Outstanding Corporations in the Chugoku Region Outstanding Corporations in the Outstanding Corporations in the Chugoku Region Companies in the Chugoku Region with Unique, Best-Selling Products Companies in the Chugoku Region with Unique, Best-Selling Products March 2019 Regional Economic Research Promotion Council Outstanding Corporations in the Chugoku Region Chugoku Economic Federation Companies in the Chugoku Region with Unique, Best-Selling Products March 2019 March 2019 Regional Economic Research Promotion Council Regional Economic Research Promotion Council Chugoku Economic Federation Chugoku Economic Federation Introduction The Chugoku Region is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, with the Chugoku Mountains running through its middle. The region consists of 5 prefectures, each with its own climate and unique culture. This broad range of diversity has given birth to many companies that lead their fields both in Japan and around the world. This region is home to many outstanding companies that, regardless of size, boast an extremely high level of competitiveness. Through their use of unique ideas, technological skills, and R&D capabilities to create new products and services, they have garnered much attention both domestically and from around the world. In this booklet, we introduce 81 outstanding companies in the Chugoku Region that provide unique products and services, and have leading shares in both domestic and global markets. These companies, which are currently expanding globally, are looking for people in Japan with an international perspective as well as talented people from overseas. We hope this booklet will help you to learn more about and to develop an interest in companies in the Chugoku Region. We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the companies that cooperated in the creation of this booklet. March 2019 Regional Economic Research Promotion Council Chugoku Economic Federation Publication of the Content of this Booklet on Our Website The content of this booklet is also available on our website. You can access this information either by scanning the QR code or entering the following URL in your browser. http://chugokukeiren.jp/info-en/ Contents Features of the Chugoku Region ……………………………………… 4 Outstanding Companies in the Chugoku Region (Location Map) … 10 Company Profiles ……………………………………………………… 12 Manufacturing (Basic Materials Industry) ……………………… 12 Manufacturing (Processing and Assembly Industry) ………… 22 Manufacturing (Lifestyle-related Industry) …………………… 37 Non-manufacturing Industry …………………………………… 44 Company Index………………………………………………………… 53 Features of the High-grade special steel that Accumulation of electronics industries Chugoku Region Accumulating a Diverse Range originates from Tatara ironmaking of Industries, and Providing Locations for Companies with Unique, Best-Selling Products Matsuba Crab The Chugoku1 Region is home to many leading generations and developed into modern industries. companies, and a diverse range of industries, that In addition, industrial development that is unique to are active in many fields, including manufacturing, the region, by making use of agricultural products software, and distribution. Among these, there is a and mineral resources, can be found here. Further, particular focus on the manufacturing industry; the many global companies that develop/introduce Chugoku Region is the base of manufacturing in advanced technology are also located in the region. Japan. A major feature of the Chugoku Region is its role as One factor that contributed to this is a history of home to many companies with unique, best-selling Inshu Japanese technology from traditional industries, such as Tatara products that make use of both traditional and Paper ironmaking, that have been passed down for many advanced technologies. Tatara Yumihama 20th Century Ironmaking Kasuri Pears Sekishu Value of shipments of manufactured products per employee (2016) Japanese Paper Unit: 10,000 yen/person Sewing Industry Jeans 3989 3610 2859 2808 2971 ● White Peaches and Muscat Grapes Japan Koshinetsu Hokkaido Hagi Ware Hokuriku Tohoku Kumano Brushes ● ● ● Rush Products ● Akama Limestone as a raw Hiroshima material for cement Oysters ● ● ● Inkstones Nigata Files Citrus ● Bizen Ware ● 4656 4704 3986 4142 3676 3894 Competitive chemical products exported all around the world Automobile industry with world-class Shipbuilding industry, forming an Mizushima Coastal Industry Area, PET resin Polycrystalline silicon technical capabilities international base for industries home to leading companies (PET bottles) (Semiconductor wafer) Kyushu/ Chugoku Shikoku Kinki Tokai Kanto Okinawa Source: "Census of Manufactures", Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry Photos provided by: Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture Inshu Washi Cooperative Association, Sekishu Washi Cooperative Association, Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation, Hiroshima Prefecture, Mazda Motor Corporation, and others. Battery materials All photos are reprinted with permission. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. 4 Features of the High-grade special steel that Accumulation of electronics industries Chugoku Region Accumulating a Diverse Range originates from Tatara ironmaking of Industries, and Providing Locations for Companies with Unique, Best-Selling Products Matsuba Crab The Chugoku1 Region is home to many leading generations and developed into modern industries. companies, and a diverse range of industries, that In addition, industrial development that is unique to are active in many fields, including manufacturing, the region, by making use of agricultural products software, and distribution. Among these, there is a and mineral resources, can be found here. Further, particular focus on the manufacturing industry; the many global companies that develop/introduce Chugoku Region is the base of manufacturing in advanced technology are also located in the region. Japan. A major feature of the Chugoku Region is its role as One factor that contributed to this is a history of home to many companies with unique, best-selling Inshu Japanese technology from traditional industries, such as Tatara products that make use of both traditional and Paper ironmaking, that have been passed down for many advanced technologies. Tatara Yumihama 20th Century Ironmaking Kasuri Pears Sekishu Value of shipments of manufactured products per employee (2016) Japanese Paper Unit: 10,000 yen/person Sewing Industry Jeans 3989 3610 2859 2808 2971 ● White Peaches and Muscat Grapes Japan Koshinetsu Hokkaido Hagi Ware Hokuriku Tohoku Kumano Brushes ● ● ● Rush Products ● Akama Limestone as a raw Hiroshima material for cement Oysters ● ● ● Inkstones Nigata Files Citrus ● Bizen Ware ● 4656 4704 3986 4142 3676 3894 Competitive chemical products exported all around the world Automobile industry with world-class Shipbuilding industry, forming an Mizushima Coastal Industry Area, PET resin Polycrystalline silicon technical capabilities international base for industries home to leading companies (PET bottles) (Semiconductor wafer) Kyushu/ Chugoku Shikoku Kinki Tokai Kanto Okinawa Source: "Census of Manufactures", Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry Photos provided by: Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture Inshu Washi Cooperative Association, Sekishu Washi Cooperative Association, Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords, Okayama Prefectural Tourism Federation, Hiroshima Prefecture, Mazda Motor Corporation, and others. Battery materials All photos are reprinted with permission. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. 5 Features of the Chugoku Region Diverse Employment and Comfortable Work Environments Domestic and International Network The Chugoku2 Region, which is home to a wide variety Commute times to workplace and school are The Chugoku Region has a substantial transportation of industries, offers a diverse range of workplaces shorter than major metropolitan areas such as Tokyo network, including expressways, railways, airports, from large to medium and small enterprises, to satisfy and Osaka, as well as regional urban areas in places and harbors, for the convenient and smooth the needs of working people. It provides a good such as Miyagi Prefecture and Fukuoka Prefecture. movement of people and goods both domestically employment situation, such as a high ratio of job One feature of the Chugoku Region is a small burden and overseas. offers to job seekers compared to all of Japan. due to short commute times. Sendai 1, Tokyo (Haneda) 5,Shizuoka 1 Nagoya (Komaki) 2,Osaka (Itami) 4, Oki 1, Fukuoka 2 Active Job Openings-to-Applicants Average Daily Work/School Osaka (Itami) 1 Ratio (2017) Commute on Weekdays (2016) （Ratio） （Min.） Izumo 1 Donghae/Vladivostok 1 cruise/week 2.0 100 98 Yonago Sakaiminato 84 1.81 Oki Izumo Tottori 1.8 80 1.78 Tokyo (Haneda) 5 72 73 Seoul (Incheon) 6 flights/week 1.71 71 Tokyo (Haneda) 6 Hong Kong 3 flights/week 66 1.61 1.61 1.6 60 58 Sapporo 2 Tokyo (Haneda) 2 54 Sendai 2 1.50 1.49 50 51 51 Tokyo (Haneda) 18 Iwami 41 42 Tokyo (Narita) 3 1.4 40 Okinawa 1 37 Seoul (Incheon) 3 flights/week Dalian/Bejing 4 flights/week Okayama Shanghai (Pudong) 7 flights/week Hong Kong 3 flights/week 1.2 20 Taipei (Taoyuan) 7 flights/week Hiroshima Singapore 3 flights/week Yamaguchiube Iwakuni Seoul (Incheon) 7 flights/week Tokyo (Haneda) 10 1.0 0 Shanghai (Pudong) 7 flights/week Sapporo 1 Shimonoseki Hong Kong 3 flights/week Okinawa 1 Tottori Tottori Tokyo Osaka Miyagi