- What do you envision our future food lifestyle to be? 

Future Food Fund is a corporate venture capital firm of Oisix ra daichi, a prominent Japanese food delivery listed company. Corporate Venture Capital fund that invests in food and food-related technology startups to create and develop an innovation cycle in the food industry's ecosystem. Future Food Fund discovers and supports startups whose pioneering technology and new services can be quickly implemented and commercialized.

 - Enriching the world and the individual

Founded in 1751, Kobe Shushinkan Brewery (FUKUJU) has maintained the name "FUKUJU" for thirteen generations as a sake brewery committed to traditional craftsmanship. FUKUJU is highly recognized by sommeliers from around the world, and has been served at the banquet dinner at the Nobel Prize award ceremony for several years. As times and environments continue to change, they strive to continue the excellence of Japanese sake into the future.

JETRO Kobe, Hyogo prefectural government, Kobe City government, and Innovation Dojo Japan have launched a business matching program Next Kitchen specifically designed for overseas food tech and food industry startups. This is the 3rd year of this program after successful years in 2023 and 2024. This year, the program will be held from 4-7 February 2025 in Kobe, Japan. 

 - To be an innovative energy & service company that continues to be the first choice of customers

OSAKA GAS headquartered in Osaka, is the biggest Gas, energy company in western Japan. 

The main business segments are domestic energy (gas, electricity), international energy (development and investment in oil and natural gas, energy supply, LNG transport, and Life & business solutions) and non-energy business (development and leasing of real estate properties, information-processing services, sale of fine materials and carbon material products).

- Create the future of people and society through fermentation.

Yaegaki Biotechnology, Inc. is a research and development company specializing in fermentation. Combining fermentation techniques cultivated over many years and cutting-edge biotechnology, they are always expanding their enterprises in food colourants, general food ingredients and functional food ingredients.

A huge Thank You for joining our webinar! If you weren’t able to join us live, don’t worry—here’s your chance to catch up on the insights and innovations discussed!

Click the link below to watch and learn how to get involved in Next Kitchen 2025!
NEXT KITCHEN 2025 Webinar Archive

- Peace by Piece

Juchheim headquartered in Kobe, is one of Japan's leading Western confectionery manufacturers, with a presence in department stores across the country. With a strong focus on additive-free high quality products, Juchheim invented an AI-powered oven THEO for baum kuchen which allows AI machines to learn the technique and convert it into data, baking baumkuchen cakes. Juchheim also established a food tech innovation center to promote collaboration with other food related companies.

-Nourishing Life

Kanetetsu is a well-established manufacturer specializing in innovative fish paste products, offering deep market knowledge and a distribution network ideal for scaling unique food innovations in Japan.

Enriching Lives and the World

Sumitomo Corporation is a globally recognized conglomerate with extensive investments in the food sector, offering startups unmatched opportunities for distribution, supply chain integration, and market expansion.

  - Improving everyone's quality of life

Kobe Bussan is a major player in food retail with over 900 “Gyomu Super” stores across Japan, providing startups unparalleled access to Japan's expansive value-driven consumer market.

Pioneering the Future of Culinary Innovation!
Nishimoto Co., Ltd. (wismettac.com)
Since its founding in 1912, NISHIMOTO Wismettac has grown into a global supplier of food ingredients and products, with 24 branches in North America and others in Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Where Tradition Meets Innovation!
Fujicco Co., Ltd.
FUJICCO is a top manufacturer of traditional Japanese processed foods made from ingredients such as kombu (kelp) and beans.

Are you a food tech startup eager to tap into one of the most dynamic and lucrative markets in the world? Join us for an exclusive webinar and learn about Next Kitchen.

We received applications from various innovative food-tech startups from across Europe, who showed great passion and potential to make an impact in Japan.

Last September, we invited startups to apply for our first-ever “Go Kobe - The Next Kitchen 2023” program — and heard from nearly 50 food-tech startups from across Europe.