Interest from U.S. companies in the Japanese market continues to grow, but successfully entering Japan requires more than simply setting up a company. Building local networks, understanding the business environment, and finding the right partners can be just as important.

In this article, we highlight the experience of ShibuLA Ventures, a Los Angeles- and New York-based venture studio and cross-border dealmaking and advisory firm that recently established its office in Yokohama. Why did the company choose Yokohama, what challenges did it face, and how did Yokohama’s support ecosystem help along the way?

We spoke with Kevin Ninomiya, Co-Founder and CEO of ShibuLA Ventures, to learn more about the company’s journey into Japan and its experience building a presence in Yokohama.

Building a Relationship with Yokohama

ShibuLA’s connection with Yokohama did not begin with this recent move, the firm has been collaborating with the City of Yokohama for almost two years now. But what brought the two organizations together in the first place was not a specific project or event. Rather, it was a shared mission: building meaningful connections between startups, investors, corporations, universities, and public-sector organizations across borders.

Over the past two years, the partnership has grown through both practical startup support and broader ecosystem-building activities. On one hand, the two organizations have worked together on initiatives such as the Yokohama Matching Program, helping startups build connections and explore opportunities across borders. On the other, they have collaborated on events, webinars, podcasts, and programs surrounding major gatherings such as New York Tech Week and Climate Week NYC, bringing together founders, investors, corporations, universities, and public-sector organizations from both Japan and the United States.

Webinar hosted by the City of Yokohama and ShibuLA Ventures (2024)
Note: This photograph was taken at an earlier event. Any affiliations reflected in the image are those at the time the photograph was taken and may have since changed. Company names and logos appearing in the image are shown solely for identification and context and do not constitute or imply endorsement of this article by those companies or individuals.

“From the beginning, the City of Yokohama and ShibuLA have held a shared mission. We both believe in connecting innovation ecosystems in Japan and the United States and bringing together the people who make those ecosystems thrive. Yokohama is not only Japan’s second-largest city with a strong international outlook, but also a uniquely positioned local government with an independent presence in New York.

In the U.S. innovation ecosystem, like Japan’s ecosystem, trusted, face-to-face relationships are essential. What stood out to us was Yokohama’s long-term commitment to building those relationships and connecting people across ecosystems. That shared philosophy is what first brought us together and ultimately led to our collaboration.”

What else makes Yokohama such a Great Fit?

As the collaboration continued to grow, ShibuLA gained a deeper appreciation for Yokohama’s unique strengths as a bridge between Japan and the United States. Through its extensive network, long-term commitment to ecosystem building, and ability to connect stakeholders across sectors, Yokohama demonstrated a unique capacity to foster meaningful cross-border relationships and opportunities. Although Tokyo is often the first city that overseas companies consider when entering Japan, ShibuLA Ventures saw unique advantages in Yokohama.

“Yokohama is an extremely unique city,” Kevin explained. “It offers easy access to the Tokyo Metropolitan area while remaining Down to earth, affordable, and livable.”

Located just 30 minutes away from both Central Tokyo and Haneda Airport by train, Yokohama provides access to the Greater Tokyo area and business ecosystem while offering its own distinct identity and benefits. For international companies, the city combines proximity to major corporations, investors, and transportation networks with a more relaxed and livable environment.

Though the city had long been familiar to the ShibuLA team, Kevin pointed out Yokohama’s reputation as a city with a growing international innovation ecosystem, particularly across a range of deep tech sectors including life sciences, climate technologies, semiconductors, mobility, and advanced manufacturing, as a primary reason for the decision to set up shop there. He also noted that Yokohama has developed a reputation within Japan as a place that is trendy and internationally minded.

Co-hosted event by ShibuLA Ventures and the City of Yokohama Americas Office (TECH WEEK NYC, June 2025)

Entering Japan: The Power of Local Support

Like many overseas companies entering Japan for the first time, ShibuLA Ventures quickly discovered that establishing a local presence involves navigating a variety of legal, administrative, and operational processes.

“Even though our team included people who had previously gone through the process of establishing a business presence in Japan, it was still more complex than we initially expected. You can save a lot of time in this process by making sure you have contacts with various local partners to help you. Whether it’s lawyers, banks, office spaces, or any other sort of connection here, they each make a huge difference in lessening the burden on startups during these initial stages.”

Kevin noted that this is precisely where Yokohama’s support network made a significant difference. Throughout the establishment process, ShibuLA was able to access a wide range of legal, financial, and professional service providers through introductions made within Yokohama’s business ecosystem including partners such as Kanagawa Prefecture, JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), Japan’s national agency for supporting international business and foreign investment.

Rather than spending valuable time searching for the right contacts independently, ShibuLA Ventures was able to engage directly with professionals already experienced in assisting overseas companies during their establishment, and who understand both the Japanese business environment and the unique needs of international companies.

“What was particularly unique about Yokohama was the strength of its local support network. Through the City of Yokohama’s Representative Office to the Americas, we were introduced to a wide range of professionals, including administrative scriveners, judicial scriveners, accountants, tax advisors, labor and social security specialists, and other service providers. In several cases, those introductions directly led to engagements, and even when they did not, the conversations provided valuable perspectives that helped us make better decisions throughout the process.

One of the most challenging parts of the process was opening a bank account. We were introduced to the Bank of Yokohama,  which is one of the largest regional banks in Japan, through JETRO, and throughout the process, the Bank of Yokohama’s New York Representative Office and the Office of the City of Yokohama Representative to the Americas helped us stay informed about what was happening on the Japan side. Above all, the Bank of Yokohama has a deep understanding of overseas business. They were very kind and helpful”,

Lessons for Other Overseas Startups

Reflecting on the experience, Kevin emphasized that international companies thinking of moving or expanding to Japan should be aware of just how much value these local connections can have.

While online resources and research can help companies understand the basics, he believes that the guidance one can gain from professionals already familiar with Japan’s unique ecosystem is absolutely invaluable.

“Do your own research, but definitely don’t try to do everything alone,” Kevin advised. “There are plenty of people and organizations that you can access through Yokohama’s innovation ecosystem. Finding and making use of these connections will save your time.”

ShibuLA’s experience highlights one of Yokohama’s most distinctive qualities: the ability to combine the scale, international connectivity, and opportunities of Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area with the accessibility and support of a closely connected local community.

Despite its size, Yokohama offers an environment where local government, financial institutions, professional service providers, and ecosystem partners work closely together to support international companies. This combination of global reach and local support is what makes Yokohama uniquely attractive as a destination for overseas businesses entering Japan.

Kevin Ninomiya, Co-Founder and CEO of ShibuLA Ventures

Yokohama as a Gateway to Japan

For ShibuLA Ventures, establishing a presence in Yokohama has been about more than simply opening an office in the city. For them, Yokohama serves as an entry-point and foothold which they plan to extend their activities to across Japan, and even the rest of East-Asia.

As Yokohama continues to expand its role as a destination for global startups, ecosystem builders, and other innovation-focused organizations, ShibuLA Ventures’ experience illustrates why an increasing number of international companies are choosing the city as their gateway to the Japanese market.

“For us, Yokohama was never simply about opening an office. It was about becoming part of a broader effort to connect innovation ecosystems across the Pacific.

The most meaningful outcomes are rarely reflected in the number of introductions or events alone. They emerge from trusted relationships built over time between entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, universities, and public-sector organizations. Creating and sustaining those connections is where organizations such as the City of Yokohama and its Representative Office to the Americas can have a lasting impact.

As we continue to expand our activities and explore future investment initiatives, we believe the greatest opportunities will come not from any single company, but from the networks and relationships that bring entire ecosystems together.”

Deep Tech-related event in 2025