Startups want to show how traditional industries can find new relevance

20250725 kyoto

Number of funded startups in Kyoto nearly doubled to 79 last year from 44 in 2014, according to a report by Initial Inc., a Japanese startup information platform. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)

TOKYO — Foreign entrepreneurs are blending tradition and technology in Kyoto, as Japan seeks to attract international talent and boost its startup ecosystem.