Yokohama LINK-J Life Science Lounge NYC Meetup 2026: Bridging the U.S. and Japan Life Science Ecosystems

Yokohama LINK-J Life Science Lounge NYC Meetup 2026

• Bridging the U.S. and Japan Life Science Ecosystems -
  The Yokohama LINK-J Life Science Lounge is a hub established in New York through the collaboration between the City of Yokohama Representative Office to the Americas and LINK-J, with the aim of strengthening connections and fostering collaboration in the life science sector between the United States and Japan.
  The Lounge serves both as an information platform providing insights into the U.S. life science and business landscape, and as a networking hub that connects companies, research institutions, and industry experts, thereby promoting cross-border ecosystem collaboration and open innovation.
  This event is organized to coincide with the BIO International Convention in San Diego, leveraging the opportunity that key stakeholders from Japan’s life science ecosystem—including LINK-J members, startups, universities, and research institutions—will be visiting the United States and gathering in New York City.
  Bringing together these Japanese stakeholders with New York-based investors, companies, and ecosystem partners, the event aims to create meaningful connections and unlock new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and business development between the two markets.
  In addition, participation from New York City Economic Development Corporation and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati will provide both public-sector and practical, execution-focused perspectives, further enhancing opportunities for concrete partnerships and deal-making.
  |　Who Should Attend
  We welcome participants across the life science ecosystem, including:
  Investors seeking opportunities to invest in or partner with Japanese life science startups
  Corporates and organizations interested in collaboration with Japanese innovators
  Accelerators, consultants, and ecosystem partners supporting the U.S. expansion of Japanese startups
  Researchers and institutions interested in exploring technologies and collaborative research opportunities from Japanese universities and research organizations
  Anyone interested in cross-border innovation, investment, and business opportunities between the U.S. and Japan life science ecosystems
  |　Event Overview
  Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
  Time: Opens: 3:30 PM (Sessions will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
  Venue: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (New York City)
  　　　 31 W 52nd St Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10019
  Format: In-person
  Organizers: City of Yokohama, LINK-J
  Special Sponsor: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)
  Supporting Organizations: NINE JP, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
  Target Audience: Investors, corporates, startups, universities, and research institutions engaged in the life science sector across the U.S. and Japan
  Language: English
  Participation Fee: Free (registration required)
  Capacity: 70 participants (first-come, first-served basis)
  Registration: Required
  Contact: City of Yokohama Representative Office to the Americas (Nishikawa / Ricci) info@businessyokohama.com
  |　Program Overview
  The event will feature a keynote presentation by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), followed by two panel discussions focused on “Japan to U.S.” and “U.S. to Japan” expansion, as well as a networking session.

Introduction
(1) City of Yokohama
(2) LINK-J

(3) NINE JP

Keynote “U.S. Life Science Market and Investment Trends from a New York Perspective”
This session will provide an overview of the latest developments in the U.S. life science market, with a focus on the rapidly growing New York ecosystem. It will highlight investment trends, startup growth dynamics, and evolving industry infrastructure, while positioning New York within the broader U.S. landscape. The session will also explore opportunities for Japanese companies and startups entering the U.S. market, as well as potential areas for international collaboration.
<Speaker>

Panel Discussion 1
“Japan to the U.S.: Fundraising, Regulatory Strategy, and Scaling in the World’s Largest Life Science Market”
This session will address the practical challenges faced by Japanese life science startups entering the U.S. market, including fundraising, regulatory strategy, and partnership development. Panelists will share real-world insights and strategies on how to scale in a highly competitive environment, drawing from perspectives of investors, corporates, and industry experts.
<Panelists>
・Keiji Asada, PhD (CEO/President at Amenichi Consulting, LLC)
・Kenichiro(Nobu) Kuninobu (Co-founder and CEO of FELIQS)
・Koji Yasuda (Principal at Fast Track Initiative, Inc.)
・Seth Flaum (Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati PC) (Moderator)
<Panelist Bio>

Panel Discussion 2
“U.S. to Japan: Opportunities in the Japanese Life Science Market and Strategies for Growth”
This session will explore the unique strengths and opportunities of the Japanese life science market and how they can be effectively leveraged. It will provide practical insights into how U.S. companies and startups can navigate the business environment, build trust, and develop successful strategies for growth and collaboration in Japan.
<Panelists>
・Norikazu Eiki (President, EIKI CONSULTING, LLC; Founder and Member of the Board, Japanese Foundation for Rare Disease Research (JFRDR)
・Akio Uemura, PhD (Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs and Development, Crecon Research & Consulting, Inc.)
・Scott Xiao (Co-Founder and CEO, Luminopia)
・Ikuo Hayashi, PhD, MBA (Executive Life Science Strategist at Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. President & COO at LINK-J) (Moderator)
<Panelist Bio>

|　Organizers & Supporting Organizations
<Organizers>

About City of Yokohama
City of Yokohama is Japan’s second-largest city, located just 30 minutes from Tokyo, with excellent access to a major global market. As a historic port city, it serves as an international gateway and a growing hub for innovation, particularly in life sciences and climate-related sectors such as mobility.
The city is home to BioJapan, held annually and recognized as one of the most international life science conferences in Japan. It also hosts Pacifico Yokohama, one of the country’s largest convention complexes with a high concentration of international conferences.
Yokohama is also the only Japanese municipality with an official office in New York, actively supporting U.S. startups entering Japan and Japanese startups expanding to the U.S. through partnerships including LINK-J.

About LINK-J
LINK-J is a general incorporated association established by Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. and volunteers from academia and industry. Based in the Nihonbashi, Tokyo area, which has a cluster of pharmaceutical companies, LINK-J’s purpose is to promote open innovation in life sciences through industry-government-academia partnerships and support the creation of new industry. It will promote internal and external personal interactions and technology exchanges beyond any specific field in the life science domain, which is a composite of all the sciences, including medicine, physical science, engineering, ICT, artificial intelligence, and other new technologies. (https://www.link-j.org/en/)
<Special Sponsor>

About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR)
For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini’s services and legal disciplines have focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leading provider to growing and established clients seeking legal counsel to complete sophisticated corporate and technology transactions; manage governance and enterprise-scale matters; assist with intellectual property development, protection, and IP-driven transactions; represent them in contested disputes; and/or advise them on antitrust or other regulatory matters. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has more than 1,000 attorneys and 17 offices in 16 technology, business, and regulatory markets across the United States, Asia, and Europe.
<Supporting Organization>

About NINE JP
NINEJP (National Innovation Network for Entrepreneur Japan) is the innovation ecosystem for creating globally competitive businesses together with university-led startups support platforms in 9 regions across Japan. NINEJP connects over 160 Japanese universities, research institutions, and other stakeholders, and visualizes the potential of research seeds from multiple perspectives. NINEJP creates businesses that solve social issues with “connecting” and “visualizing”.

About The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
NYCEDC is the official economic development arm for the City of New York. EDC aims to create an inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers, which includes strengthening the footprint of Japanese companies in the city. For that purpose, EDC is managing 66M+ square feet of real estate across the boroughs to strengthen business confidence in New York (more here) and to grow innovation in life sciences (among others) with a focus on equity. More on EDC’s life sciences initiatives are here: Life Sciences | NYCEDC.