Supporting Japan’s next wave of innovators: A Silicon Valley snapshot

There’s something electric about being in a room full of dreamers, especially when those dreamers are Japanese startup founders bringing their bold visions to Silicon Valley.

Recently, I had the honor of mentoring a group of Japanese startups during their visit to the Bay Area, as part of the X-HUB Tokyo Outbound Program, a fantastic initiative funded by JETRO and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The program was expertly organized by Silicon Valley in Your Pocket, whose attention to detail, from the thoughtfully curated venues to the excellent food and drinks, made the experience both seamless and inspiring.

Copyright Miki St John, Jeff Wallace, and myself

I was invited to mentor at the Deloitte San Francisco event on October 23rd by Talia Zur Baruch of GlobalSaké, and it was a privilege to support these entrepreneurs on HR strategy. We explored everything from building cross-cultural teams to navigating U.S. hiring practices, critical areas for any startup looking to scale internationally.

For me, this event was also a bit of a natsukashii moment. During my time at Deloitte Tokyo, I often attended startup pitch events organized by Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Support. Those gatherings were always buzzing with energy, full of bold ideas and passionate founders. Being back in a Deloitte setting, this time in San Francisco, brought back fond memories and reminded me how far the Japanese startup ecosystem has come, and how global its ambitions have become. Being able to reminisce with the organizer and Venture Support alumna Miki St John was also a highlight of the program.

On October 30th I had the chance to attend a pitch event hosted by Venable LLP, where the startups showcased their innovations. Finally seeing their ideas in action was nothing short of inspiring. The creativity, technical sophistication, and global mindset on display left me genuinely excited about the future of Japan’s startup ecosystem.

As someone who has spent years working at the intersection of U.S.-Japan business, I know how important it is to support these kinds of cross-border initiatives. Programs like X-HUB don’t just help startups, they build bridges, foster mutual understanding, and create opportunities for collaboration that benefit both countries.

To all the founders I met: I’m cheering you on. Your journey is just beginning, and the world is ready for your ideas.

A heartfelt thank you to Jeff Wallace and Kal Deutsch of Silicon Valley in Your Pocket and The Batchery for their incredible leadership and hospitality. Your dedication to empowering global entrepreneurs is truly making a difference.

Curious about how Japanese business culture shapes communication, decision-making, and collaboration? At Japan Consulting Office, we specialize in equipping professionals to thrive in cross-cultural environments. Whether you’re looking for group training or one-on-one sessions, we’ve got you covered!

If you want to learn more about bridging language and cultural gaps in Japanese business, why not join one of our sessions! Here’s the link to upcoming sessions (make sure to select your timezone