[Event Report] Japan Robot Week 2024
Behind Japan's world-leading robotics industry

The Japan Robot Week, a leading B-to-B robotics industry exhibition, was held at Tokyo Big Sight from September 18 to 20, 2024, welcoming about 100 exhibitors and 43,000 visitors from Japan and overseas over the three days.

Technical consultations, demonstrations, and business negotiations centered around the theme "Towards a society where people and robots coexist." This year's exhibition featured a new zone for startups and academia as well as a "Robot Street" for live robot demonstrations.

According to the International Federation of Robotics World Robotics 2023 Report, Japan produces 46% of industrial robots globally, as the world's leading robot manufacturing country with the second largest industrial robot market in the world. There are two of the Big 4 manufacturers of industrial robots in the world, Fanuc and Yaskawa, headquartered in Oshino, Yamanashi Prefecture and Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, respectively.

The service robot market has also grown rapidly and is expected to improve productivity, alleviate labor shortages, and promote the growth of new industries. The Japanese Government has implemented initiatives to support the robotics industry to create a "robot-friendly" environment, focusing on the four areas of facility management, food, retail, and logistics warehouses. National and local governments also offer a variety of support systems.

We asked attendees about the appeal of Japan's robotics market.

Why is the Japanese market so attractive to companies working with robots? Mr. Mamoru Namioka, Representative Director of Asyril K.K., a subsidiary of a Swiss-based manufacturer of flexible feeding systems, explains:

"There are many manufacturers in Japan with unique technologies and many enthusiastic companies that want to use those technologies to manufacture higher quality products and increase productivity. They are looking for long-term, stable business partners."

There is great confidence in the technological potential of Japanese robot manufacturers, explains Mr. Masaki Fujii, Business Development Manager at Kudan Inc., which develops cutting-edge technology in the field of artificial perception:

"The fact that there are many robot manufacturers with high technical capabilities in Japan is a major advantage in doing business here. By collaborating with Japanese manufacturers who demand a high level of quality, we can further improve our technology. Japan also has a very large actual market size for expanding our business. This is also an advantage of having a base in Japan."

Dr. Hoe Seng Ooi, Chief Technology Officer of NexAIoT Co., Ltd., an automation equipment manufacturer headquartered in Taiwan, spoke about innovation as a key benefit of collaborating with Japanese companies, citing the cutting-edge technologies developed and used in Japan as a motivator for many companies to create new technology:

"We have been able to access highly advanced research and development software by collaborating with such advanced companies."

The Japanese and local governments are enthusiastic about attracting such advanced companies.

Additionally, Mr. Koichi Nishizawa, President of Gate Japan Co., Ltd, who recently opened a new factory in Yamagata Prefecture, attests to the abundant business opportunities that can be found nationwide:

"Japan's regional areas are home to many talented people with advanced skills, and some local governments provide varied support through subsidy systems and facilitation of business meetings."

Japan's regional areas have great potential as production bases and offer beneficial collaborations with local partners.