2nd Chubu Region Innovation Creation Press Tour

　The Chubu region, made up of prefectures including Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka, is a hub for the manufacturing industry to an extent rarely seen worldwide, including industries such as automobile, aerospace, robotics, textiles, and ceramics. Since the Meiji era (1868–1912), many global companies have started from the region, and it has helped drive growth in the Japanese economy from the post-war economic miracle up until today. In addition to these traditional industries, in recent years the region has also seen startups creating new value, and Central Japan has been gaining recognition as a world-class hub center for innovation.

　Aichi Prefecture, which plays a central role in these efforts, will be hosting TechGALA Japan 2026 from January 27 to 29, the second time this event has been held since it began in 2025. As a global event where startups from Japan and abroad, business enterprises, and investors gather together, it is expected to have even more participants than last year. There are high hopes for cultivating a startup climate and growing the startup population via the event.

1. FiberCraze Corporation—Popular at Paris Fashion Week! World First Fiber Processing Technology from a Gifu University Startup

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　A startup which originated from Gifu University has been receiving attention for its unique porosity technology which makes small pores invisible to the naked eye on the surface of textiles, used to develop highly functional materials which could solve social issues. By focusing on fractures (crazes) which had been considered a defect in the industry and developing technology to precisely control this phenomenon, they succeeded in creating nanoscale pores within the material without compromising its strength—a world first. These pores can be filled with functional components such as insect-repellent, antibacterial, or moisture-retention agents, adding functions later. Since these components can be refilled later, the material also benefits from reusability. A wide variety of potential applications exist for this material, such as insect-repelling clothes to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes (dengue fever, malaria, etc.), fabrics to reduce odors (a problem in the nursing care industry), and innerwear to reduce itchiness from eczema. In January 2025, a collection FiberCraze made in collaboration with a clothing brand drew attention when presented at Paris Fashion Week.

*Filming/photography is not allowed in some areas of the office. Be sure to follow the directions of the staff during the tour.

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  [Photos courtesy of FiberCraze]

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2. X-iS Co., Ltd.—Next-generation Tiles Made from Waste: A Company Creating a New Cycle

　Tajimi, Gifu is known for Mino ware and other ceramics, and is the largest producer of tiles in Japan. Although the region used to be home to approximately 60 clay mines, they closed one by one due to the clay running out or economic difficulties, and now only two remain. The city has reached a turning point for acquiring the materials that have supported its ceramics industry over the years. X-iS was founded in 1994 to make tiles with designs bringing out the natural beauty of their materials. In recent years, with limited materials and growing interest in environmental issues, the company has also been working to reduce its environmental burden. They developed ecorevo recycled tiles, using various waste materials and baking them at low temperatures to reduce C02 emissions by up to 33%. These next-generation tiles combining a resource cycle and excellent design sense are sold around the world.

*Filming/photography is not allowed in some areas of the lab. Be sure to follow the directions of the staff during the tour.

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  [Photos courtesy of X-iS]

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3. Ibis Inc.—Over 500 Million Downloads Worldwide! An App from Nagoya Letting You Draw with Your Finger

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　The mobile drawing app ibisPaint has been downloaded over 500 million times worldwide. Extremely popular with youth worldwide, especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha who enjoy Japanese anime and manga, this has become one of Japan’s most well-known apps. Known for being able to make quality illustrations using just your finger, it is currently available in 19 languages. Available in over 200 countries and regions, by the end of September 2025 it had been downloaded over 500 million times. With an automated function for making timelapse videos of the drawing process, ibisPaint makes it possible to share the creative process as well as the final artwork. This led to users actively interacting and videos spreading on social media, with the official YouTube channel having over three million subscribers. Approximately half of the app’s users are under 25 years old, and its simple controls and entertainment from sharing have made ibisPaint a symbol of the new creative culture of the mobile age.

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  [Photos courtesy of Ibis]

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4. TechGALA Japan 2026—"The Place of Technology to Unlock the Future of the Earth” in Aichi

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　For three days, from Tuesday, January 27 to Thursday, January 29, 2026, the startup event TechGALA Japan 2026 (sponsored by the Central Japan Startup Ecosystem Consortium) will be held in Nagoya, Aichi. In the event venues such as the Chunichi Building and Station Ai, startups, investors, businesses, and research institutes will gather together for lectures, sessions, and exhibitions dealing with a variety of fields, including mobility, materials, aerospace, and life sciences. This event is being positioned as an entrance to connect global startup ecosystems with Central Japan, promoting competition between diverse players while strengthening the branding of the Central Japan startup ecosystem and increasing its international presence. At TechGALA 2025, over 100 sessions were held with over 400 speakers from around the world, and there were over 5,000 attendees. There are high hopes for co-creation of new businesses and global initiatives for the future starting from Central Japan this time as well.

Startups participating in networking session (TBD) and countries/regions where business is being developed
- iBody Inc. (Healthcare): Southeast Asia, US
- Three-labs inc. (Manufacturing): US, Europe, India
- PRODRONE Co., Ltd. (Drones, Mobility): France, Europe
- TOWING Co., Ltd. (AgriTech): US, Thailand
- DouDouDoujin, Co., Ltd. (Content): Indonesia, Southeast Asia
- AZAPA Co., LTD. (Mobility): China

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  [Photos courtesy of TechGALA 2026]

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5. FUKURA.FUKURA Co.—Functional Japanese Confections by a Nutritionist: Delicious, Healthy “Snacks of the Future”

　Dietary restrictions for health reasons can make life itself painful. Ms. Rei Marushima, FUKURA.FUKURA’s CEO, encountered this reality countless times while providing nutrition support in over 40,000 cases. “Instead of ‘tolerable food’ for health reasons, I want to deliver delicious options.” From this concept, she founded her company in Nagoya to develop functional wagashi (Japanese confections) combining taste and to ease the body’s burden after eating, to be enjoyed as snacks without guilt or regret. This particular wagashi is known for using only naturally derived ingredients, incorporating mechanisms that gently suppress spikes in blood glucose levels, and making use of the functional properties of the ingredients themselves. With no additives, she makes confections that are easy to eat and help encourage the body’s natural functions from the inside. Combining her passion and her expertise as a registered nutritionist into these wagashi, she is promoting a new health standard not just in Japan, but around the world.
　Recognizing that health challenges are not limited to Japan, she has advanced development from the beginning with global expansion in mind. As a result, blind taste tests with overseas delegations have earned high evaluations, including comments such as, “It is more delicious than traditional wagashi and I would like to have it again.”
　In recognition of these efforts, the company was selected for Aichi Prefecture’s women entrepreneur support program, “Flare Aichi 2025 program” .

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  [Photos courtesy of FUKURA.FUKURA Co.]

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Monday, January 26–Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Bearer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Press Registration Card (in principle)

10,000 yen per person, including transportation, accommodation (breakfast included)
*Information on payment and cancellation fee will be provided to participants.
*Participants will be required to pay their own transportation costs to the meeting place before the tour, and after the tour ends

8 participants.
(Only one reporter or one photographer from each company, but two participants from each TV team will be acceptable.)
*Participants will be determined by the tour organizer.

6-1. Basic Information
(1) This tour is organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Nagoya Office and run by the FPCJ.
(2) The schedule is subject to change without notice.
(3) This tour will require participants to bear a part of the cost but is not a profit-making venture.
(4) Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Nagoya Office and the FPCJ take no responsibility for any accidents, injuries, illness, or other problems which occur during the tour.
(5) There may be some restrictions on photographing and filming at the tour sites. Please follow the instructions of the staff in charge.
(6) This press tour is intended to provide opportunities for news coverage. We request that all participants send a copy of the content of their coverage (article, video, or audio in the case of radio) to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Nagoya Office through the FPCJ after their reports are published or aired. When your report is in a language other than English or Japanese, we also ask you to provide a summary in English or Japanese. By submitting your application, we assume that you have agreed to these conditions.

6-2．Handling of Personal Information
When applying for the tour, you agree to the below:
*Regarding the handling of personal information, the press tour organizers and operators will respect Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information and all other laws and guidelines on the protection of personal information and handle personal information appropriately.
(1) The tour operators will, when there is a need to do so for the press tour, provide the personal information provided when applying (organization name, personal name, etc.) to other parties in the following cases:
-To arrange travel or insurance through travel agencies (Information provided to: Travel agencies, accommodation operators, transportation operators, insurance companies)
-To ensure smooth operations during the tour (Information provided to: Interpreters, stops on the tour, interviewees)
(2) The tour operators, to ensure smooth operation of the tour, will share the personal names and organization names of applicants with the tour organizers.

6-3．Recordings by Press Tour Organizers or Operators During the Tour
When applying for the tour, you agree to the below:
(1) For the record-keeping purposes, the tour operators may film or photograph the tour while it is happening. The copyright holders for these photos or videos will be the tour organizers.
(2) Photos, videos, or articles of the press tour may be uploaded to websites or social media accounts operated by the organizers or operators.
(3) The likeness or voice of participants may appear in the abovementioned photos or videos, but you agree to their use by the organizers or operators.

Hamada(Ms.), Ishida(Ms.)
Media Communication and Planning Division
（Tel: 03-3501-5251、E-mail: sc@fpcjpn.or.jp）

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◆When applying for the tour, you agree to the following conditions◆
-　Press tours have participants from multiple media organizations, and interviews, filming, and photographing are generally carried out jointly. There is no guarantee that you will be able to perform individual interviews or take individual videos at any of the stops on the tour.
-　You must follow the instructions of the tour organizers and operators regarding the tour schedule, timing, and restrictions on taking videos or photos. If you refuse to follow instructions, you will no longer be allowed to participate in the press tour from that point on.