Wednesday, February 11, 2026

AI Salon Kansai 2026 Experience

Hi everyone, I’m Riku.

Today, I’d like to share my experience attending the 2026 AI Salon Osaka as an intern with tsuin.ai.

First, I would like to explain the overview of the event.

AI Salon Kansai is an event where people can connect with AI builders, founders, researchers, and investors who are shaping the future of Kansai. The event includes AI startup pitch presentations, an innovation gallery, and cultural experiences. It is held regularly in different locations.This time, the event was held at Toji Temple in Osaka. It was a very special experience to attend an AI event in a traditional Japanese temple. The reason they chose a temple as the venue was to express a vision where advanced AI respects and integrates with Japan’s thousand-year-old culture. The combination of tradition and cutting-edge technology created a very impressive atmosphere.

Toji Temple

About 40 people attended the event, and it was held in one of the temple’s rooms. At the beginning, a Buddhist monk performed a sutra chanting ceremony. After that, two AI startup companies gave presentations. Finally, there was a free networking session. There was also a Japanese calligraphy experience corner at the back of the room, which allowed participants to feel traditional Japanese culture throughout the event.

During the networking session, I had the chance to talk with several people. I would like to briefly introduce two conversations that left a strong impression on me.


       

The first person I spoke with had moved to Japan and started a company that supports event organization. His company helped prepare this event. When I asked him about challenges, he said that he struggled with the various procedures required to start a company in Japan. Listening to his story reminded me of my own experience living abroad. I realized again how difficult it can be to deal with different systems and cultures. At the same time, I felt that there may be business opportunities in solving these kinds of problems.

With Rokken

The second person I spoke with was a product manager at a company that develops software to solve real-world problems using AI and 3D technology. He had previously studied in Japan as an international student and spoke Japanese fluently. Although he had only been at the company for a few months, he already had experience in product management and business strategy. He was very motivated to grow new businesses. Talking with people who continue to take on new challenges was a very valuable experience for me. It made me realize again how important it is to keep challenging myself in the future.

With CEO AI Salon Global

Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to participate in this event. It was a wonderful experience where I learned about English, business, and expanded my perspective.

Thank you for reading!


Thursday, January 29, 2026

A Business Idea for a Gaming-Focused Rental Space

Hi everyone!

In this time, I would like to introduce a business model that I'm interested in and would like to try in the future.

The business idea I'm considering is a rental space service with facilities specialized for gaming.


Reference:https://unsplash.com/ja/s/%E5%86%99%E7%9C%9F/gaming-room

There are three main reasons why I came up with this idea.

First, I have liked playing games since I was a child and I still play them often. However, when playing games with several people at home, I felt that there were limits in terms of space, equipment, and the environment.

Second, I have seen people around me who cannot enjoy games because of environmental or financial reasons. I thought this service could help people who want to play games but cannot do so.

Third, in recent years, the number of game streamers has increased because of social media. However, some people start streaming but stop because they do not have a good environment or proper equipment. Others want to start streaming but do not have a suitable place. I believe this service can help solve these problems.

For these reasons, I thought that a place where people can easily gather and enjoy games would be valuable for many users.

Reference:https://unsplash.com/ja/s/%E5%86%99%E7%9C%9F/playing-video-games-together

Currently, places where people can play games include internet cafes, e-sports facilities, rental spaces, and their own homes. However, each option has its own problems.

In internet cafes, noise from other people can be distracting, and the equipment is sometimes not good enough. E-sports facilities have good equipment and environments, but they are expensive and can feel difficult for beginners to use. Rental spaces are different depending on the location, and users often need to prepare things by themselves. At home, limited space and equipment make it hard to play games for a long time.


This business provides rental spaces with facilities made especially for gaming.

It offers high-performance gaming equipment, soundproof rooms, and stable internet connections. The service can be used by individuals or groups, and it is designed to be easy and comfortable for beginners.

In recent years, gaming tournaments have become more popular. By using this service, it would be easier to hold small or medium-sized tournaments, so I believe there is strong demand for this business.

The initial cost includes buying gaming equipment and setting up the space. However, I believe the running costs can be kept relatively low.


This business model can give new opportunities to people who could not play games before. It can also support streamers by providing a place to stream, which may increase interest in games among viewers. As a result, I believe this service can help grow the gaming industry.

There are still some parts that need improvement, but I would be happy to receive any ideas or suggestions.

Thank you for reading!

Friday, January 23, 2026

Life on Taketomi Island in Okinawa

Hi everyone, I’m Riku.

Today, I’d like to introduce a place in Japan that I find very unique.
It’s called Taketomi Island, located near Ishigaki Island in Okinawa.

Taketomi Island is a small traditional island with a very small population.
About 350 people live on the island, which gives it a quiet and relaxed atmosphere.

One interesting fact about Taketomi Island is that there is no school on the island.
Because of this, children have to take a boat to another island to go to school, which shows how different daily life is there compared to big cities.

The island is also famous for its red-tiled roofs, stone walls, and white sand streets.
These traditional features create an exotic atmosphere, as you can see in the picture below.
Walking around the island, you can really enjoy the beautiful nature and peaceful scenery.










By the way, here is a question.

On Taketomi Island, tourists can go sightseeing in a vehicle pulled by a certain animal.
What animal do you think it is?










The answer is a water buffalo.

Water buffaloes are not unique to Japan, but they are special in Okinawa because they are used for tourism.
Riding a water buffalo cart is one of the most famous experiences on Taketomi Island and a great way to explore the island slowly.

If you are interested in unique culture and love nature, I highly recommend visiting Taketomi Island.

Thank you for reading! 😊

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Introducing Myself


Hi everyone! My name is Riku. I’m very happy to join Tenatch as a new intern.

I’m from Hyogo, Japan, and I’m currently studying web design and programming.
I majored in psychology at university and worked as an operations engineer at an IT company for three years. After that, I worked at restaurants in Toronto until recently, and I have just returned to Japan.
While working at the IT company, I became interested in IT technology because I enjoyed learning new technical skills. This experience motivated me to start learning various IT technologies, including web design and programming. When I was living in Toronto, I was looking for an IT related internship, so I’m very excited to have this opportunity at Tenatch.
My hobbies include playing basketball, going to the sauna, and traveling. I have visited three countries so far and would love to visit many more in the future. I currently play basketball on a local team and still play regularly. Playing sports helps me relax and stay healthy, both physically and mentally, so I plan to continue playing sports in the future as part of my mental self care.
In my free time, I enjoy going to cafes and reading books. I read a wide variety of genres, but recently I’ve been especially interested in self-help books. I find them fascinating because they introduce new ideas and perspectives that I wouldn’t come up with on my own.


I’m really excited about this opportunity to learn new things, and I’m looking forward to gaining valuable experiences through this internship.


Thank you very much for reading my introduction.

ICUBE.CA/STUDENTPITCH