Long Beach, Japan Strengthen Global Partnership in Space, Aerospace and Advanced Technology
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Above: Representatives from the City of Long Beach, Invest Long Beach, Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and local aerospace, space and advanced manufacturing companies and partners convene for the Long Beach – Japan: A Space, Aerospace and Advanced Technology Event in Space Beach on Aug. 12, 2026. Photos courtesy of Samuel Valdivia.

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity (EDO), in collaboration with Invest Long Beach (formerly Long Beach Economic Partnership) and the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, yesterday convened more than 120 participants, including more than 70 C-suite executives and founders, for its Long Beach – Japan: A Space, Aerospace and Advanced Technology Event in Space Beach. The event brought together City officials and industry professionals to collaborate, strengthen global partnerships and explore opportunities that support innovation, investment and workforce development for continued economic growth in Long Beach and the region.

"Long Beach is helping shape the future of aerospace and advanced technology by bringing together leaders, innovators and businesses from across sectors and around the world," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "Building on the momentum of Space Beach, we are creating new opportunities for innovation, investment and good-paying jobs while strengthening Long Beach's role as a global center for the industries of tomorrow."

Held at the Museum of Latin American Art, the event on Aug. 12, 2026, drew interest from companies and investors nationwide and featured special presentations and panel discussions with industry leaders, including GXO, JetZero, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Mitsubishi Electric United States, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, Relativity Space and Vast, who shared insights on industry trends, emerging technologies and the future of aerospace innovation. Other participants included Amazon Leo, Ampaire, All Nippon Airways, Anduril, Atlas Motion, BENMO, Boeing, Divergent, GITAI, Impulse Space, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (https://global.jaxa.jp/), Japan Airlines (https://www.impulsespace.com/), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (https://www.jal.com/index.html), Kawasaki Heavy Industries (https://www.jbic.go.jp/en/), Joby Aviation (https://www.jobyaviation.com/),  Maglut Heavy Industries (https://www.maglut.com/), Micro-G, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/), NTT (https://www.global.ntt/), Odys Aviation (https://www.odysaviation.com/), Orbital Operations (https://www.orbitalops.tech/), Rebel Space Technologies (https://rebelspacetech.com/), SpaceX (https://www.spacex.com/), Toyota Tsusho America (https://www.taiamerica.com/) and the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/About-Us). Attendees toured the local Vast headquarters, providing an inside look at the company's cutting-edge operations and advancements in commercial space technology. The event was designed to foster collaboration, leverage new prospects within the aerospace and advanced technology industries, and strengthen relationships among public and private partners within Japan and beyond.

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"As Space Beach continues to thrive, we are creating new pathways for businesses to invest, expand and drive lasting economic prosperity for our community," said EDO Director Bo Martinez. "Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of collaboration to spark innovation, strengthen international relations, and create new opportunities for businesses, workers and residents. We are proud to collaborate with Invest Long Beach and the Consulate General of Japan to bring together industry leaders and advance the partnerships that will shape the future of aerospace and advanced technology in Long Beach."

Building on its legacy as an aviation powerhouse, Long Beach is reaching new heights as one of the nation's most dynamic and fastest growing hubs for space, aerospace and advanced technology. Known as Space Beach, this thriving local ecosystem is creating thousands of high-quality, skilled jobs while generating long-term economic benefits and advancing the future of sustainable air and space technologies. Long Beach is home to more than three dozen space and aerospace companies, with more than 7,000 people working across the city every day in space and aerospace, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

"Collaboration with Japan plays a vital role in strengthening Long Beach's position as a global hub for space and aerospace innovation," said Invest Long Beach Chief Executive Officer Courtney Russell. "Japan stands among our city's most significant foreign investment partners, and this collaboration reflects how deeply integrated our economies already are. Together, we are building a more connected and competitive aerospace economy that will drive discovery, investment and opportunity for generations to come."

The City's partnership with Japan represents the power of global connections to accelerate innovation, strengthen industry relationships and unlock new possibilities within the Space Beach ecosystem. Together, the City and its global partners are building a more connected and competitive aerospace economy that will drive discovery, investment and opportunity for generations to come.

"While Japan has built strong capabilities in academic research and is ramping up defense, the commercial side still has much room to grow compared to the U.S. and other countries. My hope is that more Japanese companies take on that challenge," said Consul General Kosei Murota. "I hope U.S. companies will share that spirit of innovation and collaborate with their Japanese counterparts to shape the future of aerospace."

To learn more about economic development initiatives in Long Beach, those interested may visit longbeach.gov/edo (http://www.longbeach.gov/ed).

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LongBeachCity/), X (https://twitter.com/LongBeachCity), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/longbeachcity/) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/LongBeachCityCA). For more information about the Long Beach Economic Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/ed (http://www.longbeach.gov/ed), and follow on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LBEconDev/), X (https://x.com/LBEconDev) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/lbecondev/). Stay up to date on business news by signing up for the City's Business Brief (https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001ce-XF2CUs_1cFBu15Cf09d_jwL1NHYw_XAaQWLxnoHSnSZ8bEmIhPWVvyY2mZQUeFLWag5ogXeeJPO3FZ9XSec-60RU_ZmikLchNIbpEV9WRBgjXKmoLbVs9kyDkmpf9Ru9Ncpl_cVyEP9J1OQbQOCfqAKewEEre).

About Invest Long Beach
Invest Long Beach (formerly the Long Beach Economic Partnership) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official private-sector economic development partner to the City of Long Beach. Invest Long Beach serves as a single point of entry connecting investors and businesses to City leadership, the Port of Long Beach, Long Beach Airport, and a network of market research and real estate intelligence resources. The organization works closely with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Long Beach City College (LBCC) to align workforce development and research with the needs of a growing economy. Guided by a focus on business attraction, business and industry support, and technology and innovation, Invest Long Beach works to strengthen Long Beach's position as a globally connected, future-focused economic hub.

About Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles
The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles oversees Japan's relations with Southern California and Arizona. It analyzes regional economic developments, promotes economic ties between Japan and the United States, and serves as a bridge between Japan and local communities, including Japanese Americans and businesses in the region. As one of Japan's overseas diplomatic missions, the Consulate General also provides administrative services to Japanese nationals, promotes Japanese culture, and distributes information about Japan.

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