Selmo tour through Japan: from Tokyo & Osaka to Kumamoto

Preparations for EXPO 2025 in Osaka are in full swing and it was time for us to get to know Japan even better. CEO Markus Gruber and Head of Partner Sales Sebastian Herz spent a week in Japan to strengthen business relationships, present our Selmo technology and gain valuable insights into the Japanese economy and culture. The trip took them from Tokyo - Osaka - Nagoya - Kumamoto - Tokushima and finally back to Tokyo.

A tour through Japan's innovation landscape

Japanese companies are known for their precision, stability and innovative strength. "We had the chance to talk to leading companies such as Toyota and present Selmo as a solution for error-free software and efficient automation, " reports Sebastian Herz. "The companies were particularly impressed by our methodical approach and ability to optimize existing processes and improve them sustainably. In Japan, there is a great deal of interest in new technologies and long-term partnerships, which was immediately apparent in the discussions."

The visit to the renowned car manufacturer at five different locations was a particular highlight. "It was a unique opportunity to experience the production philosophy of one of the world's leading car manufacturers at first hand," says Herz. The meeting with other technology companies also showed that Japan has high perfection and quality standards - exactly what Selmo also focuses on. The openness to new solutions was noticeable, combined with a very thoughtful approach to building long-term partnerships.

Kaizen and Poka-yoke

The Japanese way of working is based on principles such as Kaizen (continuous improvement) and Poka-yoke (error prevention) - values that our technology supports perfectly. "These terms came up in almost every conversation we had," says Sebastian. "This shows us that Selmo offers exactly the solutions that Japanese companies are looking for to make their processes even more stable and efficient." We explain exactly how Selmo supports these principles in our last blog post.

Personal impressions of the trip

In addition to the business appointments, there was time to experience Japanese culture up close. "Everything in Japan is a highlight," says Sebastian. He found the south of Japan particularly fascinating , where they visited the city of Kumamoto on the island of Kyūshū. "The landscape there is breathtaking and the hospitality was impressive."

Tokyo also impressed - with its mixture of centuries-old temples, state-of-the-art technology and an incredible variety of culinary delights.

Next steps: The road to EXPO 2025

The trip not only strengthened existing relationships but also opened new doors. "We have made valuable contacts and some companies have already agreed to visit us at EXPO 2025 in Osaka - even though they had not originally planned to go. This shows how much interest there is in our technology," says Sebastian.

The next step is to intensify talks with potential partners. Initial projects are being planned, and a major event in October will bring Japanese companies and partners together to further establish Selmo.

"Japan shows enormous potential for us. The trip was the next step in further refining our strategy for this market. However, the country inspired us not only professionally but also personally. The precision with which people work here and the openness to innovation show us that Selmo is in the right place. We are now looking forward to taking this momentum with us to EXPO 2025!" was the conclusion of the trip.

Stay tuned - the journey to Osaka continues!