By Amanda L
KUCHING, July 27: Japanese pop culture will take centre stage in Kuching next month with the inaugural Borneo-Japan NewTrends Trade Expo (BJNT) 2026, which Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng says will boost the city’s youth appeal while opening up new business and creative opportunities.
According to him, the two-day expo scheduled for Aug 15 and 16 at The Everly Lhesson Kuching reflects the city’s belief that international friendships are built not only through official engagements but also through business, culture, creativity and people-to-people exchanges.
“Japan has long been one of Malaysia’s important economic and cultural partners. Through this expo, our local businesses, entrepreneurs, artists and young talents will have greater opportunities to connect with Japanese companies, explore new collaborations and create new business possibilities,” he said during a press conference of the event today.
Besides offering business networking opportunities, he said the expo has been curated to appeal to a broad audience, from entrepreneurs and students to technology enthusiasts, anime fans and cosplayers.
He highlighted the appearance of internationally renowned cosplayer HAKKEN who also serves as a Tokyo Tourism Ambassador as one of the event’s key attractions.
“I believe this will attract many visitors, especially young people, and further strengthen Kuching’s position as a vibrant and youth-friendly city,” he said.
The mayor added that forum sessions focusing on animation, artificial intelligence (AI), intellectual property and the creative industry would provide aspiring entrepreneurs and creative talents with insights into emerging opportunities in the digital economy.
Wee also noted that dedicated business matching sessions would connect Sarawak’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with Japanese and regional business partners, supporting Sarawak’s aspiration to develop a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation, technology and creative industries.
Beyond fostering business and cultural exchanges, he said the inaugural expo is expected to generate positive spillover effects for Kuching’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
“Visitors coming to Kuching will stay in our hotels, dine at our restaurants, shop at our local businesses and experience the hospitality that Kuching is well known for.
“This creates opportunities for many sectors while further strengthening Kuching’s reputation as an attractive destination for international events,” he said.
Admission to the expo starts from RM20. Visitors can also opt for a VIP pass at RM180, which includes priority access and exclusive privileges. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://borneoplux.com/bjnt2026
