Latest UpdatesSHIZUOKA: "Seminar on Investment in Shizuoka Prefecture for Foreign-affiliated Companies: One of Japan's Leading Manufacturing Prefectures"
- Promoting Shizuoka Prefecture's investment environment –

Jan 19, 2018

In October 2017, Shizuoka Prefecture held the "Seminar on Investment in Shizuoka Prefecture for Foreign-affiliated Companies" in Tokyo. Through the event the prefecture promoted the advantages of investment in one of Japan's largest manufacturing clusters to international companies, such as industrial promotion measures, convenient access to major cities, incentives and a support system for companies’ investment in the prefecture.

Convenient transportation access

Source: "Shizuoka's Investment Environment: One of Japan's Leading Manufacturing Prefectures", Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture is one of Japan's leading manufacturing hubs. The value of manufactured goods shipped from the prefecture in 2014 was 16.5 trillion yen, ranking fourth in Japan. The number of factories established from 2000 to 2016 was 1,175, ranking first in the country, while the number for 2016 was 74, also ranking first. Shizuoka is also home to a wide range of industries, ranking second in Japan for production shipments of transport machinery and first for electric machinery as well as food and beverages.

In addition, in order to further stimulate the current industrial foundation, the prefecture is promoting a project called “Shizuoka Triangle Research Cluster Development” in which three industrial clusters are being developed: Pharma Valley (pharmaceuticals and medical equipment), Food Science Hills (food and beverages) and Photon Valley (optical and electronic technologies). In addition, they have developed the "Agri Open Innovation (AOI) Project," which produces new value in agriculture and other related industries.
Under its honorary title “Fuji Country,” Shizuoka is one of Japan’s preeminent disaster-prevention prefectures, having spent 30 years developing countermeasures for earthquakes, and boasts one of the country’s highest rates of earthquake-resistant facilities. The prefecture strives to improve the environment from the perspective of business continuity planning (BCP).

Source: Created by JETRO from materials published by Shizuoka

Characteristics of the industry in Shizuoka Prefecture

Source: "Shizuoka's Investment Environment: One of Japan's Leading Manufacturing Prefectures", Shizuoka Prefecture

At the seminar, Mr. Oishi, head of Shizuoka Prefecture’s Commerce and Industry Bureau of the Economy and Industry Department, stressed how the prefecture has among the highest numbers of factories and distribution centers owned by foreign companies in Japan. He also emphasized the merits of doing business in Shizuoka, mentioning its various incentives, its warm climate suitable as a business location and a rich business environment thanks to spacious lots of land.

Speaking on behalf of foreign-affiliated companies located in Shizuoka, Mr. Yoneda, from the Japanese subsidiary of the major US pharmaceutical company Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. introduced how an expansion of the company's sole manufacturing base in Japan, its Fuji Plant (established in 1990 in the town of Nagaizumi), with an investment of 10 billion yen, was completed in August 2017. He indicated the business advantages and future prospects of being located in Shizuoka, not only because the prefecture has actively developed industries such as the medical and pharmaceutical fields, but also because it has excellent transportation access to major urban cities.
Subsequently, Mr. Sako, president of the Indian IT company ZOHO Japan Co., Ltd., which opened a satellite base in Kawane-Honcho, Shizuoka in April 2017, took the rostrum. Calling on foreign-affiliated companies to do business in Shizuoka, he spoke passionately about how, as a company from India, his firm wants to make itself a model for Japan’s “Work-style Reform” by utilizing a variety of resources such as the creative climate and business environment of both Shizuoka and Kawane-Honcho.

Source: “Shizuoka Offering Infinite Potential"

In Shizuoka Prefecture, a “one-stop support center” for foreign-affiliated companies, the Shizuoka International Business Association, provides support from the point of companies planning to setting up a base in the area—such as for office and site searches, company registration procedures, hiring employees and establishment of factories—to the start of actual operations—such as through matching with potential business partners. It has established a system to support business expansion in the area by global companies in cooperation with the prefecture and related organizations.
Around 50 audience participated in this seminar including executives from foreign-affiliated companies. At the networking event following the seminar, a booth was set up to introduce Shizuoka Prefecture where they received a number of enthusiastic questions regarding locating into the area from participants.

(Drawn up by Invest Japan Promotion Division, Invest Japan Department, JETRO Tokyo)