The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the winners of the 2026 Japan Startup Awards, with Mujin selected for the top prize. Oishii Farm received the Agricultural Startup Award, while Rapyuta Robotics received the University-Originated Startup Award.
On 25 September, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the winners of the Japan Startup Awards 2026 and held the awards ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office. Mujin (Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takino Issei (滝野一征)) received the top prize, the Prime Minister's Award.
Mujin is developing and implementing physical AI that gives industrial robots the ability to see and think. The government is said to have announced plans for public- and private-sector investment on the order of ¥10 trillion in this field.
Among the other winners in the robotics sector, Oishii Farm (Hamura, Tokyo; President: Suzuki Masaharu (鈴木正晴)) received the Agricultural Startup Award, while Rapyuta Robotics (Koto-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Mohanarajah Gajan) received the University-Originated Startup Award.
The article describes the background to the awards ceremony and comments from the winners, explaining that the awards are intended to encourage the spirit of social challenge among entrepreneurs who can serve as role models for the next generation.