Building Bridges Between Japan and Shenzhen

One website. One mission. Nearly a decade of connection.

Daichi Araki is not a diplomat, a politician, or a corporate executive. He is a web engineer turned community builder, and the founder of Shenzhen Fan, a Japanese-language information hub dedicated to bridging one of Asia's most exciting yet underconnected gaps: the space between Japan and the Greater Bay Area.

A Move That Changed Everything

Araki began his career as a web engineer in Japan. But in 2016, everything shifted. He moved to Shenzhen, and was immediately electrified by the city's raw, relentless energy.

Back in Japan, the tech scene was buzzing about Shenzhen. Everyone had heard of Huaqiangbei, the legendary electronics market. But real, practical information in Japanese? Almost nonexistent. Newcomers arriving from Tokyo or Osaka had no idea how to get there from Hong Kong, where to find events, or even how to take the first step.

So Araki built the answer himself.

Shenzhen Route Map (created in 2017-2018)

From Route Maps to a Thriving Community

He launched Shenzhen Fan with a simple mission: answer real questions from real people. The website's first breakthrough came when he published a detailed Route Map, a practical guide showing Japanese travelers exactly how to navigate from Hong Kong into Shenzhen's tech heart. That small act lowered the hurdle, and suddenly, Japanese tech professionals and startups began visiting in droves.

When the pandemic hit, Araki pivoted. He started a group chat to support Japanese newcomers navigating the complexities of moving to China. What began as a small support network exploded into a community of over 10,000 members. The group organized events with multiple companies, and Araki's reputation as a trusted connector grew.

Tech community “Nico-Tech Shenzhen” Tour Event at “JENESIS” Electronics Factory（2019.4.17)

Partnerships, Government Ties, and Global Reach

Today, Shenzhen Fan works alongside Shenzhen government services to organize and support local events. Last year, Araki partnered with Shenzhen Daily, a local English language media outlet, to promote Shenzhen Week at the China Pavilion during the Osaka Expo, bringing Shenzhen's innovation story directly to a Japanese audience.

OSAKA Expo Shenzhen week with Shenzhen Daily (2025.5.12）

AI: The New Frontier

Araki is the first to admit he is still learning. But even as a student of AI, the technology has already transformed his work. Tools like DeepSeek have accelerated his output, turned ambitious ideas into reality, and helped more Japanese users discover his site through smarter search visibility.

His next goal? Make Shenzhen Fan far more interactive using AI. A new local map feature has already launched, allowing users to easily discover places across the city. But that is just the beginning.

Shenzhen Local Map (released in 2026)

"Close, But Far Away" A Missed Opportunity

Araki has run Shenzhen Fan for nearly a decade, prioritizing social value over profit. The platform lists small local businesses for a very low cost, not because it's a lucrative model, but because he genuinely wants to help their economies grow.

"Many Japanese people feel that China is 'close, but far away,'" Araki explains. "Even with amazing technology right next door, people still hesitate to visit. This is a huge missed opportunity."

His dream is deceptively simple: make Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area feel much closer to Japan. He wants to fully leverage AI to tear down language barriers, connect communities, and transform hesitation into action.

Let's Build This Bridge Together

Daichi Araki is not just running a website. He is building a bridge, one route map, one group chat, one AI-powered tool at a time. And he is inviting everyone to join him.

One website. One mission. Nearly a decade of connection.