Where Cybersecurity Meets Strategy in Tokyo
At Senthorus, our mission is to stay ahead of threats and translate cybersecurity into a business reality. This December, two of our SOC analysts had the privilege of traveling to Tokyo to attend the very first Japanese edition of the INCYBER Forum. For them, it was the perfect opportunity to combine two passions: Cybersecurity and Japan.
Japan today stands at a critical turning point in its digital defense. The past years have seen a rise in highly disruptive cyber incidents, such as the ransomware attack that paralyzed the Port of Nagoya in 2023. On July 4th, the port was forced to halt operations after its terminal management system, the Nagoya United Terminal System (NUTS), was crippled by a LockBit 3.0 ransomware attack. The incident paralyzed container loading and unloading, with full recovery taking about two days as terminals gradually resumed operations.
Recognizing the gravity of such threats, Japan’s government elevated cybersecurity to a national security priority in its revised National Security Strategy. Alongside large-scale investments in digital sovereignty and international partnerships, these developments highlight a country determined to strengthen resilience in the face of growing risks.
“Cyber defense is no longer optional. It is Japan’s next frontier.”
From InCyber Forum Edito
Senthorus SOC analysts Adam LARABI and Guillaume DUMAS, with Alexis NARDONE, Director of Forward Global (Event organizer)
The INCYBER Forum: A Global Hub for Cybersecurity
The INCYBER Forum (formerly International Cybersecurity Forum) is an established event first organized in 2007 and has since become a major international gathering dedicated to digital security and trust.
Its core mission: to bring together governments, industry leaders, solution providers, and academics around the same table to share insights and shape the future of cybersecurity.
The forum has expanded beyond its European roots: in 2022, it launched in Canada, and this year it marked a new milestone: its very first edition in Japan.
The INCYBER Forum in Japan
The inaugural INCYBER Forum Japan took place on December 4, 2025, at The Prince Park Tower in Tokyo. Organized by Forward Global, Nikkei Inc., and Dentsu Soken, the event gathered key players from Japan’s government, private sector, and research institutions.
The structure of the event reflected its triple ambition:
A trade exhibition where some 40 partners and vendors showcased the latest solutions in cybersecurity, offering opportunities to connect directly with end users.
A conference program featuring more than 30 speakers covering topics from risk management and incident response to identity protection, cybercrime prevention, and defense strategy.
Leadership and operational structure involving key international and local figures: the event was chaired by Mr. Atsushi ANDO, Director General for Active Cyber Defense and Cyber Intelligence at the National Cyber Office, with strategic and operational leadership provided by Mr. Shigeru KITAMURA, Executive Director of the DENTSU SOKEN Center for Economic Security Research (DCER) and former Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat, alongside Mr. Guillaume Tissier, General Director of the INCYBER Forum at Forward Global.
For Senthorus, it was not just an occasion to observe, but an opportunity to engage with peers worldwide, exchange perspectives, and better understand Japan’s unique cybersecurity landscape.
Speakers and Workshops: Key Insights
While the full agenda was rich and diverse, several highlights stood out:
- Government perspectives on Japan’s national cybersecurity strategy, especially critical infrastructure protection and international cooperation.
- Industry-led discussions on ransomware trends, digital identity security, and supply chain protection.
- Workshops focused on operational best practices, from incident response to threat intelligence sharing.
The diversity of voices, ranging from Japanese institutions to international experts, illustrated the global, interconnected nature of today’s cyber challenges.
On the Main Stages
The main stages hosted keynote sessions organized by Forward Global, Nikkei Inc., and the Dentsu Soken Center for Economic Security Research. It served as a platform for leaders from politics, industry, and major institutions to address critical cybersecurity issues such as active cyber defense, government policy, and economic security.
Notable sessions included:
Mr. Toshikazu OKUYA, Ministry of Economy, examined the growing convergence of economic and cyber security, highlighting policy tools and public-private cooperation to protect critical industries, supply chains, and economic sovereignty.
Mr. Shigeru KITAMURA, Former Secretary General of National Security Secretariat and National Security Advisor to the Cabinet, focused his session named Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Security Clearance on the need for trust and secure information exchange between public and private sectors. He underlined how intelligence sharing enhances situational awareness and enables faster, more effective responses to sophisticated cyber threats.
Mr. Norihiko ISHIHARA, CEO of VLC Security Co., Ltd., Member of the Cybergym Advisory Board, explored in his session named Latest Developments in AI-Driven Cyber Offense and Defense how artificial intelligence is reshaping both attack techniques and defensive capabilities. He highlighted the growing use of AI for automation, reconnaissance, and evasion on the offensive side, while emphasizing its parallel role in improving detection, correlation, and response within modern security operations.
Mr. Norihiko ISHIHARA during his conference
These sessions provided deep insights into Japan’s cybersecurity priorities, strategies, and operational best practices from both national and industrial perspectives.
The forum concluded with a closing keynote by Mr. François FILLON, Former French Prime Minister, who reflected on the brutalization of international relations and its implications for global stability. His remarks emphasized how increasing geopolitical polarization and the erosion of structured dialogue between states are reshaping international dynamics, including in cyberspace. He highlighted the limitations of simplified narratives and stressed the importance of strategic nuance and balanced alliances in an increasingly fragmented world.
This broader geopolitical perspective provided a fitting conclusion to the forum, underlining the close interconnection between cybersecurity, diplomacy, and global power relations, while also opening the outlook toward the 2026 edition of INCYBER in France.
Mr. François FILLON during his conference
Exhibition Area: A Showcase of Innovation and Expertise
The exhibition area was one of the highlights of the forum, offering the opportunity to engage directly with a wide range of cybersecurity players. International and Japanese vendors such as GMO Internet Group, PwC, Abnormal Security, Cybergym, Filigran, VLC Security, and NEC Security presented their solutions, covering domains from threat detection and identity protection to cyber range training and intelligence-driven defense.
Walking through the stands allowed for in-depth discussions on concrete operational challenges with solution providers, comparison of different approaches, and a clearer understanding of how cybersecurity tools are adapted to the specific needs of the Japanese market. These exchanges, both technical and strategic, illustrated the maturity of the ecosystem and the strong willingness of Japanese and international actors to collaborate across borders.
Exhibition area, where vendors and partners showcased solutions and engaged with attendees throughout the day. (Credit: @INCYBER_Japan)
Conclusion: Why INCYBER Japan Matters
The Japanese edition of the INCYBER Forum comes at a pivotal moment as Japan seeks to turn cybersecurity awareness and policy into effective action amid rising threats and strategic transformation. As Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI emphasized, the country is at a turning point in strengthening its cybersecurity capabilities.
“To ensure a coordinated response to change from both the public and private sectors, the government intends to develop a general policy based on the law on strengthening cyber response capabilities […]. In this context of increasing security tensions, the first INCYBER Forum held in Japan comes at a particularly timely moment.”
For our analysts, attending INCYBER Forum Japan was a way to witness firsthand how Japan is transforming its cybersecurity strategy at a crucial moment. The forum offered invaluable insights but also confirmed something we at Senthorus strongly believe: effective cybersecurity depends on collaboration across borders, industries, and disciplines.
As Japan strengthens its defenses and forges new partnerships, events like this will play a key role in aligning strategy with operational realities. For MSSPs like Senthorus, they are also reminders that our work in SOCs is part of a larger global effort to protect the digital world.
Credits
Photos:
Guillaume DUMAS and Adam LARABI, SOC Analysts at Senthorus.
Sources
INCYBER Forum – Japan Edition
- Editorial & Introduction: https://japan.forum-incyber.com/edito/
- Program & Speakers: https://japan.forum-incyber.com/program/
INCYBER Forum – History
- Forum Overview: https://europe.forum-incyber.com/en/the-forum
- Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_international_de_la_cybers%C3%A9curit%C3%A9
Nagoya Port Attack
- Dragos Blog: https://www.dragos.com/blog/industry-news/ot-cybersecurity-breach-disrupts-operations-at-the-port-of-nagoya-japan/
- Official Notice PDF: https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23867021/nayoga-notice.pdf