TOJI to establish first overseas base in Silicon Valley, USA; selected for the 4th phase of METI's "Japan Innovation Campus (JIC)"

TOJI Corporation (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Natsuki Matsuda) has been selected as one of the new Japanese companies expected to achieve business growth in the U.S. market and global expansion as a 4th-term co-working member of the "Japan Innovation Campus (JIC)," a startup support base established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, California), USA. With this selection, TOJI will establish its first overseas base and actively promote its overseas expansion.

Japan Innovation Campus (JIC) is an innovation hub established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Palo Alto, California, USA, in 2023, with the aim of supporting the overseas expansion of Japanese startups. Applications for 4th-term co-working members began on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, and 139 companies expected to achieve business growth in the U.S. market have been selected, including TOJI.

Since its establishment, TOJI has envisioned communicating Japanese traditions and culture to the world, focusing on "sake lees," a fermented ingredient produced during the traditional Japanese sake brewing process. The company has developed wellness businesses utilizing this ingredient. Through the development and deployment of consumer products using sake lees pulverization technology, TOJI has accumulated knowledge regarding the functionality of sake lees. Redefining sake lees as a plant-based, fermented next-generation ingredient, TOJI is advancing product development with an eye toward expansion into the healthcare sector, including functional beverages and alternative foods. This business concept and its potential for growth in the global market were highly evaluated, leading to TOJI's selection in the medical and healthcare sector of the 4th term of JIC.

With this selection, TOJI will fully accelerate its overseas expansion, based in Silicon Valley. The company plans to prepare for its U.S. expansion, build a team, develop local users and partners, and conduct business demonstrations. In March, TOJI plans to sell products at a pop-up store in San Francisco, USA, to verify how the value of Japanese wellness is received by local customers through direct interaction with consumers.

Moving forward, TOJI will continue to create businesses rooted in Japanese traditional culture and philosophy, delivering Japanese wellness to the world as a value that resonates across countries and cultures.

■About Japan Innovation Campus (JIC) (https://jp-innovation-campus.org)
Japan Innovation Campus is an innovation hub in Silicon Valley sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. It is planned and operated by Mori Building as part of the Japanese government's "Five-Year Startup Development Plan." JIC supports the overseas expansion of startups through pitch events, networking with local investors and VCs, and workshops and mentoring in collaboration with JETRO and other organizations.

Address: 212-214 Homer Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301 USA
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