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Hello!
We would like to deliver the event reportt on the “The 90 Days Kyoto Stay Program SHOWCASE & NETWORKING EVENT” held on February 7, 2025.
◯ Opening / Hila Yamada(Glocal Center Staff)
First of all, Hila, a staff member of the Glocal Center and the person in charge of this project, greeted us and introduced the 90 Days Kyoto Stay Program(The following was a brief explanation of the purpose of the “90 days program”).
Hila: “This project conducted by Kyoto Prefecture not only provides language support for participants coming to Japan from overseas, but also provides support for meeting them at the airport, assistance with obtaining visas, support for various procedures for registering a place of residence and office, building networks, and even small daily problems due to language differences. Through the 90days program, we want to make Kyoto a place where diverse people can work and live in abundance.”
◯Opening remarks: Mr. Satoru Oiji (Deputy Chief of Startup Support Section, Industrial Promotion Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Tourism, Kyoto Prefecture)
Next, Mr. Satoru Oiji (Deputy Chief of the Startup Support Section, Industrial Promotion Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Tourism, Kyoto Prefecture) gave the opening remarks.
Mr. Oiji: “Welcome to Kyoto! Last year, six entrepreneurs and five this year came to Kyoto. We will do our best to support you in making your business a success.
・About Kyoto
Kyoto is not only a famous tourist destination, but also a base for academia. It is a city where many universities are present and where Japanese students, international students, and researchers are concentrated.It is also a business town with world-famous large companies.
・Kyoto Startup Ecosystem
There are more than 600 start-up companies in various industries in Kyoto. 400% of these companies are university-initiated, and research and entrepreneurship are closely related. In addition, the amount of investment in startup companies is on the rise, and after Tokyo and Kanagawa, Kyoto is the third largest venture ecosystem in Japan. One of Kyoto’s strengths is that it can provide support through ALL Kyoto’s approach by a comprehensive support system. Five years have passed since the establishment of the startup support department in Kyoto Prefecture, and we have begun to focus on supporting foreign entrepreneurs, and this project is being implemented as part of it. We plan to continue this global initiative in the next fiscal year. Today, we invite you to listen to the presentations from the five speakers and discuss them.”
◯ Presentations
After greetings from the two speakers, the presentations by the participants began. In this report, I will describe a simple summary of the content of the presentation and the question and answer session, but there may be an area that you are interested in or that you can make use of your personal connections. 👀 Please take a look!
▼Presentation (1) by Yvonne Hung
~Building a community for the next generation of rural life~
▶ Proposal content:
“Rural communities with dedicated land and shared amenities for small-scale farming”
→ create the critical mass (= the minimum amount or number necessary to bring about change) necessary to reduce barriers to rural migration and foster a sense of community.
▶Context and Issues:
Despite the problems of population decline and aging in rural areas and the outflow of young people, the provision of support that can have a rapid and long-term impact is currently insufficient. There are also barriers to work, transportation, healthcare, school, and housing when considering relocation. On the other hand, there is also a growing interest in organic food and part-time farming. Therefore, she proposes to “transform a rural town into a modern, livable and comfortable place to work.”
▶ Support and networks sought:
Many players are indispensable for rural reconstruction. First of all, it is necessary to develop physical infrastructure and digital infrastructure. Rather than turning rural areas into urban areas, the aim is to create livable regions. Along with this, we are also focusing on the possibility of public-private partnership initiatives, such as attracting various companies and collaborating between tech companies and the government.
▼Q&A(1) Yvonne Hung
~Building a community for the next generation of rural living~
After the presentation, there was a Q&A session between the participants and the speakers.
Q. I know it’s not easy for outsiders to enter a place with strong community ties in the countryside, but how do you plan to make connections and approach the residents when doing business in rural areas?
A. First of all, I think it is important to have a connection with the local government and receive referrals in order to make connections. In terms of approaching the local people in the area, we are trying to improve our approach by using our experience in community workshops so far, actually talking to them, and listening to what is important to them and what creates negative emotions.
▼Presentation (2) by Eva Gorobets & Tim Rizvanov
~Exploring Art and Culture through the App “Art Spirits”~
▶Proposal content:
“Art Spirits”, a platform app that links museums and galleries in various regions.
→ centralize information on galleries and museums, and provide art experiences that are in line with the traditional culture of Japan while utilizing gamification, AI, characters, etc.
▶Context and Issues:
There is no centralized information or platform for art events and galleries. In Australia, where the proposer is from, there are 200 galleries in Melbourne alone, but there is no place to get such information in one place. Therefore, they developed a product application and released an app called “Art Flaneur“ with gamification and other features that provide an innovative, more immersive experience.
The app has the effect of inducing user participation as a gaming platform, and the combination of generative AI will provide users with personalized guides, customized games, and cultural education and art exploration. Currently, they are developing a Japan version of the app in cooperation with art-related facilities and the government. By directing the flow of tourists to quiet areas and small galleries, it is possible to disperse tourists, especially during peak periods, and to contribute to the continuous support of the activities of small galleries in the region.
▶Support and network sought:
They are looking for a partner with whom we can form a partnership in Kyoto.
They would like to connect with art/cultural event organizers, business/facility operators, and tourism organizations through close cooperation with Kyoto Prefecture. In addition, in cooperation with private businesses, for example, what kind of representative character of the Japan version of the app should look like, based on modern art in Japan, they want to create characters that are in line with Japan’s traditional culture. They are also looking for the support of engineers who can develop and develop the app itself. Kyoto is a city with many art events and a very strong and deeply rooted game culture, and they expect that the app will have the potential to embody the fusion of games, contemporary art, and historical culture. To that end, they would like to work with software developers and people who are familiar with the local community to develop the app. Rather than creating something completely new and unknown, they want to create something that is rooted in the local culture, has a high affinity, and is harmonious.
There is also Art Flanur, which is already available in app stores, but Art Spirits, which is developing this time, will release a test version by the second quarter of 2025. Their company hopes to release the full version in 2026. The company is also considering expanding its monetization tools. Currently, it is only an app for iOS, but a database linked to 6,000 art spaces around the world is being built, and the basic infrastructure for AI has already been built. Rather than competing with existing facilities, they would like to work together to increase the engagement of existing facilities.
▼Q&A(2) by Eva Gorobets & Tim Rizvanov
~Exploring Art and Culture through the App “Art Spirits”~
Q. How do you approach elderly cultural facility managers? What approach do you have in mind, whether to change people with old ideas or to work with people with new ideas?
A. We would like to approach both. Rather than simply replacing existing methods with apps, we would like to spread the nuance of coexistence and collaboration in a way that responds to the needs of attracting new tourists and young people.
▼Presentation (3) Michelle Chan
~Promoting people’s health in a depopulated area of Kyoto~
▶Proposal content:
Contributing to people’s physical and mental health through “mindfulness”
→ promoting people’s health in the countryside of Kyoto
▶Context and issues:
Michelle herself has been working in mindfulness and yoga studios around the world, including London, Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan, for the past 10 years. The proposer herself wants to become a brand and use her experience to support the practice of mindfulness in the area of Kyoto as an international person. She is involved in various sectors, such as schools, nursing homes, and private businesses, and feels that she can help participants find peace within themselves through mindfulness.
▶Support and network sought:
Shw wants to collaborate with people who are interested in mindfulness. Mindfulness also doesn’t require any special facilities or amenities, so the hurdles for collaboration aren’t high. She would like to work with everyone here and various people in Kyoto.
▼Q&A(3) Michelle Chan
~Promoting people’s health in the countryside of Kyoto~
Q. I think the approach is different between rural areas and urban areas, but how do you plan to engage with rural areas?
A. I feel that it is important to listen to their voices first. I want to start with a dialogue with people from different backgrounds by the right approach.
Q. What is the most unique aspect of your business?
A. With an international perspective and background, I consider it to be an added value and a unique point of this business. I think we can learn from each other by presenting various examples from overseas and learning about Japan culture from people in Kyoto.
▼Presentation (4) Ludan Mndoor
~Japan’s Advanced Medical Equipment/Medical Technology to Africa~
▶Proposal content:
Currently operating
→ to introduce Japan’s advanced medical equipment and medical technology to medical institutions in Africa Rafeef Medical Company. As part of the project, she will stay in Kyoto and build a network with medical institutions and medical device manufacturers to build cooperation between Africa and Japan in the medical field.
▶Context and issues:
Founded in Sudan in 2010, Rafeef Medical Company is a company that provides medical facility design, medical equipment supply and after-sales service, and medical consulting plans, and is currently expanding its activities to Rwanda, Kenya and South Sudan. In order to build a further supply chain, she would like to explore a network in Kyoto, Japan, which boasts advanced medical technology.
▶Support and network sought:
She is looking for networking and collaboration with local companies, private medical institutions, government medical institutions, doctors, and individuals.
▼Q&A(4) by Ludan Mndoor
~Bringing Japan’s Advanced Medical Equipment/Medical Technology to Africa~
Q. There are many medical institutions in western Japan, and the market is saturated, so there is a movement by the government to reduce the size of it, but why did you choose Kyoto? What do you want to do in Kyoto? I myself am doing research at a university, and I think there is room for collaboration.
A. The main purpose of this stay is to conduct research. Japan’s technology maintains a high level of technology compared to other markets. I have the strongest desire to introduce Japan technology to Africa. I already have the technology and know-how for CT scans and MRIs, but I would like to know about other cutting-edge medical technologies.
Q. There are various possible solutions for introducing Japan’s medical institutions and medical equipment to Africa, but are there any sectors in particular that you would like to approach?
A. We consider both the public and private sectors to be the main sectors. I would like to deepen my knowledge of the local market in Kyoto.
◯ Closing
After everyone’s presentations were over, Ms. Hila gave a closing speech, and it was a relaxed exchange time.
◯ Start of exchange meeting
After the presentation, we moved to the 8th floor DAIDOKORO and held a lively social gathering while enjoying drinks and food!
▼Toast by Mr. Ueda Sesto (KIEC (Kyoto International Entrepreneurs Community)
In the second half, Mr. Sesto gave a toast and the exchange meeting started! 🍻
The second half of the event was a collaboration project with KIEC (Kyoto International Entrepreneurs Community).
KIEC was launched in December 2018 with HIla as members to foster a loosely connected community where foreign entrepreneurs, Japan entrepreneurs with an international perspective, and individuals, organizations, and the government that creates the system that supports such entrepreneurs gather across the board. Currently, she and Sesto hold an event once a month as an open place where participants can share their information, experiences, and diverse ideas.
▼ Exchange time
It was a very meaningful time for the speakers to take the first step in their future activities, as they could see the program participants and event participants talking over drinks and meals, and making new connections 👀.
▼ Closing remarks / Mr. Masahiro Andachi (Director, Industrial Promotion Division, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labor and Tourism, Kyoto Prefecture)
At the end of the exchange meeting, Mr. Andachi from Kyoto Prefecture gave a speech of gratitude to everyone who participated in the event, and after an explanation of the Japan culture of “three-stranded tightening (“Sambonjime” in Japanese)”, Mr. Andachi ondo and all the participants joined in the three-strand finale with smiles 👏
How will the participants of the 90days program start and expand their businesses in Kyoto? Please look forward to his future activities👀
Author: Glocal Center Intern Ayaka Mizokawa
