Japan Business
• Main exports: Cars, computers, electronic devices and chemicals.
• Main imports: Machinery, fuel, food, chemicals and textiles.
• Main trade partners: USA, China, Taiwan (China), Korea (Rep) and Germany.
Economy
The model worked superbly until the early 1990s, when competition from abroad and excessive lending by the banks began to exert pressure. The extent of the problem became apparent with the 1991 property crash and, more spectacularly, the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
In the following years the economy stagnated, remaining at 0% inflation for a few years. Unemployment, a comparative novelty in a country where jobs were typically guaranteed for life, reached 5.4%.
From 2003 to 2007 the Japanese economy enjoyed its strongest recovery since WWII. However, the global economic crisis of late 2008 hit Japan hard. Unemployment is creeping up towards 5%, but, even so, Japan remains the third largest economy in the world.
Business Etiquette
Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some offices are open Sat 0900-1200.
Conferences & Conventions
Business Contacts
Salisbury House, 29 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 5QQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7628 0069.
Website: www.jcci.org.uk
Nippon Shoko Kaigi-sho (The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
2-2 Marunouchi 3 Chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Tel: (3) 3283 7824.
Website: www.jcci.or.jp
JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation)
Ark Mari Building, 6F 12-32, Akasaka 1-Chrome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-6006, Japan
Tel: (3) 3582 5511.
Website: www.jetro.go.jp
JETRO in the UK
MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6AL, UK
Tel: (020) 7421 8300.
Website: www.jetro.go.jp/uk
Japan National Tourism Organisation
2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan
Tel: (3) 3216 2905.
Website: www.jnto.go.jp
Fresh ideas are just one click away...
Travel Deals
-
Finland Activity & adventure holidays Finnish Lapland has enormous areas of untouched wilderness and mile upon mile of wild rolling fells. This vast open countryside, sparkling in the winter sunshine, just begs to be explored by
-
Orlando Adrenaline Whether you’re enjoying the hair-raising delights of the world’s only flying rollercoaster called Manta at SeaWorld or racing through the Everglades on an airboat in search of alligators, one thing’s for
-
Cambodia Luxury holidays Today Cambodia is symbolised by awesome Angkor Wat, the largest man-made religious structure in the world. However, Cambodia is also home to some of the finest boutique hotels in the world
-
Laos Inspire Me When the French colonised Indochina they had a saying: "The Vietnamese grow the rice, the Cambodians watch the rice grow, and the Lao people listen to the rice grow." This is
-
Vietnam Cultural breaks Vietnam is a country with a rich and varied history that is now firmly focused on her bright future. This is why it has become one of the hottest destinations for
-
Dominican Republic Family holidays The Dominican Republic has soared in popularity as a tropical hotspot for families seeking sun, sand and an affordable holiday in the Caribbean. The island's main attraction is magnificent golden sand
