Tokyo governor urges global capitals to share best practices in Astana visit
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike called on start-ups, SMEs and local governments across Japan, Europe and Kazakhstan to collaborate and share best practices on green hydrogen technology in an interview with...
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike called on start-ups, SMEs and local governments across Japan, Europe and Kazakhstan to collaborate and share best practices on green hydrogen technology in an interview with Euronews conducted during an official visit to Astana.
"I hope that knowledge sharing in forums like these will further drive innovation and accelerate the hydrogen implementation in various regions," Koike highlighted.
“With the goals of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving zero emissions by 2050, Tokyo is advancing a wide range of initiatives,” she continued.
Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, typically wind or solar power, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis.
Because no fossil fuels are involved, it generates no carbon emissions, unlike "grey" hydrogen, which is made from natural gas and accounts for the vast majority of hydrogen produced today.
A key challenge for climate-conscious cities
Green hydrogen remains expensive to produce at scale, and significant investment in infrastructure such as pipelines, storage and shipping terminals is still needed.
It is precisely that challenge that Koike cited as the case for cross-border collaboration and the pooling of knowledge and capital.
"With these gained insights, Tokyo will further enhance efforts toward real-world development of hydrogen," she continued.
She also discussed how the energy transition challenges major cities and how they have a role to play in accelerating green transformation.
In meetings with the mayors of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Koike exchanged views on incorporating green hydrogen into urban infrastructure, supporting start-ups in the sector, building city resilience and advancing integrated port management and hydrogen applications.
"[We] confirmed the importance of major cities collaborating to address common challenges," Koike said.
Green hydrogen is still an emerging and expensive technology, and scaling it up requires significant state backing alongside private investment.
Governments, particularly in the EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the Gulf states, are the primary drivers, pouring money into national hydrogen strategies, subsidies and infrastructure through pipelines, storage and shipping terminals.
Start-ups and SMEs play a vital supporting role, especially in pushing forward electrolyser efficiency, fuel cell design and niche applications such as urban transport and localised energy storage.
Strengthened ties with Kazakhstan
In Astana, Koike met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss future cooperation between Kazakhstan and Japan. President Tokayev noted the upcoming 10-year anniversary of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
“Here in Kazakhstan, we know you as a time-tested friend, partner and dedicated statesperson who made a lot for Kazakh-Japanese relations. For more than 25 years, your initiatives devoted to Kazakhstan’s history and culture have played a unique role in bringing our peoples closer,” Tokayev said.
In an interview with Euronews, Koike noted that Tokyo and Astana signed a memorandum of understanding on digital development and urban resilience in December 2025, which formed the basis for several discussions during the visit.
"President Tokayev and I have a long-standing relationship in promoting exchanges and cooperation between our countries and cities," she said, adding that energy security amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East was among the issues discussed.
Koike discussed Tokyo's green transformation start-ups and SMEs and the "opportunities for their global expansion and future business partnerships," she told Euronews.
In turn, she also visited AlemAI, Kazakhstan's premier center for Artificial Intelligence, located in the EXPO ecosystem in Astana.
Designed as a massive 20,000-square-meter technology and education hub, it unites scientific research, startups and smart governance to accelerate the nation's digital transformation.
At Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Koike learned about sturgeon farming and caviar production initiatives, noting similarities with projects underway on Tokyo’s Kozushima island.
"Our discussions strengthened the foundation for future potential collaboration," she concluded.
