Investing in Japan

Yamagata

The information below is as of March 2011.

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• Basic Information
• Regional Profile
• Services for investment in Japan
• Available incentives
• Links to Related Websites

Basic Information

Population*1	1.17 million
Labor force*1	0.6 million
Area*2	6,652 km²
GDP*3	3,922,397 million yen
Major industries	Information and telecommunications, electronic components, food products, production machinery, electric machinery
Developing industries	Organic electronics, nanotechnology, biotechnology
Offices overseas	Seoul, South Korea
Offices in Japan	Tokyo / Osaka City / Nagoya City
JETRO office	JETRO Yamagata

*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

Yamagata Prefecture features a concentration of technologically-oriented companies engaged in everything from materials and parts fabrication to final product production. Originating with the iron casting for which Yamagata became famous roughly 900 years ago, Yamagata has honed and refined its machining techniques over the years, becoming renowned as one of the Tohoku region’s most technologically rich areas offering superior precision machinery components. Furthermore, Yamagata is making headway on its cutting-edge “Cluster of Industries related to Organic Electronics” project and “Project for the Development of Ultra Precision Machining Technology”, which are both part of a push to build up a concentration of new industries which fully utilize the potential that Yamagata has to offer.

Strength of the region's education/research institutes

Yamagata Prefecture offers excellent higher education and research through such institutions as Yamagata University, Tohoku University of Art and Design, Tohoku University of Community Service and Science, and the Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences as well as a tremendous amount of collaborative research between the government, industry and academia at public testing and research facilities such as the Yamagata Research Institute of Technology, which aids in improving technological standards for the prefecture, and the Yamagata Advanced Technology Research and Development Center, which serves as a core facilitator of research and development conducted jointly by the government, industry and academia.

Strength of the region's infrastructure

Yamagata Prefecture is in the Tohoku region on the northwest side of the main island of Honshu along the Sea of Japan. It is approximately two hours by shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo and approximately four hours by expressway. Also, Yamagata has two airports - Yamagata Airport and Shonai Airport - which allow easy access to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Furthermore, work is being undertaken to lengthen the Tohoku-chuo Expressway and Nihonkaiengan Tohoku Expressway which, when completed, is expected to further increase the convenience of the region.

<Land>

Yamagata Prefecture is bisected from the Shonai region by the Sea of Japan through its interior by the Yamagata Expressway, which is a major transportation artery for eastern Japan. It connects with the Tohoku Expressway, which travelers can use to reach Tokyo in approximately four hours. Also, the Tohoku-chuo Expressway runs through the prefecture longitudinally, and additional work being undertaken on it is expected to increase the convenience of the region when it is completed.

<Air>

There are two airports in Yamagata Prefecture: Yamagata Airport and Shonai Airport. Flights can reach Tokyo or Nagoya in approximately one hour and Osaka in approximately 70 minutes, providing excellent access to three of Japan's largest markets.

<Sea>

Yamagata Prefecture’s major port is Sakata Port. Regular container vessels travel between Pusan in Korea and other destinations, making Sakata Port a gateway to the booming markets of East Asia and Russia, and the traffic to and from Sakata Port is only expected to increase in the coming years. In addition, Sakata Port has been designated a “Recycle Port” and is steadily attracting the business of recycling-related industry.

<Railway>

The Yamagata Shinkansen (bullet train) runs longitudinally through the prefecture, with the express shinkansen going between Yamagata and Tokyo in two hours and thirty minutes and between Yonezawa and Tokyo in two hours.

Services for investment in Japan

Menu of services	Fees charged?	Content of services
Providing market information
Advice on market participation	No	Provides a wide range of information about Yamagata Prefecture in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Support for finding customers
Listing of potential customers and partners	No	Introduces companies in the prefecture in cooperation with Yamagata Public Corporation for the Development of Industry.
Support for establishing a base
Providing incubation facilities or other facilities	Yes	Yamagata Industrial Innovation Support Center, Yonezawa Business Incubate Support Center, etc.
Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan	No	Provides a wide range of information about Yamagata Prefecture in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel	No	Provides a wide range of information about Yamagata Prefecture in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Providing information on permits and licensing procedures	No	Provides a wide range of information about Yamagata Prefecture in cooperation with relevant institutions.
Providing information on subsidy programs	No	Provides a wide range of information about Yamagata Prefecture in cooperation with relevant institutions.

Available incentives

Yamagata Prefecture has set up a unique subsidy system to facilitate companies in the establishment of facilities in the prefecture that provides subsidies of maximum 5 billion yen, as well as industrial location promotion funds, from which businesses can lend up to 1 billion yen at an annual rate of 0.9%. The prefecture has also established a One-stop Support Center that provides consultation to companies on various issues in an integrated manner.

• Industrial location guide: YAMAGATA QUEST
• Incentive: Incentive Programs

Links to Related Websites

Local governments and related organizations

• Official website: Yamagata Prefecture
• Industrial location guide: YAMAGATA QUEST

Incentives

• Incentive: Incentive Programs

Transportation / living

• Airport: Yamagata Airport
• International exchange: Association for International Relations in Yamagata
• Other living information : Tourist information on Yamagata Prefecture