The International Business Meeting “Adapting International Hemp to Japan’s New Regulations” was held at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo as part of the official program of JIHE 2025, which took place on November 14 and 15. The meeting marked one of the main discussions of the event, bringing together authorities and leaders from the hemp production chain to analyze the impacts of Japan's new regulations — gradually implemented since last year — on the global market.

Focusing on legal certainty, regulatory compliance, and the development of new business opportunities, the meeting brought together representatives from Thailand, an Asian reference in the sector; from the United States, the world's largest hemp market; from European countries, which are advancing in their own regulatory models; and from Japan, which is entering a new phase after legal revisions that have eased cultivation and established the foundations for a more structured sector.

During the meeting, authorities from the Royal Thai Government and executives from international associations discussed changes in the Cannabis Control Law and the Hemp Promotion Law, as well as paths to commercial partnerships, technological exchange, and standardization of CBD products destined for the Japanese market.

The debate also reinforced that 2025 is considered the “Year One of the Hemp Industry” in Japan, signaling the opening to new business models. JIHE 2025 consolidates this turning point by integrating the historic “CBD Journey” and the “CannaCon” conference into a new, larger-scale structure, positioning the country as an emerging hub in the hemp economy in Asia.

Meet the speakers of the 2025 edition 

What the fair offered

The program included company exhibitions, business rounds, technical demonstrations, and a forum with presentations on regulation, applied research, sustainability, and the development of production chains. The organization highlights that the main objective is to facilitate the practical understanding of the new legal framework and guide companies seeking to enter the Japanese market safely and in compliance.

At the exhibition space, Japanese and foreign brands will showcase innovations in areas such as:

• Precision agriculture for industrial hemp
• Technologies for extraction and processing
• Textile and biomaterial products
• Cosmetic and dermatological applications
• Food and nutraceuticals derived from hemp
• Sustainability and circular economy solutions

In addition to the technological showcase, the JIHE Forum — a parallel event to the fair — will bring together experts in legislation, researchers, entrepreneurs, and institutional representatives to analyze trends and challenges in the sector. The sessions will address everything from the implementation of the new Japanese law to strategies for international harmonization of standards and certifications.

Check out the program: 

Legislation in Japan 

The recent approval of Japan's policy revision on cannabis represented a historic turning point by establishing specific rules for industrial hemp and allowing its commercial exploration on different fronts. The country, known for its regulatory strictness, now seeks a balance between security, innovation, and global competitiveness — and JIHE 2025 emerges as the first major stage to present this new phase.

According to sector analysts, the Japanese movement is expected to boost foreign investments and stimulate the creation of production chains inspired by models already established in Europe, North America, and Australia. The event, therefore, serves as a gateway for companies wishing to operate in a market that until recently was considered inaccessible.

The event was aimed at industrial hemp companies and startups, investors, research and development professionals, academic institutions, government representatives, and industrial sectors related to hemp use — such as textile, agricultural, cosmetic, food, and bioproducts.