The Western Gateway to the United States
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( publicity) The Japan Times Monday, February 3, 2014 7 LOS ANGELES Produced by: NIHON GLOBAL MEDIA The western gateway to the United States Ending two centuries of self- That renewed vigor is noticeable infrastructure and logistics entire United States. Home to imposed isolation, Japan signed a in all industries. While Japanese facilities, Los Angeles has had the Japanese American National landmark treaty with the United companies in the United States a very long and rich history Museum, the Japanese American States in 1854, one year after were traditionally associated with Japan. Since the arrival Cultural and Community Center an American navy fleet docked with big business, particularly in of the first wave of Japanese and the venue of the Nisei Week in Edo (now Tokyo) as part of a the automotive and electronics immigrants in the late 1800s, the annual festival, Little Tokyo was mission to establish trade relations industries, there is a new breed Japanese community has grown declared a National Historic between the two countries. of firms that, while smaller and consistently and contributed Landmark District in 1995. This year, as the United States less well known, exhibit the same greatly to the cultural wealth of Opportunities for prosperous and Japan commemorate the commitment to quality and the county. collaborations between the 160th anniversary of the signing innovation. In its most recent report, the United States and Japan continue of the Treaty of Peace and Amity, “Like all the other Japanese LAEDC said Los Angeles County to arise. Beyond the encouraging both countries look back at how brands, the North American piece is home to the country’s largest trade numbers, investment, their economies have grown is one where we still see some Japanese-American community. attracted by the warmth and increasingly integrated over good stability and good growth. Aside from the more than openness shown to Japanese the years and have prospered Overall, Japanese brands have 100,000 people of Japanese businesses, has been pouring into to account for one-third of the a very strong reputation here heritage living in Los Angeles Southern California. world’s output. within the U.S. With most of the County, an additional 650,000 “On behalf of the Japanese While the economic emergence headquarters being on the West Japanese tourists visit the county government, I’d like to express of China is perceived to have Coast, we fit in well within the car every year. our sincere and deepest grati- diminished the importance of culture in California,” said Mazda “L.A. is one of the best places tude to California. We Japanese American-Japanese relations, the North American Operations to start the business for Japanese are comfortable here because of U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis President and Chief Executive companies, because of the the warm and kind acceptance. I has noted that Japan remained Officer Jim O’Sullivan. appropriate infrastructure and believe that the existing ties and the largest single foreign direct Apart from the automotive large Japanese community bonds between Japan and the investor from Asia in 2012, sector, immense investment including variety of Japanese West Coast have been quite criti- investing $19.2 billion that year. opportunities exist in new foods, easier to accommodate cal for our relationship, and we Including all regions, Japan areas, specifically in green their family as well,” said Muroi. would like to do our best to fur- ranks as the fourth-largest FDI and renewable energy, mass Little Tokyo, located in the heart ther promote this existing good and Convention Board Tourism L.A. contributor. transportation, healthcare, of downtown Los Angeles is one relationship now and in the fu- The Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall embodies the dynamism of the world’s entertainment capital. Aside from its billion- That upward trend is especially pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, of only three “Japan Towns” in the ture,” said Niimi. dollar entertainment and creative sectors, Los Angeles attracts investments in the manufacturing and service industries. evident on the U.S. West Coast, hospitality, entertainment and specifically in Los Angeles, most noticeably in food (there California. According to the are more than 900 Japanese Los Angeles County Economic restaurants in Southern California Development Corporation, Japan alone). is the largest source of FDI in the “Small and medium size food The best of both worlds sprawling county. companies have already put their Mazda zooms to the top the green way “While many American busi- interests into California by setting When Sumitomo Realty and nessmen are likely to pay atten- up their manufacturing plants Development (SR&D) President tion to the markets of China or here,” Yoshimura said. Mari Miyoshi took over the In- In its most recent Light Duty lenging North American market. South Korea, Japan is the largest Masumi Muroi, president of terContinental Los Angeles in Fuel Economy Trends Report, “Our momentum is due to a foreign direct investor among Asia the Japan Business Association Beverly Hills, she had only one the U.S. Environmental Protec- lot of the things that we have Pacific countries. Statistics of the of Southern California, explains thing in mind: to create a great tion Agency cited Mazda Motor worked on over the past four to U.S. Department of Commerce another cause of the investment hotel that impressed guests with Corp. as the most fuel-efficient five years. Our plan is to attain indicate that Japan represents 71 flow toward the United States, modern luxury and understated auto manufacturer in the coun- 300,000 units within the Unit- percent of inward FDI from Asia saying, “The Japanese domestic elegance. try with the highest fleet-wide ed States, which will be a very and (the) Pacific, with Korea at 5 market might not expand due to “You will feel very important adjusted fuel economy perfor- good increase year over year. percent and China at 1 percent. the decreasing population. But on from the moment you arrive, mance of 27.1 miles per gallon We will continue that momen- We’d like to draw attention to this the other hand, the US market is with everyone – the valet park- and the lowest CO2 emissions tum into the next fiscal year,” fact,” stressed Consul General of still growing and the economy is ing staff, the welcoming team – of 328 g/mi for the 2012 model O’Sullivan stressed. Japan in Los Angeles Jun Niimi. recovering steadily. Under such bowing to you as you enter,” said year. While the U.S. auto industry The LAEDC has also reported circumstances, the US is a good Ms. Miyoshi. “During the most challeng- has endured several difficult that 31.3 percent of foreign- market to be penetrated especially Located on the Avenue of the ing times, we decided to con- years, Mazda North American owned and -affiliated companies by Japanese manufacturers and Stars, the property the hotel now tinue investing heavily in our Operations is very optimistic in L.A. County are Japanese. Those consumer services providers.” stands on was bought by Inter- & Devt. Sumitomo Realty next generation of products, over the sector’s imminent re- companies account for around The U.S. Census Bureau has Continental from 20th Century which we call SKYACTIV TECH- covery. Sumitomo Realty and Development NOLOGY,” said Jim O’Sullivan, “The U.S. auto industry has 120,000 jobs, not withstanding reported that trade between Los Fox nearly 30 years ago. Going President Mari Miyoshi other indirect contributions to the Angeles County and Japan has through several downturns in president & CEO, Mazda North continued to recover from its Mazda USA American Operations. low point. We as a company local economy. risen every year since 2009. From the entertainment and hotel in- result of teamwork. I make sure Mazda North American Operations President and Chief Executive Officer Since the 2008 global $10 billion in 2010, the figure dustries, as well as domestic and my employees are happy in their SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, are participating in that growth, Jim O’Sullivan economic recession, the two surged to $48 billion in 2012. global economic recessions, the work, so they transfer that to our according to Mazda, is “a suite even outpacing it a little bit in countries are on the way toward California is considered the hotel still stands, checking in loy- guests,” stressed Ms. Miyoshi. of component and engineering many markets,” said O’Sullivan. selling and distributing Mazda “As a company, we see tre- recovery with investor confidence main gateway between the al and new customers alike. In only two years, the Inter- technologies that incorporate With market share growing products, we still see that there mendous room for growth for regaining its former momentum. United States and Asia. In fact, the Since taking over the helm of Continental Los Angeles has ultra-high compression ratio across North America and de- is further growth potential in Mazda in North America, spe- “In the last couple of years, the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports the hotel two years ago, Miyoshi grown very popular among A-list gasoline engines, super-efficient mand rising across its territory, a this market. This is one of the cifically within the U.S. We see interest of Japanese companies handle more than 40 percent has overseen a huge growth in Hollywood celebrities and enter- manual and automatic trans- recently opened manufacturing reasons we are investing in the the auto industry continuing to to do business in the United of all containerized sea cargo revenue and the occupancy rate, tainment moguls, as well as busi- missions, lightweight chassis and assembly plant in Mexico manufacturing facility and a recover. We have been here for States has significantly increased,” destined for the United States, which has reached an impressive ness travelers and tourists.