Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Miyagi
Building the future together in Miyagi
- Your Regional Guide: Yuki Sadamitsu
Inquiry form
Commerce, Industry and Tourism Department
3-8-1, Hon-cho, Aoba-Ward, Sendai-city, Miyagi Prefecture 980-8570
TEL: +81-22-211-2704 FAX: +81-22-211-2719
Basic Information
| Population | 2.34 million (2008) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 1.19 million (2005) |
| Area | 7,285.74km² (2006) |
| GDP | 8,669 billion yen (2004) |
| Major industries | Automotive-related, precision machinery, advanced electronics, IT, food manufacturing |
| Developing industries | Optics, semiconductor manufacturing device-related, medical/dental engineering and health and welfare, MEMS technology, content |
| Offices overseas | Seoul, South Korea/Dalian, China |
| Offices in Japan | Tokyo/Osaka city, Osaka Prefecture |
| JETRO office | JETRO Sendai |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
With Toyota Motor Tohoku Corporation, Central Motor Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation’s finished vehicle assembly maker), a plant producing vehicle mounted batteries for the joint business venture of Toyota Motor Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., and other corporate facilities setting up in Miyagi, the prefecture is expected to develop as one of Japan’s main bases for the automotive industry. In fact, it is expected to become the auto industry’s third largest regional base in Japan after the Tokai region and the Kyushu region. Miyagi is also gaining attention as a base for semiconductor industry, with major global manufacturers Tokyo Electron AT Limited, Advantest Corporation establishing manufacturing sites in the prefecture.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
Miyagi has 14 universities, including Tohoku University, 5 junior colleges and 2 technical colleges. The prefecture’s science and technology faculties are top-notch, attracting talented human resources from throughout the Tohoku region. Despite the fact that Miyagi graduates have a strong desire to work within Miyagi, approximately 40% end up working outside the prefecture; thus there is a strong desire amongst Miyagi graduates to stay in the prefecture if suitable jobs are available. The Tohoku Polytechnic College has been established in Miyagi and provides a specialized education in production, control, electronics, information, etc., technology which gives graduates the technical knowledge that enables them to head straight into the workforce. Miyagi also possesses a number of high schools and higher vocational schools and is known for the large numbers of graduates that come from the prefecture.
Industry-government-academia collaboration
Miyagi endeavors to provide one-stop service in helping companies find sites within the prefecture and has in place a comprehensive system for handling corporate location needs and requests. When a request is made, the Miyagi government works together with the different municipal governments, educational institutions (such as Tohoku University), specialized technical consultation institutions and others; and after a site has been selected, this system helps companies individually address any issues that may arise.
In 2003 a “Roundtable on Cooperation amongst Industry, Academia, and Government” consisting of Tohoku University, Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai City and the Tohoku Economic Federation was established. The heads of the prefecture’s universities, industry and government met to exchange opinions and ideas on the direction cooperation amongst industry, academia, and government. From this have been born cooperative initiatives (such as personnel exchanges between Tohoku University and the prefectural and Sendai City governments, the creation of a Tohoku Incubation Fund, and the cultivation of human resources who will assume responsibility for the future of local industry) aimed at stimulating the region’s economy and industry.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
Miyagi is located approximately 300km northeast of Tokyo in the center of the Tohoku region. It includes Sendai City (one of 12 government-designated cities in Japan) and has approximately 2,340,000 residents. The Pacific Ocean borders it on the east, Akita and Yamagata border it on the west, Fukushima borders it on the south, and Iwate borders it on the north. It is located almost exactly at the midpoint between Aomori and Tokyo. Also, as the gateway to the Tohoku region, Miyagi maintains a network of expressways leading to each of the prefectures in the Tohoku region. It also provides easy access to Tokyo by train, arriving in one hour and thirty-six minutes by the fastest Tohoku shinkansen (bullet train); one can easily go to Tokyo and back in a day for business. The weather is comfortable year-round, and companies interested in moving into Miyagi are provided with “one-stop” support in choosing a suitable site, connections with Tohoku University and help with human resources utilization. In addition, Sendai Airport and the Port of Sendai offer transport routes to regions throughout the world, making it Miyagi a convenient location logistically.
<Land>
The Tohoku Jukan Expressway runs through the middle of the prefecture, making Miyagi ideally situated for distribution by truck. Also, with the opening of the Sendai-Tobu Road and the Sendai-Nanbu Road as well as the Rifu JCT – Shirakashidai I.C. on the Sendai-Hokubu Road, the circular network of roads around the greater Sendai metropolitan area is approximately 90% complete.
<Air>
A number of chartered travel and cargo flights direct to the U.S. and Europe fly out of Miyagi, and a full range of facilities for customs, refrigeration, fumigation, etc., are maintained (Sendai Air Cargo Terminal). Cargo can be imported from or exported to anywhere in Asia, Europe or the U.S. within one to two days using the daily flight that goes between Sendai and Incheon Airport in Seoul. Also, the Sendai Airport station can be reached in as little as 17 minutes from the JR Sendai station thanks to the railway line opened on March 18, 2007.
<Sea>
Sendai International Commercial Port (Sendai Port) maintains a variety of regular container routes, allowing goods to be imported from or exported to more than 60 countries worldwide via transshipment. It serves the needs of a broad range of areas, including all of Miyagi, the region below northern Iwate, all of Yamagata, and the region north of Koriyama in Fukushima.
Sendai Port maintains a variety of regular container routes, such as the weekly export route to North America (the only such route north of the Keihin region), and maintains a full range of quarantine, customs and other facilities. A chassis pool is available 24 hours a day.
<Railway>
Passengers can go between Sendai and Tokyo in as little as one hour and thirty-six minutes, easily allowing for business day trips.
Services for investment in Japan
| Menu of services | Fees charged? | Content of services |
|---|---|---|
| Providing market information | ||
| Advice on market participation | No | Advice is provided as needed. |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | A registration system exists for services offering assistance with subcontracting within Miyagi (unable to handle foreign languages, however). |
| Listing of potential customers and partners | No | Same as above |
| Support for establishing a base | ||
| Providing incubation facilities or other facilities | Yes | Including those attached to Tohoku University, there are 12 incubation facilities with a total of 165 rooms available in the areas surrounding Sendai City. |
| Introduction of available properties and advice on hiring personnel | No | Information related to available land, factories, etc., as well as subsidies and necessary procedures is made available when companies are searching for a suitable site. |
| Providing information on permits and licensing procedures | No | Same as above |
| Providing information on subsidy programs | No | Same as above |
Available incentives
Links to Related Websites
- Miyagi Prefecture
- Enterprise Location Guide
- The Direction of Miyagi Prefecture's International exchange
- Miyagi Organization For Industry Promotion
- Miyagi Touring Navigation
- Miyagi International Association
- Industrial Technology Institute, Miyagi Prefecture Government
