SAKIGAKE管理人 Following a Trip under a Tokyo Metropolitan Government-Sponsored Program and a Meeting with Governor Koike
Munetoshi Kondo, CEO of SAKIGAKE JAPAN, traveled to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, as part of an overseas expansion support program sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG). During the six-day period from May 20 to 25, he actively participated in pitch presentations aimed at the international expansion of disaster prevention and resilience technologies, and engaged in business meetings with local companies. Upon returning to Japan, these activities were featured in various places, including the official social media accounts of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
We would like to look back on this trip and provide a report on the details.
Why Kazakhstan?
The background behind SAKIGAKE JAPAN focusing on Kazakhstan as the destination for this trip lies in the strategic importance that this country possesses.
Kazakhstan holds the largest land area in Central Asia and is a treasure trove of energy resources. At the same time, it is an emerging market where development investments in international finance, AI, and digital fields have been accelerating in recent years. On the other hand, addressing food loss in vast agricultural zones, logistical infrastructure challenges, and natural disaster risks such as earthquakes and floods has become an urgent matter, driving up the demand for Japan’s disaster prevention and resilience technologies.
Against this backdrop, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been strengthening its cooperation with Kazakhstan, and this travel program was organized as a concrete step in that direction. Our company was selected and participated as a disaster-prevention tech startup in this program, which included a total of 10 participants from 5 companies.
[Trip Overview]
- Period: May 20–25, 2026 (6 days)
- Purpose: Business promotion and corporate matching in Central Asia
- Location: Astana, Capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Participants: 10 representatives from all 5 participating companies in the TMG-sponsored program
- Key Activities: Visiting Astana Hub / Corporate pitches / Individual business matching sessions with local companies
What We Conveyed in the Pitch—Bringing Japan’s Resilience Technology to Central Asia
The theme of the corporate pitch on-site was “The Expansion of Japan’s Advanced Resilience and GX Technologies to Central Asia.” The presentation was delivered in Japanese with simultaneous interpretation, and the projected slides used a Russian-translated version to communicate effectively with local investors, businesses, and government officials.
Key Solutions
We introduced three major solutions this time.
- Anti-Seismic Coating “Aster Power Coating”
Developed by a startup originating from the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo, this special fiber-reinforced paint can improve the earthquake resistance and durability of buildings simply by being applied. It can be implemented at approximately one-fifteenth of the cost compared to conventional large-scale renovations. Since certain regions in Kazakhstan face seismic risks, we proposed its application in the construction and infrastructure sectors. - Phosphorescent Sign “KORIN”
This luminescent paint glows for over 12 hours without requiring electricity, ensuring visibility even during power outages and disasters. It is a product that embodies the concept of “Phase-Free,” simultaneously enhancing daily safety and emergency response capabilities. - Solar-Powered Autonomous Cold Storage
This is an off-grid cold storage system currently undergoing verification testing in Indonesia. We proposed adapting this technology—which can stably refrigerate food and medical supplies even in areas with undeveloped power infrastructure—to reduce agricultural loss and improve pharmaceutical logistics in Kazakhstan.
Alignment with Kazakhstan’s National Strategy
What we emphasized particularly during the pitch was that these solution suites align perfectly with Kazakhstan’s five national strategies: agricultural modernization, infrastructure resilience, medical and logistics improvement, energy efficiency, and digital/AI utilization. Rather than merely exporting products, we wanted to contribute to the realization of the national vision that Kazakhstan aims for through Japanese technology—this was the consistent message communicated throughout this trip. Proposing our vision to become a resilience hub in Central Asia directly to the local audience gave us a strong sense of achievement.
Results of Business Meetings—13 Meetings, 7 Promising Projects
We conducted a total of 13 individual business meetings during the trip. Among them, 7 projects are being actively followed up as promising cases moving toward concrete discussions.
For instance, discussions are underway regarding the introduction of the special anti-seismic coating into silo construction. This initiative aims to integrate Japanese earthquake-resistance technology into Kazakhstan’s agricultural infrastructure, and we are currently setting up online meetings involving local general contractors and relevant executives. Furthermore, through contact with “KAZAKH INVEST,” a government-affiliated investment promotion agency in Kazakhstan, we have commenced consultations regarding the utilization of investment incentive systems. A technical proposal to the Ministry of Emergency Situations has also been confirmed, moving our approaches forward in parallel across both the public and private sectors.
The local business environment moves rapidly, requiring timely information gathering and flexible proposals. We will steadily advance the concretization of these projects while maintaining close collaboration with local partners.
Conclusion—A First Step as a “Pioneer”
This trip to Kazakhstan marked a full-fledged first step into the Central Asian market for SAKIGAKE JAPAN.
On-site, we also had the opportunity to directly explain our initiatives to Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. Governor Koike was officially visiting Astana during the same period, creating a symbolic moment where the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s support for startups’ overseas expansion overlapped beautifully with our mission to “Bring Japan’s Disaster Prevention Technology to the Forefront of the World” right there in Kazakhstan.
As natural disasters intensify on a global scale due to climate change, we believe the value of the disaster prevention and resilience technologies Japan has cultivated will continue to rise. We will connect the relationships and positive responses gained this time to our next developments, moving forward as a “pioneer” that delivers Japan’s disaster prevention technologies from Tokyo to Central Asia.
If you are interested in our initiatives, overseas expansion, or partnerships, please feel free to contact us.
