Five Japanese startups named to 2026 Innovation Showcase

Japan Society of Northern California selected five startups from 50 nominees for the 2026 Japan–U.S. Innovation Awards Innovation Showcase. The companies will present at Stanford on July 16, putting artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine, cancer therapeutics, semiconductors and space tech in front of investors and industry leaders. Why it matters: - The five honorees reflect technologies with potential impact in manufacturing, medicine, semiconductors and space systems. - The Showcase is designed to connect Japanese startups with Silicon Valley investors, executives, researchers and policymakers. - The event comes as Japan and the U.S. look for more cross-border innovation in strategic sectors. What happened: - Japan Society of Northern California selected five Japanese startups for the 2026 Innovation Showcase from a field of 50 nominated companies. - The honorees are HACARUS, I Peace, Inc., KORTUC, Ookuma Diamond Device and Pale Blue. - The startups will present at the 16th Japan–U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium on Thursday, July 16, 2026. - The symposium will be held at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center at Stanford University in Stanford, California. - Registration is open at More information . The details: - HACARUS is an AI software company founded in 2014. - HACARUS helps businesses in manufacturing, construction and infrastructure extract insights from limited datasets. - HACARUS offers data acquisition, model development and system integration services. - I Peace, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on induced pluripotent stem cell, or iPSC, technologies. - I Peace was founded by Dr. Koji Tanabe. - I Peace provides personalized iPSC banking and GMP-compliant manufacturing of clinical-grade iPSCs for research, therapeutic and longevity uses. - KORTUC is developing a radiosensitizer to improve radiation therapy in oxygen-deficient tumors. - KORTUC’s technology has been used in more than 1,300 patients. - KORTUC is being evaluated in international clinical trials for breast, cervical and rectal cancers in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. - Ookuma Diamond Device is developing diamond semiconductor RF devices. - Ookuma Diamond Device is constructing what it describes as the world’s first diamond semiconductor manufacturing facility. - Ookuma Diamond Device is exploring U.S. partnerships in communications, defense and space. - Pale Blue develops and manufactures propulsion systems for small satellites. - Pale Blue, founded in 2020, has demonstrated multiple in-orbit operations. - Pale Blue’s propulsion systems are designed for use from low-Earth orbit to deep space. - Steve Pollock, president of the Japan Society of Northern California, said the selection recognizes technological innovation, commercial potential and the ability to address global challenges. - Pollock also said the 2026 Showcase highlights the range of Japan’s innovation ecosystem, from AI and regenerative medicine to semiconductors and space technologies. Between the lines: - The selected companies cluster around fields where Japan has strong industrial depth and where Silicon Valley investors are actively hunting for commercialization opportunities. - The mix of startups suggests the Showcase is meant to frame Japan as a source of both frontier science and deployable products. - Ookuma Diamond Device stands out because its origin story ties directly to Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning challenges, linking industrial recovery and advanced manufacturing. What’s next: - The five startups will pitch their technologies at Stanford on July 16. - The symposium is expected to draw dealmakers and strategic partners who could shape the companies’ next stage of growth. - Japan Society of Northern California will continue promoting the annual awards program in partnership with Stanford’s U.S.–Asia Technology Management Center. The bottom line: - The 2026 Innovation Showcase is a high-visibility bridge for Japanese startups aiming to win validation, capital and partnerships in the U.S. market.