Where to invest in Japan's local regions

Yamagata

Yamagata Casting

Printed Organic Electronics

Yamagata, boasting world-class state-of-the-art biotechnology and organic electronics technologies

Regional News

Contact

Industrial Area Development Office

8-1 Matsunami, Yamagata city, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-8570


Basic information

Population *1

1123 thousand

Labor force *1

583 thousand

Nominal GDP*2

N.A.

Number of Establishments*3

56,551 establishments

JETRO office
  1. *1

    Population Census 2015, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

  2. *2

    Prefectural Citizens'Economic Accounts 2018, Cabinet Office

  3. *3

    "2016 Economic Sensus", Statstics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Basic information updated on:Jan. 2022

Business Environment

Yamagata Prefecture features a concentration of technology-oriented companies engaged in everything from materials and parts fabrication to manufacturing finished products. Over the years, Yamagata has honed and refined its machining techniques originating with iron casting roughly 950 years ago and has gained reputations as one of the Tohoku region's most technologically rich areas offering superior precision machinery components. Looking ahead, Yamagata has been promoting the formation of industrial clusters related to biotechnology and organic electronics, endeavoring to build up a concentration of new industries and industrial revitalization by fully utilizing Yamagata's potential.

Incentives

Yamagata Prefecture subsidy to promote the establishment of businesses

Subsidies

Companies newly setting up a business from outside the prefecture with an invitation from the prefectural government and engaged in the manufacturing industry, etc. will be eligible.
We have established a subsidy system for various types of investment. For details, please refer to the following page in the related link "Industry Location Guide of Yamagata Prefecture."
https://www.pref.yamagata.jp/sr/quest/index_e.html

Industrial cluster information

Automobile and Transport Equipment

Yamagata ranks among the top in the Tohoku region in terms of the number of automotive parts and accessories businesses.
A high concentration of essential technologies (metals, machinery, electrical, electronics, information and communications, transportation, and precision manufacturing)
Potential for developing needs-driven manufacturing network led by the private sector
Practical application of research results of cutting-edge projects (organic electronics, ultra-precision machining)

Local companies

MTEX MATSUMURA CORPORATION, Katagiri Co., Ltd., MICRON MACHINERY CO., LTD.

Educational/research institutes of the industry

Yamagata Research Institute Of Technology, Yamagata University

Biotechnology related industry

The Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, in Yamagata Prefecture has led the world's biotechnology field through state-of-the-art metabolome analysis technologies, etc. Six bio-ventures have spun off from this laboratory, and the concentration of biotechnology-related industries is ongoing.

Local companies

Spiber Inc.

Educational/research institutes of the industry

Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University

Organic electronics related industry

Yamagata University is at the forefront of the world's technology in the organic electronics sector and has created venture businesses.

Local companies

Future Ink Corporation

Educational/research institutes of the industry

Research Center for Organic Electronics, Yamagata University

Living environment

Yamagata Prefecture is blessed with abundant nature that elegantly changes its face with seasons. Some of the most popular spots include Mount Zao, Mount Chokai, Mount Nishiazuma, the Three Mountains of Dewa, as well as Yamadera temple, and the great Mogami River made famous by Matsuo Basho in his haiku poems. Yamagata is the only prefecture in Japan in which hot springs gushes out in every municipality. It is famous for rice and soba (buckwheat), and boasts the highest production volume of cherries and pears in Japan. The bountiful nature, delicious and safe foods, and high-quality living environment make Yamagata Prefecture an attractive and relaxed place to live and work.

Logistics and infrastructures

Yamagata Prefecture is in Honshu's Tohoku region, with its northwestern part faces the Sea of Japan. It is approximately two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train) and four hours by expressway. Yamagata has two airports - Yamagata Airport and Shonai Airport - which allow easy access to Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Furthermore, work is underway to extend the Tohoku-Chou Expressway and Nihonkaiengan Tohoku Expressway, increasing the region's convenience upon completion.

Air: Approx. 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Yamagata Airport, Approx. 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Shonai Airport
Land: The Yamagata Shinkansen stretches through the prefecture, 2 hours and 30 minutes (using the fastest train) from Tokyo to Yamagata, 2 hours from Tokyo to Yonezawa, the gateway from Tokyo

Map of Yamagata

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