Investing in Japan

Kawasaki city

The information below is as of July 2012.

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• Basic Information
• Regional Profile
• Available incentives
• Services for investment in Japan

Basic Information

Population*1	1.43 million
Labor force*1	0.67 million
Area*2	143 km²
GDP*3	Please inquire to your local government for the detailed information about city GDP.
Major industries	Manufacturing (electronics, communications, precision machinery, petroleum/chemicals), information, service
JETRO office	JETRO Yokohama

*1 Population Census 2010, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications　*2 Area data 2010, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan *3 Prefectural Citizens' Economic Accounts 2008, Cabinet Office

*Ask the local government for the latest data.

Regional Profile

Strength of the region's industries and economy

Kawasaki City supported Japan’s rapid economic growth as a manufacturing city, and has since undergone a drastic transformation into an international city for cutting-edge industries that is home to many world-class hi-tech companies and R&D organizations. Situated adjacent to both Tokyo and Yokohama, the city offers very convenient transportation, and its efforts to develop quality residential areas and attractive commercial locations has made it a comfortable place to live.
The agglomeration of industrial technology and R&D functions brings great potential to Kawasaki, and companies from various sectors - automobiles/machinery, chemicals, information & communications, and the environment - have moved into both the inland areas and the seaside districts of the city. Many large corporations with global-scale business operations have located here, including such world-renowned information & communications giants as NEC, Canon, Toshiba, and Fujitsu, as well as JFE Steel, which has developed advanced environmental conservation technology, Ajinomoto, a maker of foodstuffs and amino acid products, and L’Oreal Japan, a very popular international cosmetics manufacturer.

Foreign company(s) operating in the industry

More than 100 internationally recognized foreign companies have moved into Kawasaki, and companies such as Dell Japan, Tyco Electronics AMP, Toys ‘R’ Us Japan, Minit Asia Pacific, Mercedes Benz Kawasaki R&D have their head office functions based in Kawasaki.

Available incentives

＜Asian Entrepreneurship Village Concept ＞
By incorporating Asian dynamism, Kawasaki supports the development of entrepreneurs who will serve to be the bridge between Kawasaki and other Asian countries. It promotes “Asian Entrepreneurship Village Concept” with an aim to endorse the establishment of businesses that are involved in the fields of environment/life sciences and the creation of new industries. Besides reducing the rent of Techno Hub Innovation Kawasaki (THINK) that serves as one of the business sites, (Tenant companies will have their rents reduced to 50% in the first year and 70% in the second year.) KSP Inc. and the non-profit organization Asian Entrepreneurship Village Promotion Organization will provide incubation support to companies expanding into Kawasaki from Asia.


＜Kawasaki City Advanced Technology Industry Creation Incentive Program (Innovate Kawasaki)＞
The City is incentivizing the commercialization of cutting-edge technology in the fields of environment/energy/life science on the waterfront area of Kawasaki City to promote the agglomeration and creation of advanced technology industries that are indispensable for the solution of universal issues of mankind and toward international contribution. Subsidies will mainly target the associated costs incurred by the acquisition of real estate, building, and equipment needed to build a new business site. Subsidy rate: 10% of the acquisition cost. Subsidy limit: 1 billion yen.

• Industrial location guide: Kawasaki City Factory Location Information
• Incentive: Asian Venture Business Town

Services for investment in Japan

Providing market information	Advice on market participation, Consulting by external experts and advisers
Support for finding customers	Listing of potential customers and partners, Listing of potential customers and partners
Support for establishing a base	Providing incubation facilities or other facilities, Providing incubation facilities or other facilities, Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan, Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services), Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel, Providing information on permits and licensing procedures, Providing information on subsidy programs
Other	Other service

＜IBSC Kanagawa＞
Through the tie up between Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama City and JETRO Yokohama, Invest Japan Business Support Center (ISBC) is jointly operated within the office of JETRO Yokohama. Besides the provision of ISBC office space that is free of charge for the first 50 business days, ISBC advisors provide information and consultation services.
＜The Kawasaki City Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center＞
The Kawasaki City Small and Medium Enterprise Support Center has assigned managers (private-sector personnel) to offer advice on management improvements, technical issues, business startups, etc., and provides free consultations.