Japan created 'Shark Tank.' Now it should bring it back

Opinion'Money Tigers' could help turn Tokyo startup spending into an entrepreneurial cultureRobyn Klingler-VidraSeptember 6, 2026 05:05 JSTEntrepreneurs pitch innovative products on an episode of Shark Tank. © Getty ImagesRobyn Klingler-Vidra is professor of political economy and entrepreneurship at King's Business School, King's College London.Read NextIPOTSE's startup IPOs grow bigger in market cap, hitting recordAutomobilesNissan, Honda team with self-driving startups to chase US and China rivals#techAsiaGoogle's China shift and the battle over AI modelsAerospace & Defense IndustriesJapan's Rakuten to partner with German AI defense drone startupAutomobilesJapan self-driving startup Tier IV to design open-source AI chipsAerospace & Defense IndustriesUniversity of Tokyo serves as launchpa