We’ll be exhibiting at BioJapan 2026!! Forests × Rice Fields × the Ocean — Three Hubs Shaping the Future Through Japan’s Primary Industries Gather in Yokohama
That Bio festival is finally just around the corner!!
The COI-NEXT Nagaoka University of Technology Center will once again host one of Asia’s largest biotechnology events this year BioJapan 2026 We will be exhibiting at the event. This year, we will be exhibiting jointly with the Akita Prefectural University and the University of the Ryukyus, as a three-campus collaboration.
To date, the three locations have visited each other’s sites and engaged in repeated dialogues with the people who work hard every day in the fields, rice paddies, and seas—the front lines of these different primary industries.
What became clear was the strong shared vision among the three locations: “Connecting local primary industries to the future.”
The forests of Akita, the rice paddies of Niigata, and the seas of the Ryukyu Islands. Although their settings differ, these three locations share the same question.
"What kind of future should Japan's primary industries envision?"
"How can we use science and technology to turn local resources into value?"
"From the Regions to the World: How Can We Share New Innovations?"
Through these site visits, researchers came to understand each other’s strengths, and a conviction emerged that “by working together, we can envision an even brighter future.” This “sincere collaboration” is this year’s theme. NEXUS (Connection) This is where it all began.
NEXUS / Mori-Tanbo-Umi (Akita Prefectural University × Nagaoka University of Technology × University of the Ryukyus)
This year's exhibition theme is "NEXUS / MORI-TANBO-Umi."
Japan’s traditional landscapes—forests, rice paddies, and the sea—are not merely natural resources, but rather environments where local culture, industry, and technology interact in a cycle. These three hubs will reinterpret this environment through science and technology to shape the future of primary industries.COI-NEXT ProjectWe are moving forward with this.
This year’s exhibition is not just a showcase of research—it’s a space where visitors can experience firsthand the “story” of how forests, rice paddies, and the ocean connect to the future.
【Akita Prefectural University: The Forest of Imagination Project】
The bountiful gifts of Akita’s forests are a treasure trove of future biomass resources, new materials, and innovations in the healthcare sector. At our booth, we’ll introduce the hidden potential of wood, including Akita cedar. Please come and experience the infinite possibilities of the forest in a soothing space where nature and science come together.
【Nagaoka University of Technology: From the Soil of the Rice Fields to the Future】
”In the ”rice-growing region” of Niigata, farmers who have inherited the ”wisdom” and ”aspirations” of their predecessors are cultivating rice in the rice paddies, pouring their time, effort, and love into the process without reservation. At this hub, we are applying science to the food culture, industry, and traditions that have been passed down through the generations from the rice paddies, and as we develop new technologies, we are working to establish a fully resource-circulating bio-community hub right here in Niigata. Why not join us in thinking about the ”present” and ”future” of “rice paddies” and “rice”?
【University of the Ryukyus:Land-Based Aquaculture: Connecting Our Bountiful Oceans to the Future】
The global protein crisis, the aging workforce in primary industries, and the depletion of marine resources are critical social challenges we face. To address these challenges, we are advancing research and development aimed at creating a new industry through land-based aquaculture that balances sustainability and commercial viability while respecting the environment. Why move aquaculture—which has traditionally been conducted in the ocean—onto land? This initiative is also an effort to give the ocean a chance to recover and to create new options for the future. Protecting our bountiful oceans while nurturing the food and industries of the next generation—we invite you to experience this potential for yourself at our exhibition.
From the Regions to the World — The Future Envisioned by COI-NEXT
The three hubs are working toward a “future where local communities become hubs of innovation.” From Japan’s traditional landscapes—its forests, rice paddies, and seas—technologies, cultures, and values that will build a sustainable society are emerging. Come experience this potential for yourself at the BioJapan venue.
Event Overview＞
・Schedule: October 7 (Wed) – 9 (Fri), 2026
・Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
・Location: Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall
Booth Number: C-36
・Exhibitor Name: Akita Prefectural University / Nagaoka University of Technology / University of the Ryukyus
*To attend, Pre-registration (Free) ...is convenient.
This booth envisions a future where regional areas become hubs of innovation and help realize a sustainable society. How can the abundant resources lying dormant across Japan, combined with COI-NEXT’s expertise in harnessing them, give rise to innovations that change the world? The answer lies in this booth, “NEXUS/ Mori – Tanbo – Umi.” When you visit the event, please feel free to stop by our booth and experience the grand vision woven together by the “forest,” “rice paddies,” and “ocean.”
We sincerely look forward to seeing you there.
＜昨年度の出展の様子＞
