Top 11 Space startups in Japan

Nov 20, 2025
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1
ispace
Funding: $174.8M
iSpace is a lunar mission and exploration company. Its goal is to expand human presence in space. According to the company, the moon's water resources represent untapped potential for developing a space economy: water can be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen to produce fuel, accelerating the pace of space exploration. Therefore, the company is mapping lunar water resources. The company's management predicts that by 2040, 1,000 people will live on the moon and iSpace will provide the infrastructure for lunar missions (lander, rovers, etc). iSpace's first lunar mission was launched in 2022 to demonstrate a soft landing on the moon. The second, in 2024, was intended to deliver a small rover. Both missions crashed on the moon but provided the company with valuable data and experience.
2
Astroscale
Funding: $396.8M
Astroscale is developing scalable solutions across the spectrum of on-orbit servicing, including life extension, in situ space situational awareness, end-of-life, and active debris removal, to create sustainable space systems
3
Synspective
Funding: ¥28.9B
Synspective provides SAR data and remote monitoring services to government agencies.
4
GITAI
Funding: $129.1M
GITAI is a robotics startup that develops remote controlled robots to replace astronaut's operations in commercial space stations.
5
Interstellar Technologies
Funding: ¥16.6B
Interstellar Technologies is a rocket development, manufacturing and launch service.
6
Axelspace
Funding: ¥13.9B
Axelspace is a commercial microsatellite developer and satellite imagery provider.
7
Pale Blue
Funding: ¥5.6B
Pale Blue is an aerospace company that provides water propulsion systems for sustainable space development.
8
iQPS
Funding: ¥3.2B
IQPS develops and operates a SAR satellite that strives to create real-time maps.
9
EX-Fusion
Funding: ¥1.9B
EX-Fusion develops the first commercial laser based nuclear fusion reactor for power generation.
10
PD AeroSpace
Funding: $10.9M
PD Aerospace is a spacecraft development company that develops fully reusable manned and unmanned spacecraft.
Editor: Boris Maslennikov
Boris Maslennikov is a senior editor for Space-Startups. He has spent more than a decade covering the global space industry as a business journalist. He earned a Ph.D. in planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree with honors in geophysics and planetary science from the California Institute of Technology. In his free time, Boris enjoys studying history and mathematics, with a particular interest in the history of mathematics. You can contact Boris at borismaslenikov(at)space-startups(dot)com