Japan’s hemp expo returns to Tokyo with a new Omotesando venue

JIHE 2026 will bring Japan International Hemp Expo back to Tokyo on Nov. 13-14, 2026, with a two-day CBD and hemp trade and community event at House of OMOTESANDO. Organizers say the expanded, whole-building format is designed to increase business matching, international exchange and public engagement.

Why it matters: - JIHE 2026 is one of Japan’s few dedicated B2B and community events for the CBD and hemp sector. - The Tokyo expo is designed to connect operators, buyers, media and consumers around hemp-derived products, business opportunities and industry education. - The event also highlights hemp’s broader role in Japanese culture, materials and wellness at a time when the sector continues to evolve.

What happened: - Asabis Inc. and co-organizer GREEN ZONE JAPAN announced JIHE 2026, or Japan International Hemp Expo. - The event will run Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at House of OMOTESANDO in Tokyo. - Free advance registration is open now. - The expo is held in association with AIHF, the Asia International Hemp Federation. - Organizers say the event builds on a track record since August 2021 that includes more than 7,000 visitors and more than 300 participating companies. - The event has also received coverage on TV Tokyo’s “WBS” and in trade media.

The details: - Friday, Nov. 13 is Business Day, focused on exhibition, business matching and conference sessions for operators, buyers and media. - Saturday, Nov. 14 is Community Day, with product sales, hands-on experiences and community networking for general visitors. - The venue will use the entire House of OMOTESANDO building, with different floors dedicated to exhibitions, a stage, a reception and business-meeting lounge, a conference hall and rooftop networking. - Organizers say the single-building format is meant to increase the density of interaction between exhibitors and visitors. - The conference program will run as a single track called CannaCon, continuing the CBD Journey & CannaCon series. - The program will cover business and industry topics shaping the sector and will include overseas speakers. - AI-assisted interpretation tools will be used to help bridge language barriers for international attendees. - The planned hours are 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days. - The venue address is 5-34-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. - Admission is free with advance registration. - Registration links are available for English here and Japanese here. - The event hashtag is #jihe2026.

Between the lines: - The theme, “Break the Bias, Back to ORIGIN,” signals a reset away from hype around new cannabinoids and toward hemp as the root of the sector. - Organizers are framing hemp not just as a commercial category, but as a plant tied to Japanese food, fiber, building materials, Shinto ritual, medicine, CBD, wellness and sustainability. - The Omotesando setting adds symbolic weight because the neighborhood traces to the historic approach road to Meiji Jingu. - The whole-building layout suggests a more curated, high-touch format than a standard convention hall. - The event’s emphasis on international sessions points to a broader effort to make the expo relevant beyond Japan’s domestic market.

What's next: - Organizers said speakers and the full program will be announced from July through the official website and social channels. - Attendees can register now ahead of the November event. - The organizing office for media inquiries is Asabis Inc., JIHE 2026 Organizing Office, contact Masaharu Takano at info@asabis.co.jp. - More information is available on the official event site.