Investing in Japan
Regional Information
Yamagata
A concentration of sophisticated, cutting-edge, technological industries – “Innovation Land Yamagata”
- Your Regional Guide: Hidetoshi Ito
Inquiry form
Industrial Promotion Division
2-8-1 Matsunami, Yamagata-city, Yamagata Prefecture 990-8570
TEL: +81-23-630-3127 FAX: +81-23-630-2695
Basic Information
| Population | 1.20 million (Male: 0.58 million, Female: 0.62 million) (2007) |
|---|---|
| Labor force | 0.65 million (Male: 0.37 million, Female: 0.28 million) (2005) |
| Area | 9,323km² (2007) |
| GDP | 4,222 billion yen (2006) |
| Major industries | Information and telecommunications, electronic components, general machinery, food items |
| Developing industries | Organic electronics, nanotechnology, biotechnology |
| Offices overseas | Seoul |
| Offices in Japan | Tokyo/Osaka City/Nagoya City |
| JETRO office | JETRO Yamagata |
Regional Profile
Strength of the region's industries and economy
Yamagata Prefecture features a concentration of technologically-oriented companies engaged in everything from materials and parts fabrication to final product production. Originating with the iron casting for which Yamagata became famous roughly 900 years ago, Yamagata has honed and refined its machining techniques over the years, becoming renowned as one of the Tohoku region’s most technologically rich areas offering superior precision machinery components. Furthermore, Yamagata is making headway on its cutting-edge “Organic Electronics Valley” and “Ultraprecision Machining Technology” projects, which are both part of a push to build up a concentration of new industries which fully utilize the potential that Yamagata has to offer.
Strength of the region's education/research institutes
Yamagata Prefecture offers excellent higher education and research through such institutions as Yamagata University, Tohoku University of Art and Design, Tohoku University of Community Service and Science, and the Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences as well as a tremendous amount of collaborative research between the government, industry and academia at public testing and research facilities such as the Yamagata Research Institute of Technology, which aids in improving technological standards for the prefecture, and the Yamagata Advanced Technology Research and Development Center, which serves as a core facilitator of research and development conducted jointly by the government, industry and academia.
Industry-government-academia collaboration
Yamagata Prefecture is a leader in the Tohoku region due to its dense concentration of sophisticated manufacturing firms and its inter-corporate network, and the potential of the Yamagata and Yonezawa regions as an “ultraprecise manufacturing technology cluster” is rated highly.Both of these regions are working together to develop this cluster through a strengthened network centered on Yamagata and Yonezawa, built up research and development capabilities, improved proposal development and information dissemination capabilities, and through the use of research results from such projects as the “Ultraprecision Machining Technology Project” and the “Organic Electronic Valley Vision”. In addition, Yamagata Prefecture is further developing its manufacturing industry by partnering with companies and organizations related to precision parts and devices and manufacturing equipment in the greater Sendai area and by partnering with companies and organizations related to automotive parts in the area around the Kitakami River Basin.
Strength of the region's infrastructure
Yamagata Prefecture is in the Tohoku region on the northwest side of the main island of Honshu along the Sea of Japan. It is approximately two hours by shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo and approximately four hours by expressway. Also, Yamagata has two airports – Yamagata Airport and Shonai Airport – which allow easy access to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Furthermore, work is being undertaken to lengthen the Tohoku-chuo Expressway and Nihonkaiengan Tohoku Expressway which, when completed, is expected to further increase the convenience of the region.
<Land>
Yamagata Prefecture is bisected from the Shonai region by the Sea of Japan through its interior by the Yamagata Expressway, which is a major transportation artery for eastern Japan. It connects with the Tohoku Expressway, which travelers can use to reach Tokyo in approximately four hours. Also, the Tohoku-chuo Expressway runs through the prefecture longitudinally, and additional work being undertaken on it is expected to increase the convenience of the region when it is completed.
<Air>
There are two airports in Yamagata Prefecture: Yamagata Airport and Shonai Airport. Flights from either airport can reach Tokyo or Nagoya in approximately one hour and Osaka in approximately 70 minutes, providing excellent access to three of Japan’s largest markets.
<Sea>
Yamagata Prefecture’s major port is Sakata Port. Regular container vessels travel between Pusan in Korea and other destinations, making Sakata Port a gateway to the booming markets of East Asia and Russia, and the traffic to and from Sakata Port is only expected to increase in the coming years. In addition, Sakata Port has been designated a “Recycle Port” and is steadily attracting the business of recycling-related industry.
<Railway>
The Yamagata Shinkansen (bullet train) runs longitudinally through the prefecture, with the express shinkansen going between Yamagata and Tokyo in two hours and thirty minutes and between Yonezawa and Tokyo in two hours.
Database of candidate partners
Information on more than 1,400 companies in Yamagata is available, sorted into the categories of “manufacturing industry”, “wholesale industry” or “business support services industry”.
Available incentives
Links to Related Websites
- Yamagata Prefecture
- YAMAGATA QUEST
- Association for International Relations in Yamagata
- Tourist information on Yamagata Prefecture
