Kentaro Sakakibara, 37, leads a group of samurai. But his fortress isn't a feudal stronghold. Instead, it's an incubator of sorts to nurture startup businesses seeking to go global.

Sakakibara heads Samurai Incubate Inc., which offers office space at Samurai Startup Island near Tokyo Bay.

"I want to support entrepreneurs with the samurai spirit," said Sakakibara, "which means I would like to help people who can sacrifice themselves for others."