Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Ishikawa
Accommodating Ishikawa
- Your Regional Guide: Tadaaki Kimura
Inquiry form
Industrial Policy Division, Commerce, Industry and Labor Department
1-1 Kuratsuki, Kanazawa-city, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-8580
TEL: +81-76-225-1509 FAX: +81-76-225-1514
- Basic Information
- Regional Profile
- Services for investment in Japan
- Available incentives
- Living environment for foreigners
- Links to Related Websites
Basic Information
| Population | 1.17 million (Male: 0.57 million, Female: 0.60 million) (2008) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 0.61 million (Male: 0.34 million, Female: 0.27 million) (2007) |
| Area | 4,185km² (2006) |
| GDP | 4,613 billion yen (2005) |
| Major industries | Information-related, machinery-related, textile-related, traditional, tourism |
| Developing industries | Information-related, machinery-related, textile-related, traditional, tourism |
| Offices overseas | New York (Joint office with JETRO)/Shanghai (Joint office with JETRO) |
| Offices in Japan | Tokyo/Osaka |
| JETRO office | JETRO Kanazawa |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
Ishikawa’s industrial bases are engineering and metalworking, textiles, and food products, with their primary sectors being construction machinery, industrial machinery, machine tools, and textile machinery. In 2006, the percentage of Ishikawa’s total shipment value of manufactured products was 64.1% for engineering and metalworking, 7% for textiles and 9.9% for food products.
The prefecture is home to a number of companies with significant national market shares which produce displays, PC peripherals, bottling machines, machine tools, textile machinery and other products recognized the world over for the quality. In recent years the development of the electronic device and IT-related industries in Ishikawa has been remarkable, with the information services industry ranking fourth nationally, per capita, in the number of business facilities, fifth in the number of employees, and sixth in sales.The industrial production index for Ishikawa went from an average of 100 in 2000 to 131.6 in 2006, putting it third nationally and demonstrating that it is one of the most active prefectures.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
Ishikawa features 19 universities, junior colleges and technical colleges, including Japan’s first national university with graduate school curriculum, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Kanazawa University, and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology (KIT). Per capita, in terms of the number of higher learning institutions, Ishikawa ranks third nationally and, in terms of students, fifth nationally, meaning that it has a high concentration of higher education facilities and outstanding human resources. In particular, JAIST attracts a outstanding researchers, such as global authorities in the field of home networks, and it actively pursues joint research projects with companies. KIT boasts a number of patents and is among the top engineering universities in Japan; its graduates are highly prized by the companies that hire them. The Industrial Research Institute of Ishikawa and the Hokuriku Research Center (capable of running simulations in virtual network space provided by 5,000 servers) offer support for research and development using the latest in measuring instruments and other equipment.
Industry-government-academia collaboration
Companies and university, etc., research institutions are working together to carry out next-generation research and development, such as magneto encephalographs and other cutting-edge medical equipment. This work is actively supported by the Industrial Research Institute of Ishikawa, the Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization (ISICO) and other testing institutions as well as small and medium-sized company support organizations in terms of know-how, financial assistance, matching, etc. New business opportunities are being made.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
Ishikawa is located almost exactly in the center of Japan’s string of islands; is within close reach of the Tokyo metropolitan area, the Kansai region, and the Chukyo region; and is a distribution hub. Access to overseas countries is also good, with direct flights running to Shanghai, Seoul, and Taipei.
- One hour by plane to Tokyo (11 roundtrip flights per day from Komatsu Airport) (two roundtrip flights per day from the Noto Airport) Three hours and forty-seven minutes by train (12 roundtrip trains per day via Echigo-Yuzawa; 16 roundtrip trains per day via Yonehara)The Hokuriku shinkansen (bullet train) line is scheduled to be extended to Kanazawa in 2014; this is expected to greatly reduce travel time, taking only two hours and twenty-eight minutes to reach Tokyo.
- Two hours and thirty minutes to Osaka by train (25 roundtrip trains per day)
- Two hours and twenty-five minutes by train to Nagoya (15 roundtrip trains per day)
- Direct flights to Shanghai and Seoul (4 roundtrip flights (for both) per week)
- Direct flights to Taipei (2 roundtrip flights per week)
<Land>
Ishikawa has several main arterial lines running through it, such as the Hokuriku Expressway, Meishin Expressway, and Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, providing efficient transportation access to three of Japan’s major metropolitan areas. Two hours and forty minutes to Nagoya, three hours and twenty minutes to Osaka, and five hours and twenty minutes to Tokyo.
<Air>
Ishikawa maintains six domestic routes, including Tokyo (one hour; 11 roundtrip flights per day), Hokkaido, the Tohoku region, the Kyushu region, and Okinawa.
Internationally, there are direct flights to Shanghai and Seoul (4 roundtrip flights (for both) per week), Taipei (2 roundtrip flights per week), and three weekly cargolux freight flights to Luxemburg in Europe. These allow for rapid distribution to the EU and the booming economies of Easter Europe. The volume of international freight handled by Komatsu Airport ranks fifth in Japan and has the advantage of faster customs handling than airports for large cities.
<Sea>
Port Kanazawa maintains a monthly, regular cargo route with North America and a thrice weekly transship route with Pusan in Korea, from which there are routes to the rest of Asia, Europe, and North America. There are twice weekly routes (East China routes) between Shanghai and Ningbo in China and once-a-week routes (West China routes) with Dalian and Tsingtao. Deep water pier improvements continue, with maximum depth scheduled to reach 13m by 2015 (capable of docking a 40,000 ton ship). The Komatsu Corporation (one of the world’s leading companies in construction machinery manufacturing; approximately 500 affiliate companies in Ishikawa) originated in Ishikawa Prefecture, and a number of its products are shipped to the world via Port Kanazawa.
<Railway>
Access to three of Japan largest metropolitan areas
- Three hours and forty-seven minutes to Tokyo (The Hokuriku shinkansen (bullet train) line is scheduled to be extended to Kanazawa in 2014; this is expected to greatly reduce travel time, taking only two hours and twenty-eight minutes to reach Tokyo.)
- Two hours and thirty minutes to Osaka; Two hours and twenty-five minutes to Nagoya
Foreign company(s) operating in the industry
Six foreign firms have expanded their operations into Ishikawa. These include machinery, metalworking and chemical companies from America, Europe and Asia.
Services for investment in Japan
| Menu of services | Fees charged? | Content of services |
|---|---|---|
| Providing market information | ||
| Advice on market participation | No | Advice is provided by Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization |
| Consulting by external experts and advisers | Yes (First time free of charge) | Advice is provided by international lawyers |
| Arranging appointments with potential customers and partners | Yes | Arrangements are made by International Business Support Desk consultants, etc. |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Monitoring surveys (evaluation of products and services) | Yes | Arrangements are made by International Business Support Desk consultants, etc. |
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Advice is provided by Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization |
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Advice is provided by Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes | Create Lab |
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes (First time free of charge) | Advice is provided by international lawyers |
| Providing information on procedures for investing in Japan | Yes (First time free of charge) | Advice is provided by international lawyers |
| Arranging the meetings needed to establish a base (real estate, manpower services) | Yes | Arrangements are made by the International Business Support Desk |
| Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel | No | Advice is provided by Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization |
| Providing information on permits and licensing procedures | Yes (First time free of charge) | Advice is provided by international lawyers |
| Providing information on subsidy programs | No | Information is provided by the International Business Support Desk |
Support service
Ishikawa Sunrise Industries Creation Organization (ISICO), JETRO Kanazawa, international law offices and others work together to provide support via the “International Business Support Desk”.
Database of candidate partners
- International Business Matching Service
Local Ishikawa companies with high-caliber technological capability and a desire to form business partnerships with foreign companies are listed according to industry sector on the homepage. This information is available in Chinese and Korean in addition to English.
- Ishikawa Virtual Industrial Park
Introductions to high-caliber manufacturing companies in Ishikawa. More than 400 companies listed. Search by category, company name or keyword.
Available incentives
<Subsidy System>
Up to 3.5 billion yen in subsidies is available
- Employment expansion-related corporate establishment promotion subsidy.Manufacturing, software, information processing and provision service facilities, etc.
- Ishikawa Science Park laboratory establishment promotion subsidy.Laboratory or other facility establishment in the Ishikawa Science Park
- Creative industry establishment promotion subsidy.Factory utilizing airports and/or seaports; factories possessing unique technologies; etc.
<Financing System>
Corporate establishment promotion
- Target Businesses: New business establishment from outside the prefecture; establishment on sites specified by the prefecture (agro-industrial zones, suitable factory sites, prefectural or municipal reclaimed land, etc.); hiring of 10 or more (5 or more in underpopulated regions) full-time employees; businesses generating a ripple effect on the regional economy.
- Target Costs: Factory site, building, machinery and equipment, etc., acquisition costs (capital outlay for fixed assets)
- Maximum Amount: 2/3rd of capital outlay for fixed assets (up to 500 million yen)
- Interest: Set by the Governor: Financing period of 10 years or less・・・fixed 2.00%/Financing period of over 10 years・・・variable 1.95% (as of April 19, 2007)
- Financing Period: 10 years or less or 15 years of less (carried out within two years)
Living environment for foreigners
| Living environment | Ishikawa has an abundance of nature, including beautiful mountains, seas and rivers. It offers a variety of leisure facilities, such as ski slopes, golf courses, zoos, and aquariums; hot springs to refresh body and mind; and a full array of cultural facilities such as museums and art galleries. In addition, the downtown area of Kanazawa City |
|---|---|
| Health services catering to foreigners | A searchable list of medical facilities offering services in foreign languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian) is available on the Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange homepage. |
| Other | The Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange offers a variety of support for learning Japanese language and culture in addition to providing free legal consultations for daily life issues. |
Links to Related Websites
