Japan Drone 2022 was a record breaking event this year, drawing more than 17,000 visitors over 3 days.

This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association.

Japan has shown major committment to the drone industry, since the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe referred to the sector as part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.  Since then, Japan has simultaneously heavily regulated the recreational industry while making significant accommodations in testing and bandwidth for the commercial industry.  As Japan struggles with labor shortages  – especially in remote areas – drones offer a tool that can bring products and services to island regions and perform industrial tasks with less manpower.

This year, the growth of the industry and the lifting of COVID restrictions contributed to the Japan Drone show’s best year yet – with commercial drones, supporting technologies, and Advanced Air Mobility all on show.  The event happened concurrently with the 1st International Advanced Air Mobility Expo 2022.

According to Japan’s Drone Tribune, the Best of Japan Drone Awards were awarded to Aero Development Japan Co. Ltd, Eames Robotics, and KDDI Smart Drone Co.  Shinji Suzuki Japan president of the UAS Industrial Promotion Council (JUIDA), which chaired the judging panel, commented, “I felt that the level of technology is increasing.”

JapanDrone 2023 will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on June 26 ~28, 2023, and the organization’s first regional event, “Japan Drone/Next Generation Air Mobility EXPO in Kyushu (Fukuoka)2022” will be held on December 5 and 6, 2022 at Fukuoka International Convention Center (Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City.)

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