Overseas Presence Soars at “The 10th Japan Drone / 4th International Advanced Air Mobility EXPO”
Introduction
“The 10th Japan Drone / 4th International Advanced Air Mobility EXPO,” held for three days from June 4 to 6, 2025, at Makuhari Messe, concluded with resounding success, marking record highs of 285 exhibiting companies/organizations and 23,049 visitors. Notably, the number of overseas attendees and exhibitors was also the highest ever, significantly enhancing the event’s international presence.
Japan Drone is organized with the philosophy of promoting the peaceful use and social implementation of drones, aiming for the sound development of the entire industry. Upholding this principle, the latest exhibition brought together companies, research institutions, and governmental bodies from around the world, creating a vital platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies and facilitating international dialogue.
Record-Breaking Overseas Participation
This year, out of a total of 285 exhibiting companies/organizations, 64 were from overseas (9 countries/regions). This represents a substantial increase compared to the previous year’s 43 companies (10 countries/regions). These figures clearly indicate that Japan Drone is increasingly recognized as a crucial platform within the global drone and International Advanced Air Mobility industries.
In alignment with Japan Drone’s emphasis on peaceful and constructive applications, many overseas companies prominently showcased their technologies and products to the Japanese market. The increase in overseas exhibitors suggests a growing interest in the Japanese market and high expectations for Japan’s technological capabilities and business opportunities. Furthermore, the rise in foreign participants at seminars significantly contributed to the revitalization of international business exchanges.
The reception party on the first evening also saw a large number of international attendees, demonstrating heightened attention towards the Japanese market. This vibrant interaction underscored the exhibition’s value as a venue for domestic and international companies to explore collaboration opportunities. Moving forward, international cooperation and dialogue remain indispensable to fully unleash the potential of drones in solving societal challenges.
The Rise of International Players
While Chinese exhibitors, mainly individual companies, dominated with 26 booths, Taiwan followed closely with 18 companies exhibiting under a pavilion led by the Taiwanese government. Furthermore, Korea swiftly established a government-led pavilion with 10 companies. The overall record-high international participation indicates that drone and International Advanced Air Mobility-related companies worldwide, particularly from neighboring Asian countries, are prioritizing the Japanese market and actively seeking entry.
Japan Drone operates on the premise that drone technology should be utilized in peaceful and socially significant fields such as disaster response, infrastructure inspection, agricultural support, and logistics. Exhibitors are expected to share this philosophy. In this sense, this year’s exhibition content was profoundly meaningful, emphasizing “co-creation for social implementation” more than “technological competition.” Notably, for the first time, a delegation of 10 representatives from academia, industry, and government, centered around the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST), visited Japan Drone and actively engaged in business discussions at various booths.
Future Challenges and Outlook: Enhancing International Support
While the surge in international participation is very welcome for Japan, it also highlights the urgent need for Japan Drone to enhance its support for foreign visitors and exhibitors. Implementing multilingual content and guidance, creating an environment that promotes international business exchanges, and establishing mechanisms to facilitate smooth communication will further boost the exhibition’s global competitiveness.
Conclusion
“The 10th Japan Drone / 4th International Advanced Air Mobility EXPO” garnered significant attention from both domestic and international stakeholders, contributing greatly to the development of Japan’s drone and International Advanced Air Mobility industries. The record-breaking international participation, in particular, marks a crucial step for Japan Drone to evolve into an even more global exhibition. Japan Drone is expected to continue promoting the peaceful use of drones while expanding its role as a platform for industrial promotion and international exchange.
Considering the current landscape where various countries are vigorously promoting their drone industries through strong public-private partnerships, it is now time for Japan to likewise strengthen its own public-private collaboration. Leading up to “Japan Drone / International Advanced Air Mobility EXPO 2025 in Kansai” in November 2025 and “The 11th Japan Drone / 5th International Advanced Air Mobility EXPO” in June 2026, we anticipate continued contributions to the revitalization of the drone industry through enhanced international support and the provision of even more attractive content.
■For more information, please contact
JUIDA International Team:ohzora@uas-japan.org
