RAMEN TECH 2026 opened on Oct 7, 2026, with a party on the 10th floor of Tenjin Business Center II, bringing together startups, investors and supporters from Japan and overseas for five days of events across Fukuoka.
Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima and Fukuoka Jisho President Ichiro Enomoto joined moderator Satoko Suzuki of for Startups for a conversation about the people, places and freedom to experiment shaping the city’s future.
Takashima: Bigger Ambitions from Fukuoka
Takashima described RAMEN TECH as a collection of independently organised events, with 120 taking place this year. He encouraged participants to explore unfamiliar communities and make new connections. Keeping with the ramen theme, he welcomed the variety of approaches: “Everyone can head in the direction they want and bring their own flavour.”
He also spoke of enabling people to pursue bigger ambitions while remaining in Fukuoka and connecting with the wider world. He credited Enomoto with the idea of a city where people could dream bigger, and praised the work of turning that ambition into places where it could happen.
“I want Japan to be a country where people who take risks and take on challenges are respected.”
Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka
Takashima called on Fukuoka and its startup community to help lead that change.
Enomoto: A Campus for New Ideas
Enomoto explained the “campus” concept behind Tenjin Business Center II.
“It means enjoying work and meeting people, as you would on a university campus.”
Ichiro Enomoto, President of Fukuoka Jisho
His aim is to bring the freedom and discovery of university life into the workplace, with opportunities to connect across companies.
He sees Fukuoka following a different path from Tokyo: drawing its energy from independent people and small teams, with the openness of a university community. That, he suggested, could offer a different model of what a Japanese city can become.
Explaining Fukuoka Jisho’s early commitment to the Tenjin Big Bang redevelopment initiative, Enomoto likened city-building to a painting created by many people. Making the first marks on a blank canvas gives the first mover a chance to “influence the direction of the finished picture,” he said.
He also pointed to the strength of Fukuoka’s startup community, saying 12 startups accounted for around 40 percent of the building’s tenant companies. He encouraged entrepreneurs to use their freedom and agility to help make Fukuoka a better city.
The opening’s invitation was simple: get involved, meet people and try something new. RAMEN TECH continues across Fukuoka through Oct 11, 2026.
Text and photos: Nick Szasz / Fukuoka Now
Quotations translated from Japanese; other remarks paraphrased.