The 2026 edition of RAMEN TECH will take place in a decentralized manner throughout Fukuoka City, offering a broad variety of activities — spanning content aimed at startups, VCs, and investors, as well as art, culture, cuisine, and Fukuoka’s local community.
Free attendee registration and applications from Co-Create Partners wishing to organize events during the event period are now open for RAMEN TECH 2026.
Asia’s international startup week makes its third return to Fukuoka with over 100 events — complimentary registration is now available for participants and collaborators
FUKUOKA, JAPAN, July 17, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Running from October 7 (Wednesday) to October 11 (Sunday), 2026, RAMEN TECH 2026 is a five-day international startup week hosted across central Fukuoka City. Now in its third installment, this week is collaboratively created by Fukuoka City and co-creation partners from across Japan and the global startup ecosystem — a citywide co-creation event featuring over 100 activities. RAMEN TECH stands for Revolutionizing Asia: Merging Ecosystems & Networks – Tech. The week gathers startups, investors, corporations, government bodies, and students in Fukuoka — Japan’s nearest gateway to the Asian continent.
Background:
– Fukuoka’s Startup Strategy
After declaring itself “Startup City Fukuoka” in 2012, the city has systematically developed a policy framework involving startup visas, tax incentives, and international memorandums of understanding with partner cities. Launched in 2024, RAMEN TECH serves as the flagship initiative of this strategy. Rather than being framed as a challenge to Tokyo, the week is designed as a symbol of a city deliberately oriented outward — toward the rest of Asia.
– Geographic and Historical Advantage
Fukuoka lies 1 hour 20 minutes by air from Shanghai and 1 hour 40 minutes from Seoul. With two millennia of cross-strait interaction with the Asian continent, Fukuoka is Japan’s nearest hub city to the rest of Asia — in terms of distance, time zone, and cultural ties.
– Momentum from 2025
The 2025 edition attracted more than 12,000 attendees (including over 1,200 from overseas) across more than 70 events held citywide. That week confirmed its function as a platform for concrete international business results, such as MoU signings between Fukuoka-based startups and their overseas counterparts. The 2026 edition aims to turn those individual successes from isolated achievements into a broader, lasting pattern of cross-border collaboration.
Program Overview:
– Dates
October 7 (Wed) – 11 (Sun), 2026 (5 days)
– Venue
The Tenjin and Daimyo districts of central Fukuoka form the core area, but the entire city becomes the stage. Anchored by startup hubs such as Fukuoka Growth Next and CIC Fukuoka, more than 100 events occur simultaneously in parks, shopping arcades, cafés, and clubhouses across the city. Instead of concentrating attendees in one venue, RAMEN TECH encourages participants to move through the urban landscape — building encounters and co-creation at every step.
Flagship Events:
Opening Party (Oct 7)
An opening party for all participants, scheduled for Wednesday, October 7. This is anticipated to be the biggest networking event of RAMEN TECH 2026 (registration required; limited venue capacity).
Global Summit 2026 (tentative) (Oct 7–8)
Pitches from startups based in Japan and overseas, along with talk sessions and booth exhibitions involving diverse representatives from industry, government, and academia.
StartupGo!Go! The Pitch / FFG Mirai Conference (co-held) (Oct 9)
“StartupGo!Go!,” Kyushu’s flagship startup event running since 2014, presents its seed-stage pitch contest “The Pitch” alongside “FFG Mirai no Kaigi,” organized by Fukuoka Financial Group. Startups from Japan and abroad will take the stage.
Additional Flagship Events will be announced on a rolling basis.
RAMEN TECH Committee:
Fukuoka City, Zero-Ten Inc., Zero-Ten Park Inc., and yugyo inc.
Open Calls:
– For Attendees
Target: International and domestic startups, investors, corporations, students, and ecosystem partners.
Register via the official website.
– For Event Collaborators
RAMEN TECH 2026 welcomes proposals from organizations wishing to host independent events during the Week (October 7–11). Registered “Official Events” receive:
– Listing on the official website and SNS channels
– Integration with EntryTickets — a single QR code grants access to all Official Events
– Use of the “OFFICIAL EVENT” logo
– Loan of banners, posters, and on-site signage
Application details are available on this page.
– For Co-Create Partners
RAMEN TECH 2026 welcomes companies, educational and research institutions, government bodies, and ecosystem support organizations that resonate with the Week’s vision and wish to co-create the gateway between Fukuoka and the rest of Asia.
Application details are available on this page.
About RAMEN TECH:
RAMEN TECH (Revolutionizing Asia: Merging Ecosystems & Networks – Tech) is an international startup week co-created by Fukuoka City and its ecosystem partners, launched in 2024 and now in its third year. The Week positions Fukuoka as Asia’s Gateway — offering startups and investors the shortest path between Japan and the rest of Asia. The 2025 edition brought together over 12,000 attendees (including 1,200+ international) across more than 70 events citywide. https://www.ramentech.jp/
Ryoya Sonoda
RAMEN TECH Committee
info@ramentech.jp
