewing.
Apply for remote participation with on-site staff support here.
Can’t swing that either? Ticket holders can stream sessions online and tap into the programming from wherever they are. Browse the full session list here.
In conjunction with the startup event, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government also hosts a meeting of leaders from 55 cities across five continents. They will discuss the theme of “A New Urban Future Built on Climate and Disaster Resilience.” The city leaders’ summit is part of G-NETS (Global City Network for Sustainability), organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government since 2022 as a multicity forum to discuss how to solve common challenges with a focus now on resilience to urban climate disasters and the well-being of citizens. The summit can be observed by general audiences on YouTube in real time and after the event.
G-NETS official website
G-NETS YouTube Channel
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27–28; public day (free admission) is April 29. Register here.
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Key Takeaways from SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026
- **Focused Innovation**: Unlike many broad tech conferences, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 zeroes in on four critical, actionable domains—AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment—with tangible demonstrations and industry-leading insights.
- **Global Immersion & Access**: The event offers unparalleled opportunities for both physical attendees and remote participants, connecting startups with venture capitalists and global tech giants, all underpinned by TechCrunch’s prestigious Startup Battlefield.
- **Urban Future Leadership**: Beyond technological advancements, SusHi Tech Tokyo integrates a high-level summit (G-NETS) for 55 city leaders, showcasing a commitment to addressing global challenges like climate resilience and citizen well-being through collaborative urban strategies.
In a world saturated with tech conferences promising grand visions that often dissolve into abstract platitudes, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 stands out. This isn’t another event where buzzwords echo through cavernous halls. Instead, Tokyo is setting the stage for a refreshingly focused and deeply practical exploration of the technologies poised to redefine our future. With four tightly defined domains, each featuring live demonstrations, dedicated exhibit floors, and direct access to the innovators and funders driving these changes, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is poised to deliver tangible insights and groundbreaking revelations.
Our team at TechCrunch is proud to partner with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 as an official media ally. Our renowned Startup Battlefield will be actively engaged on the ground, identifying a standout semifinalist from the SusHi Tech Challenge who will earn a coveted spot in the TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield 200—a globally recognized launchpad for the next generation of tech titans. Prepare to delve into the actionable future across these pivotal sectors.
The Core Pillars of Innovation: Four Domains Redefining Tomorrow
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is not merely showcasing technology; it’s illustrating the infrastructure, applications, and societal impacts across its four strategic domains. Each pillar represents an area of profound global transformation, presented with an emphasis on real-world deployment and collaborative advancement.
AI: Beyond the Buzz, Into the Blueprint
The conversation around Artificial Intelligence often oscillates between hyperbole and apprehension. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 aims to cut through this noise, shifting the focus from speculative futures to the tangible infrastructure powering today’s AI revolution. Esteemed speakers like Howard Wright from Nvidia, Rob Chu from AWS, and Eric Benhamou of Benhamou Global Ventures will dissect where AI is genuinely deployed at scale, examining the foundational systems and addressing the nuanced risks inherent in widespread adoption. The exhibit floor will be a vibrant ecosystem, featuring everything from pioneering university startups to established global players in AI. Complementing the technical discussions, the AI Film Festival Japan, a partner event at Tokyo Innovation Base, will explore AI’s profound influence on contemporary culture and creative industries in real time.
Robotics: The Tangible Evolution of Intelligence
Forget robots confined behind glass barriers; at SusHi Tech, the future is interactive and immediate. Here, physical AI has truly arrived. Attendees can experience cutting-edge robotics firsthand, engaging with machines that are redefining industrial, logistical, and even personal assistance paradigms. Onstage, leaders from automotive giants like Nissan and Isuzu, alongside Qasar Younis of Applied Intuition, will explore the transformative impact of software-defined vehicles, illustrating how intelligent systems are fundamentally reshaping transportation and mobility. This isn’t a glimpse into a distant future; it’s a present reality demonstrated live on the floor, proving that physical AI is a here-and-now trend.
Resilience: Forging Future-Proof Cities
In an era of escalating global challenges, urban resilience is paramount. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 delves deep into how cities can not only survive but thrive amidst emerging threats. Cybersecurity stalwarts like Eva Chen from Trend Micro and Noboru Nakatani of NEC will address the critical imperative of cyber defense in an increasingly interconnected world. Concurrently, top climate tech VCs from Breakthrough Energy and Cleantech Group will offer invaluable insights into the global investment landscape, highlighting where capital is flowing to drive sustainable innovation. To underscore the urgency, the event will feature a visceral VR disaster simulator and offer exclusive site-visit tours of Tokyo’s impressive underground flood-control infrastructure, making the stakes of urban preparedness undeniably real and immediate.
Entertainment: Japan’s Creative Powerhouse Meets AI’s Edge
Japan’s rich cultural heritage, particularly its global leadership in animation and manga, is legendary. SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 explores the fascinating intersection of this vibrant cultural engine with the disruptive potential of AI. Industry luminaries, including the CEOs of renowned animation studios like Production I.G, MAPPA, and CoMix Wave Films, will discuss the strategic pathways for Tokyo to cement its status as the “Hollywood of Animation.” On the exhibition floor, innovative startups will showcase how AI is revolutionizing creative processes: from translating intricate manga for global audiences and generating bespoke music from simple text prompts to bringing beloved Japanese intellectual property to life as anime, ready for worldwide distribution. This domain highlights how technology can amplify artistic expression and expand global cultural reach.
Global Reach: Bridging Distances for a Unified Experience
Understanding that global innovation transcends physical boundaries, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 has engineered ingenious ways for participants worldwide to engage, ensuring no one misses out on the transformative discussions and demonstrations.
Innovative Remote Participation: Immersive Interaction
For those unable to travel to Tokyo, the event offers an unprecedented remote participation experience that goes far beyond a standard livestream. Imagine having dedicated on-site staff virtually “walk the floor” on your behalf, carrying a device that displays your face. This innovative approach allows remote attendees to interact with exhibitors and fellow participants in real-time, face-to-face, fostering genuine connections and engagement. It’s an immersive solution designed to provide the closest possible experience to physically being there.
Comprehensive Digital Access for All
Even without the full remote interaction package, ticket holders retain robust digital access. All sessions will be available for streaming online, allowing attendees to tap into the rich programming from anywhere in the world, at their convenience. A comprehensive session list is available for browsing, ensuring participants can tailor their digital experience to their specific interests and schedule.
Beyond Technology: A Summit for Sustainable Urban Futures
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 isn’t just about technological breakthroughs; it’s about applying them to address humanity’s most pressing challenges. In a powerful demonstration of global collaboration, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will host a parallel summit for leaders from 55 cities across five continents. This crucial gathering, themed “A New Urban Future Built on Climate and Disaster Resilience,” is a core component of G-NETS (Global City Network for Sustainability).
Organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government since 2022, G-NETS serves as a vital multicity forum dedicated to solving common urban challenges. The summit’s sharpened focus on resilience to urban climate disasters and the well-being of citizens underscores Tokyo’s commitment to fostering sustainable, future-proof urban environments. General audiences can observe this critical summit in real-time and after the event via the G-NETS YouTube Channel, providing transparent access to these high-level discussions.
For those planning to attend, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27–28, with a public day offering free admission on April 29. Registration details and further information can be found on the official event website. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the future unfold.
G-NETS official website
G-NETS YouTube Channel
Techcrunch event
San Francisco, CA
|
October 13-15, 2026
Note: Please note that some sessions may not be available for viewing.
Apply for remote participation with on-site staff support here.
Can’t swing that either? Ticket holders can stream sessions online and tap into the programming from wherever they are. Browse the full session list here.
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 runs April 27–29 at Tokyo Big Sight. Business days are April 27–28; public day (free admission) is April 29. Register here.
Bottom Line
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 is poised to be more than just another tech conference; it’s a meticulously crafted platform for actionable innovation and global collaboration. By focusing on critical, tangible domains like AI, Robotics, Resilience, and Entertainment, and by fostering both direct interaction and innovative remote participation, the event ensures meaningful engagement. Coupled with its significant G-NETS summit addressing urban resilience, Tokyo is demonstrating leadership not just in showcasing technology, but in actively shaping a more sustainable and intelligent future for cities worldwide. This event promises to be an indispensable nexus for anyone invested in understanding and building tomorrow’s world, today.