IVS2026 to Feature Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Defense Equipment Agency Director General Hitoshi Aoyagi in Invitation-Only Area "IVS CORE"

IVS2026, Japan's largest startup conference, will be held for three days from July 1 (Wed) to July 3 (Fri), 2026, with Miyakomesse, ROHM THEATER KYOTO, and Hotel Okura Kyoto as its main venues. We are pleased to announce that Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Defense Equipment Agency Director General Hitoshi Aoyagi will be speaking in the session "Frontlines of Defense Innovation! What is the New Era of Security That Startups Are Changing?" to be held at IVS CORE (Hotel Okura Kyoto).

July 1 (Wed)

Frontlines of Defense Innovation! What is the New Era of Security That Startups Are Changing?

How can the speed and uniqueness of startups be leveraged for the advanced technological development required in the defense sector? Addressing challenges such as procurement systems and entry barriers, this session will explore directions toward realizing a new defense industry model where technology, capital, and human resources circulate, by examining mechanisms that promote the application of private technology, public-private collaboration, capital supply, and human resource mobility.

Moderator: Kohei Yamamoto (Author, "Technological Security") Speakers: Shinjiro Koizumi (Defense Minister, Member of the House of Representatives) Mitsunobu Okada (Representative Director and CEO, Astroscale Corporation) Takao Ozawa (Representative Director, Boost Capital)

Hitoshi Aoyagi (Director General, Defense Equipment Agency)

IVS CORE Overview

Name: IVS CORE

Dates: July 1 (Wed) - July 2 (Thu), 2026 (2 days)

Venue: Hotel Okura Kyoto (Kawaramachi Oike, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City)

Attendance Scale: Approx. 1,000 people (Invitation-only)

Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Reception opens 9:00 AM) / 90 minutes per session

Price: CORE PASS ¥199,800 (incl. tax) / CORE PASS Startup ¥79,800 (incl. tax)

Official Website

https://www.ivs.events/ivs-core

IVS2026 Overview

IVS is Japan's largest startup conference, launched in 2007. Startups, investors, large corporations, and creators from Japan and abroad gather here. In 2026, it will be held in Kyoto under the theme "Japan is Back."

This year, we are introducing two new areas: the "IVS" area (Miyakomesse, ROHM THEATER KYOTO in Kyoto City), an evolution and culmination of IVS2023, IVS2024, and IVS2025 held in Kyoto, and the invitation-only "IVS CORE" area (Hotel Okura Kyoto), a Reiwa-era IVS.

[IVS ("Miyakomesse", "ROHM THEATER KYOTO")]

This area is open to all who create the next generation, including startup professionals, corporations, investors, aspiring entrepreneurs, supporters, government officials, research institutions, and students. It will feature stage sessions, a startup exhibition "Startup Market," and IVS's flagship pitching event "IVS LAUNCHPAD."

[IVS CORE (Hotel Okura Kyoto)] *New & Invitation-only*

This is a completely invitation-only area for decision-makers, including startup executives, institutional investors, senior corporate executives, and government/policy officials. All sessions are off-the-record, providing a platform for powerful matching between decision-makers and M&A matching, where concrete decisions can be made.

An access pass is required to participate in IVS2026. There are two types of passes: "IVS PASS," which allows access to the IVS area, and the completely invitation-only "CORE PASS," which allows access to the IVS CORE area. CORE PASS is a selective pass available for purchase only by invitees.

Name: IVS2026

Theme: Japan is Back

Dates: July 1 (Wed) - July 3 (Fri), 2026

Venue: Miyakomesse, ROHM THEATER KYOTO, Hotel Okura Kyoto, etc.

Organizer: IVS KYOTO Executive Committee (Headline Japan / Kyoto Prefecture / Kyoto City)

Official Website: https://www.ivs.events/

Official X: https://x.com/IVS_Official

About the IVS KYOTO Executive Committee

The IVS KYOTO Executive Committee was jointly established by Headline Japan Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, and Kyoto City with the aim of further developing the startup ecosystem and promoting regional industries. It will promote the fusion of startups with companies, universities/research institutions, and cultural resources concentrated in Kyoto, leading to the creation of new industries and the emergence of world-class startup companies.

Member Organizations: Headline Japan Inc., Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City