Recently, our entire Sapporo team attended the startup conference "SHAKE H" held in Hokkaido.
"SHAKE H" is an event built around the concept of "SHAKE THE WORLD FROM HOKKAIDO," bringing together innovators who are taking on global challenges from Hokkaido.
Having the chance to attend a global startup conference in our home region of Hokkaido was truly valuable.
We visited the sessions held on February 25 at the Red Brick Office in Sapporo (the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building).
In this article, we will briefly share what the day was like, including session highlights and the atmosphere at the venue.
What Is SHAKE H?
"SHAKE H," which we attended this time, is a startup conference where entrepreneurs, creators, and investors based in Hokkaido gather to challenge the world.
- Event period: 5 days, from February 22 to 26, 2026
- Venue: Former Hokkaido Government Office Building (Red Brick Office), and other locations across Hokkaido
- Concept: "SHAKE THE WORLD FROM HOKKAIDO"
Main program:
- Panel sessions by speakers from Japan and abroad
- Pitch events by startups (public matching programs)
- Networking opportunities among participants
The motif behind the event name and icon is the salmon, once called a sacred fish in the northern land.
A salmon peeking out from the guide panel. There were salmon motifs throughout the venue, and they were adorable.
Venue Atmosphere
We heard that the idea comes from overlaying innovators with salmon, which are born in a river, grow in the open ocean, and then return to where they were born, carrying the message of supporting people who can shake the world from Hokkaido.
Inside the venue, salmon-themed decorations and diverse company booths created a lively atmosphere.
Entrance to the company booth area. We also heard there was a HAPPY HOUR where attendees could enjoy local drinks and snacks from Hokkaido.
There was also a photo spot featuring the Sapporo TV Tower.
Reference: Official SHAKE H website
A Session That Left an Impression
It was finally time to attend the sessions.
Among the many sessions, the one we were especially eager to join was "Product Development in the Generative AI Era."
The session analyzed the current state of product development and management in 2026 from the perspective of product-focused executives and founders.
The rise of generative AI has been remarkable even in the engineering world, and we frequently discuss AI utilization internally, so this was a highly relevant theme for us.
The discussion explored questions such as "What has actually changed?" and "Were those changes truly for the better?" It also covered new opportunities and constraints, as well as differences in work styles between Hokkaido and Silicon Valley.
Another memorable point was that although the session was conducted entirely in English, a real-time subtitle system was provided on a screen next to the speaker area.
It was interesting to experience the high accuracy of the latest translation technology while also using the opportunity to practice listening in English.
There were many other sessions that were just as interesting.
Final Thoughts
By attending SHAKE H as a full Sapporo team, we were able to experience the excitement of today's startup scene and catch a glimpse of cutting-edge discussions.
Our time at the venue was limited, but being in an environment different from our usual work gave the team valuable stimulation and time to think about future technology and work styles.
We are grateful that such an inspiring platform is emerging in our home city of Sapporo, and we hope to gradually apply the insights we gained to our output from tomorrow onward.
Thank you very much for this valuable opportunity.
