As much as I love Kansai, it’s prudent not to include it in this list, imho. At least not on the first go-around...
The potential scope and scale of what can happen in Tokyo, especially regarding startups, is much larger than anything Kansai can currently deliver.
Any of the creative business/economic activity that Kansai is famous for will probably find its way to Tokyo if it wants to scale to maximum potential... at least for the time being.
I have a feeling that Tokyo-level scale will be what VCs are looking for. Maybe once the Tokyo market is more established, Kansai will get a serious look, but I don’t think the VC-level Japanese startup scene is developed well enough to warrant that at this time.
The potential scope and scale of what can happen in Tokyo, especially regarding startups, is much larger than anything Kansai can currently deliver.
Any of the creative business/economic activity that Kansai is famous for will probably find its way to Tokyo if it wants to scale to maximum potential... at least for the time being.
I have a feeling that Tokyo-level scale will be what VCs are looking for. Maybe once the Tokyo market is more established, Kansai will get a serious look, but I don’t think the VC-level Japanese startup scene is developed well enough to warrant that at this time.
That’s just my 2 cents...