14March2013

ACCJ Hyogo Forum

Vitalizing Japan through Kansai !
In October 2012, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ)

Panelists

and Hyogo hosted the Vitalizing Japan through Kansai Panel Dicussion.

Mr. Michael Alfant, ACCJ President/ Chairman and CEOat Fusion Systems GroupMr. Laurence W. Bates, ACCJ Vice President/ Japan
General Counsel at GE Japan
Mr. Jeﬀrey S. Bernier, ACCJ Vice President/ Managing
Director Asia Paciﬁc at Delta Air Lines
Mr. George L. Maﬀeo, Vice President at Boeing
International, President at Boeing Japan
Mr. Kiran S. Sethi, ACCJ Vice Presidnet-Kansai/ President
at Jupiter International Corporation(The moderator Mr. Akio Matsumoto, ACCJ External
Affiairs Committee Chair-Kansai)

Mr. Ido, the governor of Hyogo, lectured on how the Union of Kansai
Governments has been working in tandem with local industries, and how
Hyogo prefecture has been working to attract global companies. The
second portion of the event was led by ﬁve panelists from the ACCJ who
shared their perspective on the business expectations of global
companies in terms of what the Kansai region has to oﬀer.
(Due to the limited length of this article, only panelist opinions havebeen included.)Emphasis on infrastructure,
capital and talent
Mr. Michael J. Alfant
desire from Kansai in order to promotebusinessintheproduction

research and innovations. We would like toprovide employments. This cannot be done

GE has joint ventures in Kobe in biomedical

There are four key elements executives
successful

many successful cases here in Kansai as well.

region.

ask Kansai region to help linkage from local
technologies to the foreign companies likeours.

the port and transportation but also includeconveniences which are available to small
companies such as child care and leisure

The aviation and transportation industry

across all areas.

businesses. What can Hyogo or Kansai dofacilities as well as wireless Internet access
The second element isventure capital. Expedite financial projection
and implementation is a crucial part to small
business success. Thirdly, the availability of arich labor pool which includes talented
managers and experienced executives withthe knowledge of sales and business culture.

Lastly, and most important to business is theneed for a strong customer base. Strengthin business comes from customers who

are willing to work with small firms and look
for top value and competitive advantages.

Connecting techniques andcompanies
Mr. Laurence W. Bates
important location for advanced technology.

sustainability?

Airports

andinfrastructure should work collaboratively inorder

tocompete

transportation

globally,systemwithworking

themoreeffectively as one entity as opposed to many
separate systems. Airports should be morecost

efficient,andtheaviationandtransportation industry should be viewed as
the backbone of economic growth. Kansai

annuallyandapplications.

receives

hundredsofThis event is held to give GEengineers and businesses the ability to share
their technologies. The event has broughtwork closely together in Japan as well as inImportance ofstrategic marketing
Mr. Kiran S. Sethi,
Union of Kansai governments and Kansai
one .

Osaka,

Kobe

and

Kyoto

arerepresented as separate from Kansai, andthis has been proven to be an inefficient
marketing approach.

The name

Kansai ,is not recognized by many in the U.S.
Therefore, business strategy should adopt
and market the area more broadly as
Kansai .

Iama

secondgeneration

should strive to be proactive in establishingbusiness owner and realize the importance

A partnership between Japan and the U.S.

Kansai.

long-term, longer-view economic incentives.

ofa

strategic

marketinginitiativefor

Creating job training andemployments
Mr. George L. Maffeo

training. The number of airplanes is expectedsponsored by GE, is held

especially the Kansai region. So we (have to)local governments to promote Kansai as

improveareas in Japan. TheMatching Forum

without our partnership with Japan andto

What we would like to directly corporate

Japan Technology

theACCJ Kansai continually requests that theGE is very interested in the untapped
technology that exists in Kansai and othercontinuingenables connectivity between people andcould be beneficial in this field.

General Electric recognizes Japan as anandKansai region.

Strengthen the sustainability ofaviation and transportation
Mr. Jeffrey S. Bernier

Infrastructure is the first element. Not only

rates

development of production. They willwith Kansai is aerospace high-tech job

to be about double (20,000 airplanes) in next
twenty years. This will lead us to createaerospacejob

trainings

aswellas

employments in the future. We focus on
two main areas. Those are increasing our

http://www.hyogo-kobe.jp

Panel discussion at ACCJ Hyogo Forum※From the left: Mr. Matsumoto (the moderator),
Mr. Sethi, Mr. Ido (the governor), Mr. Alfant,
Mr. Bates, Mr. Bernier and Mr. Maffeo

March2013

14

Hyogo-Kobe comes up
with various
prominence in tourism
Every year Kobe, a bright and international tourism city with thecontrast of sea-blue and mountain-green, mesmerizes 30 million
visitors. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the longest suspension
structure bridge in the world, and the rest of sightseeing spots inHyogo‒Kobe also attract visitors from all over the world. The
topography of Hyogo spans from Japan sea in north, to the Setoinland sea, and to the Paciﬁc Ocean through Kitan Strait in south.
The Hyogo region is home to a variety of cities, ﬁshing villages
and countryside areas. As is known as a microcosm of Japanbecause of its distinct weather and diverse climate, theprefecture is blessed with various tourism resources, an array ofwhich is mentioned hereafter.

Nature's beautifulseasonsAﬄuent history created with thecastle and the traditional town

Teeming with traditional culturalproperty from the good old days

Hyogo has an abundance of beautiful nature.

Learn the rich history of the Hyogo area. Built

For a profound cultural experience inToyooka City, Kami-cho and Shin-onsen-cho

and was the first site to be listed as a World

traditional puppet play. This puppet shows

San in Kaigan Geo-park is open out acrossand is just one of many gorgeous areas.

San'in Kaigan Geo-park was certiﬁed as aworld-geo-park in 2010, and is home to themuseum of Topography and Geology . View

the beautiful coastline and diverse landscapethis area has to oﬀer.

Hyogo is also cradle to numerous mountains.
Travel to Mt. Hyonosen in Tajima and Mt.
Seppiko in Harima or, take a hike up the

popular Rokko mountains which are close
to Kobe and stretch to Takarazuka. Tour

Tonomine, known as table-land, in Kamikawacho. Once a movies have been ﬁlmed in theTonomine region so, it has become adesirable place to visit. If you re looking for awater adventure, try canoeing down theMaruyama river. Enjoy the plentiful nature ofHyogo-Kobe .

San in Kaigan Geo-parkin 1346, Himeji Castle is a national treasure
Heritagein Japan. The castle is currently

under restoration however, you may tour theobservatory named Egret in the Sky fromwhich you can watch the site.

Jump back in time and immerse yourself in theEdo period. Kawaramachi Tsuma-iri Shoka-gun(Japanese traditional merchant houses withentrances on the sides) in Sasayama City
preserves a town from the period. It offers an

old pottery museum, a Noh art museum andmany archaic shops which deal traditional

products and foods. While you are there, visit

the Daishoin (main drawing room) in the castle,
which was completely restored in the year
2000. There are conserved many relics ofJapanese castles in this area, such as Takeda
Castle which reportedly described floating in
the cloud stream in the sky.

Daishoin (main drawing room) at Sasayama Castle Park

http://www.hyogo-kobe.jp

Hyogo, see an Awaji doll Joruri, areportedly started 500 years ago, and are
now certified as intangible folk culturalproperty. For a long time puppet show has
been come by with the themes fromworshiping Gods, to praying for a

successful fishing trip. Enjoy a performanceat the new Awaji doll theater located by
the Fukura seaport.

Onsens (hot springs) are an integral part ofJapanese culture. Soak yourself in one of
the three oldest onsens in Japan.

Welcoming tourists from around the world,

Kinosaki onsen (founded about 1400 yearsago), Yumura onsen (founded about 1150years ago) and Arima onsen (oldest inJapan) boast therapeutic water. The Arimaand Kinosaki are featured in the 2013
Michelin Green Guide Japon .

Kinosaki onsen motoyu(the source of the hot spring)Awaji doll Joruri