Why Yokohama?

ーCompany Interview Seriesー

Rocket Software Japan Ltd.
Targeting to expand sales in
the massive mainframe
market in Japan, we would
like to contribute to thesociety by delivering
enterprise products andsolutions, leveraging ourstrengths as a software
vendor supporting the criticalsocial infrastructure.

Our long awaited Japanese foundation was established in 2015.
We have strong recognition by our US headquarter for ourdevelopment capabilities.
Rocket Software was founded in 1990 near Boston USA, and serves as a globalcompany, developing business software. Based on the OEM partnership with IBM,
Rocket provides software, mainly in the IBM mainframe area which is its corebusiness. It also provides over 150 products, which includes Rocket brandsoftware as well, and covers a wide range of industries. (Suehara) Japan has a
massive mainframe market, having the second largest market next to the USA. It is
an attractive market for Rocket Software, and sales expansion in Japan is a key
priority for Rocket Software. To achieve this goal, we have been preparing overtime for the establishment in Japan, including closer customer engagement.
(Satow) IBM’s IMS (Information Management System) is a data management
systems for mainframes that is developed and sold by IBM. Rocket Software Japandevelops essential products that are used along with IMS, which manage andimprove the productivity of IMS. The company was established mainly by the staff
members of a research institute at IBM Japan with skills in the IMS area. This took
place in April 2015. While the development work is jointly being done between
Rocket Japan and US, by the accurate work with the quality output of the Japaneseengineers, the responsibility of the Japanese engineers has been growing. I would
say this is the result of establishing a solid foundation for development in Japan.
(Suehara)

Yokohama is surprisingly close to Tokyo, and is very convenient.
The city has the right population density, and the officeenvironment is comfortable without being too crowded.

Hisato Suehara, Representative Director (Right)
Yoichi Satow , Manager of Marketing and Partner
Relations (Left)

As we established a Japanese corporation in Yokohama, we received a subsidy
under the Foreign Firm Setup Support Program of Kanagawa Prefecture. Suchsupport through a subsidy shows how welcoming the local municipality is, and ithelped us convince the headquarters in USA to establish our base in Yokohama.
(Suehara) Since I started commuting to the office in Minato Mirai 21, I haverediscovered that Yokohama is surprisingly close to Tokyo. The city has the right
population density, and we don’t need to suffer overcrowded commute, like indowntown Tokyo. At the beginning, we were also thinking about having an officein Tokyo. However, office rent is more reasonable in Yokohama. Consequently,
each worker can have more space in the office, making it more comfortable. Also,the brand image of Minato Mirai 21 is very positive, and it is quite famous in
Japanese communities. (Satow) Those on a business trip from the USA stay at ahotel in Minato Mirai 21, and can enjoy walking or jogging in the sea breeze in themorning. They also like the fact that the hotel and the shopping area are right next
to the office. Rocket Software was established in Boston, also a port city. This may
be one of the reasons why those visiting Yokohama on business feel close to thiscity as soon as they arrive, fall in love with it, and always say they would love toreturn. Rocket Software Japan currently has about 60 employees, and this number
is growing every year, and we are planning to expand the office size. Leveraging
our strengths as a developer of software for mainframes that supports social
infrastructure, we would like to keep enhancing the existence value of Rocket
Software Japan while actively taking on challenges in new fields, such as use of ICT
in a community-based integrated health care system that has been a challenge inthe Japanese society. (Suehara)Interviewed by Yokohama World Business Support Center, 9/1/2017