Investing in Japan
Investment News
Denotes firm made use of JETRO support and/or services to set up their business/affiliate in Japan.
- Nov. 28, 2006
- GE Plastics opens technology center in Tochigi Prefecture
- Nov. 20, 2006
- Bosch establishes a new company in Yokohama to provide engineering services to the Japanese automotive industry
- Nov. 8, 2006
- US multimedia platform provider opens new office in Tokyo
- Nov. 6, 2006
- China's Restaurant Chain Opens Flagship unit in Tokyo
- Oct. 31, 2006
- Clear Channel Outdoor, a US outdoor advertising company, expands into Japan
- Oct. 19, 2006
- Czech Republic-based Zoner Software Opens Branch Office in Business and Merchant City of Osaka
- Sep. 1, 2006
- U.S firm Giuliani Partners establishes base in Tokyo and continues to expand throughout Japan and Asia
- Jul. 10, 2006
- Rolls-Royce and Japan's National Institute for Materials Science join forces to develop superalloys
- May 26, 2006
- Elmarco, a Czech nanotechnology-related manufacturer, opens new business establishment in Kobe
- May 12, 2006
- British bio venture Orla Protein Technology Ltd. establishes Japan office
- Apr. 10, 2006
- UK-based Polar Instruments opens subsidiary in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture
- Mar. 8, 2006
- Germany-based Fresenius Medical Care to expand its Japan plant
- Feb. 16, 2006
- Operation of Container Terminal by Private-Sector Foreign-Affiliated Company Begins in Okinawa
- Jan. 27, 2006
- Italian furniture maker Calligaris opens a Japan sales office and distribution center
Nov. 28, 2006
GE Plastics opens technology center in Tochigi Prefecture
In early November 2006, GE Plastics Japan Ltd., joint company between General Electric Co., Mitsui Chemicals Inc. and Nagase & Co., Ltd., announced to open its new technology center located within its MoKa-City plant in Tochigi Prefecture.
The new technology center, occupying a three story, 3,700-sq.-meter building, has laboratories for plastics processing and chemical analysis, a testing facility for automobile impact, and a showroom that displays the products and applications of the company widely used around the world as well as providing future possibilities for plastic materials. In addition to developing new plastics products, the center will also provide services for physical property measurement and secondary processing of plastics materials.
According to a spokesman of GE Plastics Japan, the new center is to enhance its existing facility in Moka-City, and will serve as one of the seven "GE Global Application Technology" centers worldwide for the automotive industry in the harnesses, pedestrian impact testing, and engine components areas, and the electronics industry in optical media such as Blu-ray discs, high heat resistance films, etc.
Nov. 20, 2006
Bosch establishes a new company in Yokohama to provide engineering services to the Japanese automotive industry
Bosch Corporation
, the Japanese arm of a global auto parts supplier Bosch Group, established Bosch Engineering Services Japan KK in Yokohama City of Kanagawa prefecture in November 1, 2006. In response to increasing need for engineering services regards to R&D projects and mass production projects in the Japanese automotive industry, the new company will provide development and application for electronic control units used in braking and fuel injection systems.
Nov. 8, 2006
US multimedia platform provider opens new office in Tokyo
In the end of September 2006, it is announced that Scala Inc., a major provider of digital signage software in the world, established Scala KK, a wholly owned subsidiary in Tokyo. As a center of operations for Asian market, Scala KK will extend their worldwide footprint into Japan, China, Korea and other Asian countries.
Scala's multimedia software platform "InfoChannel" powers thousands of digital signs around the world including the digital signage networks of Tesco, Best Buy, T-Mobile, ShopRite, Virgin MegaStore, Bloomberg, Burger King, Kiwi, Azizia-Panda Supermarket, McKee Foods, Muvico, Santiago Airport, RaboBank and Warner Brothers Movie World.
"Our InfoChannel product line has been available for some time now in Japanese, Chinese (simplified & traditional) and Korean language versions." says Gerard Bucas, President and CEO, Scala Inc. "Now with Scala KK based in Tokyo we will be able to provide local support and other services to our customers in their own language. It will further strengthen our already dominant market position worldwide".
Nov. 6, 2006
China's Restaurant Chain Opens Flagship unit in Tokyo
At the end of September 2006, Inner Mongolia Little Sheep Catering Chain Co., Ltd., China's restaurant operator, specializing in lamb meat hot pot, opened its Japanese flagship unit in Tokyo's fashionable Shibuya district. The company, known as "Xiao Fei Yang" in Chinese, operates one of the largest restaurant chains with some 700 stores in China and six countries.
In July 2006, it established a joint venture company, XiaoFeiYang Japan Inc. The Japanese partner was not another restaurant operator, but an operator of Web-based services, called WebCrew Inc. According to a spokesperson of WebCrew, "WebCrew was selected as the Japanese partner by Xiao Fei Yang because of its marketing prowess built up through its web business. In addition, it offered the small size which realizes more 'flexibility' than bigger, food services-type companies in Japan."
For further information, please see the related article under the title of "East Asian Companies Making Strides into Japan's Service Industry" on JETRO online newsletter "Invest Japan" autumn issue.
Oct. 31, 2006
Clear Channel Outdoor, a US outdoor advertising company, expands into Japan
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a US outdoor advertising company with over 870,000 displays in more than 50 countries, established a presence in Japan by setting up a joint venture in Tokyo in September 2006. They have a 55% share of the 100 million yen capital for the joint venture and the partner for its Japanese operations is Mitsui & Co., Ltd. This was announced in the middle of October 2006.
Earlier, in its press releases dated June 2006, Clear Channel Outdoor announced that it has teamed up with Mitsui to investigate business opportunities in the out-of-home advertising market in Japan. In addition, it also introduced the comment of Mr. Mark Thewlis, Asia Pacific Regional President for Clear Channel Outdoor. "Japan is one of the largest advertising markets in the world and we believe that now is the right time for us to introduce our proven business model to the Japanese market."
Clear Channel Outdoor estimates that a number of cities in Japan are now looking to make the necessary changes to local regulations to allow advertising funded bus shelter projects which have become popular throughout the world, after the relaxation of road traffic laws in 2003 allowed advertising on bus shelters in the country.
Oct. 19, 2006
Czech Republic-based Zoner Software Opens Branch Office in Business and Merchant City of Osaka
Zoner Software, Czech Republic's largest software vendor in the fields of digital photography, graphics and multimedia, opened a Japanese branch office in Osaka on August 2, 2006. The subsidiary, doing business under the name Zoner LLC, will oversee the firm's software sales in Japan.
The Japanese office joins Zoner Software's other overseas offices in Slovakia, Hungary, the USA and Germany. Japan is a leading IT country and is a global home to production of digital cameras. By opening an office in Japan, Zoner Software is seeking to boost usage and sales of its software products in the Japanese market.
The company has already completed Japanese localization of its Zoner Photo Studio digital photo processing software and Zoner Barcode Studio software for barcode creation.
Zoner Software made use of the incubation offices of JETRO's Invest Japan Business Support Center (IBSC) in Osaka during the period leading up to the opening of its Japan office. Full-time advisors at Osaka IBSC provided the firm with advice on company registration, tax matters and other areas related to setting up the branch office.
"JETRO's support helped to facilitate the process of setting up the company," says Roman Watanabe, CEO of Zoner LLC. Watanabe is the younger brother of Milan Behro, CEO of parent company Zoner Software, and has been active in the Kansai area since 2004. His strengths are his fluent Japanese skills and familiarity with Japanese society, enabling him to carry out his marketing duties with ease.
Zoner Software is the first Eastern European firm in the IT software sector to take off from the Osaka IBSC. The company is highly anticipated to blow a fresh, Eastern European breeze into the "Naniwa" city of Osaka. ("Naniwa" is the former name of Osaka.)
- For more information, please contact
- JETRO Osaka IBSC
Person in charge: Mr. Ikuo Moriguchi
TEL: +81-6-6447-2309 FAX: +81-6-6447-2336
E-mail: Ikuo_Moriguchi@jetro.go.jp
Sep. 1, 2006
U.S firm Giuliani Partners establishes base in Tokyo and continues to expand throughout Japan and Asia
Management consulting firm Giuliani Partners LLC, headed by former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, has teamed-up with full-service broadband solutions provider Forval Corporation to form a safety and security management consulting firm called Giuliani Security & Safety Asia, Inc. (GSSA). Established in June 2006, GSSA has its Asia base in Tokyo. GSSA is Asia's first full-service security management provider for businesses in Japan, China, and South Korea.
Giuliani Partners LLC will further expand its business consulting work, via a business alliance with Softbrain Co., Ltd. The new firm, Giuliani Compliance Japan (GCJ), will offer specialized consulting services in the fields of corporate governance and internal control.
Jul. 10, 2006
Rolls-Royce and Japan's National Institute for Materials Science join forces to develop superalloys
Rolls-Royce, British major aircraft, ship and energy field developer, launched a multi-year agreement with Japan's National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) to undertake research programmes into the development of high-temperature superalloys for use in gas turbine engines. And the Rolls-Royce Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Materials opened at NIMS' Sengen site in Tsukuba.
It is the first scientific research programme the company has directly funded in Japan.
Ric Parker, Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology, said: "This model of collaborative research at a global level has proved it can bring technologies to market more quickly. We have strong research links on just about every continent, and today's agreement marks a vital step towards superalloy developments that will enhance our future environmental and competitive position."
It is also expected that the relationship will promote considerable opportunities for academic exchange between Japan and the UK.
May 26, 2006
Elmarco, a Czech nanotechnology-related manufacturer, opens new business establishment in Kobe
Elmarco Ltd., a Czech manufacturer of nanofiber manufacturing machinery and other products, established Elmarco Japan Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation, in Kobe City, as Elmarco's product sales and R&D base for the Asian-Pacific region. Business was launched in May 2006.
Reasons for setting up business in Kobe:
- As a result of publicizing nanofiber manufacturing machinery through business fairs, exhibitions and other events held in Switzerland, Germany, Japan and other countries, Elmarco received numerous inquiries from Japanese companies.
- Elmarco received support from JETRO IBSC Kobe, Hyogo-Kobe Investment Support Center, Hyogo Prefecture, and the City of Kobe.
Content of assistance for business startup:
- Providing information related to corporate establishment and rental offices; and receiving advice from specialists (administrative scriveners and certified public accountants).
- Inviting Elmarco representatives to Kobe by utilizing JETRO's Regional Investment Support Programs, to arrange meetings with Hyogo-Kobe Investment Support Center's staff and other personnel, and providing a guided tour of SPring-8 (a large-scale synchrotron radiation facility) and industrial parks.
- Lending JETRO IBSC Kobe's tenant room to prepare for corporate establishment.
- Assisting foreign-capital corporations' application for office rent subsidies.
- For more information, contact
- Hyogo-Kobe Investment Support Center
Persons in charge: Kosuke Kuroda and Keiko Yasuda
Tel: 078-302-2072 Fax: 078-302-2265
May 12, 2006
British bio venture Orla Protein Technology Ltd. establishes Japan office
In late March, UK bio-nanotechnology firm Orla Protein Technology Ltd. opened a Japan branch in Kitakyushu City to work closer with its new collaborative partner, Professor Hiroharu Kawahara of Kitakyushu National College of Technology.
A spinout from the University of New Castle upon Tyne, Orla has earned many government awards and grants for their high level of technology and is considered a leader in the nanotechnology field.
After meeting Professor Kawahara at a bio industry fair (and learning of his work in "supercell technology"), Orla pursued a tie-up with the Japanese scientist, reaching a collaborative agreement with him in November 2005 to develop a new effective reagent.
Working together with Kitakyushu city, JETRO facilitated meetings between the UK firm and Professor Kawahara—under the Region-to-Region program in cooperation with One NorthEast—and also provided support with company registration procedures and legal issues related to establishing the firm's Japan office.
Apr. 10, 2006
UK-based Polar Instruments opens subsidiary in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture
Polar Instruments (Asia/Pacific), the regional operations arm of a U.K.-based printed circuit boards (PCB) firm, announced the opening of their new office in the British Industry Centre, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Polar Instruments specializes in products that fabrication of printed circuit boards. Polar Instruments chose to be based in Yokohama for several reasons. For example, the Kanagawa prefectural government gave active support, there is a program for financial grants, costs are comparatively cheaper than in Tokyo, and there is plenty of housing available for non-Japanese workers.
"We are confident that now we have established a direct presence in Japan, we will be able to give enhanced support to our current and prospective customers." - said Mr Amit Bhardwaj, President of Polar Asia/Pacific -"Polar has already established a market presence with our CITS controlled impedance test system and SI range of signal integrity software and we look forward to making contact with many more PCB fabricators and PCB designers now that we have a base in Yokohama."
Yokohama-city makes efforts to promote the location of IT companies as a "Special Zone for International IT Business Exchange" as part of the central government's program for creating structural-reform special zones.
Mar. 8, 2006
Germany-based Fresenius Medical Care to expand its Japan plant
Rendering of Busen Plant
Fresenius Medical Care Asia-Pacific, the regional operations arm of a leading Germany-based healthcare firm, announced plans to expand its plant in Buzen, Fukuoka prefecture. Investing some JPY 2.7 billion ($US 22 million), the firm will add a production assembly line (to manufacture dialyzers used in hemodialysis treatments) to its Buzen plant. Construction is slated to begin in March 2006, and the new production line is expected to be operational by June 2007. The firm plans to hire an additional 70 employees by the project's completion, adding to the plant's current workforce of 93 (as of January 2006).
Upgrading its Buzen plant will allow Fresenius to manufacture its dialyzers, from raw material to finished product, completely in Japan, giving the firm greater flexibility in tailoring its products to the Japan market, which has a fast-growing dialysis patient population. The firm also plans to export dialyzers from the Buzen plant to other growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Feb. 16, 2006
Operation of Container Terminal by Private-Sector Foreign-Affiliated Company Begins in Okinawa
Naha International Container Terminal, Inc. (NICTI), began operation of the Naha International Container Terminal, in January 2006. Philippine terminal operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has an equity share in NICTI of 60%, with the remaining 40% being held by six Okinawan businesses, thus making NICTI the first port to be entirely operated by private-sector businesses. Last year, lease of the port to the private sector became possible due to the approval as a special zone for structural reform. NICTI partner ICTSI, it should be noted, not only operates in the Philippines, but has an impressive world-wide track record in other countries, including Argentina and Thailand.
The Naha Port Authority (NPA) will be advertising the position of Okinawa as a transship port for burgeoning Chinese freight and enhancing the port's international logistics function by making full use of ICTSI's know-how and network. Specifically, the NPA is planning to attract a cluster of international logistics businesses by offering long-term leasing of land behind the terminal, with first term offer public offerings to development businesses of 2.6 hectares beginning in mid-February. Port-related seminars are also scheduled for March and beyond in Korea and Shanghai.
In Kitakyushu-shi, PSA International Pte Ltd. is another example of a foreign capital company participating in the operation of a domestic container terminal.
Jan. 27, 2006
Italian furniture maker Calligaris opens a Japan sales office and distribution center
Calligaris Japan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian furniture maker Calligaris, opened a sales office in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture and a distribution center in Okawa, Fukuoka prefecture on January 10th, 2006.
For more than a decade, Calligaris products have been available in the Japan market through Japanese retailers, who previously could place orders only in large quantities. By opening a sales offices and distribution center in Japan, the firm can now offer its goods directly to Japanese retailers, and in volumes more fitting the level and quality of furniture Calligaris traditionally offers.
The firm chose Kobe for its sales office because of the city's geographical attractiveness and fashion-conscious image, and because the firm would be able to stand out more in Kobe than in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, which are already crowded with competitors. The firm located its distribution center in Okawa—a center of Japan's furniture industry—because of the city's abundant specialty transportation companies that are closely linked into Japan's nationwide distribution network.
