"일본 진출, 도쿄는 제쳐라"…대기업 PoC·간사이 지방이 열쇠

Korean startups seeking Japan market entry must understand that technology alone won't penetrate a large-company-dominated market—proof of concept (PoC) with major corporations and leveraging local VC networks are essential entry requirements. Beyond Tokyo's saturated startup scene, the Kansai region presents significant untapped opportunities with strong corporate demand yet limited startup supply, positioning it as a high-potential alternative market. These insights fundamentally reframe Japan expansion from a pure product-market fit challenge to a relationship-building and regional diversification strategy.