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JAPAN BUSINESS REPORTTOURISMDANCE FESTIVALS ARE A HIT WITH TOURISTS

THE BEAUTY OF NATURE
Shikoku, the country’s smallest island, has a great deal to offer – from picturesquescenery to a beautiful shrine, hot springs and a dance museum, writes Keith Chan
The smallest of the four mainislands that make up Japan,
Shikoku is less visited comparedto other parts of the country
despite its mild climate, naturalscenery, historical places andtraditional festivals. Literally
meaning “four countries”,
Shikoku comprises Tokushima,
Kagawa, Ehime and Kochi
prefectures.
Once considered a remote
destination, Shikoku is now
easily accessible with theconnection of three highway
bridges across the Seto Inland
Sea to Honshu (Japan’s mainisland). From Hong Kong, Hong
Kong Express has direct flights to
Takamatsu in Kagawa, andCathay Dragon has justlaunched a scheduled service
until March.
The estimated number ofinternational travellers to Japanby mid-December 2018 had
exceeded 30 million visitors forthe first time, according to Japan
National Tourism Organization.
While Shikoku is often
overlooked as a tourist
destination, it has some ofJapan’s most renowned
attractions – such as the Naruto
whirlpools in Tokushima, one of
the largest in the world; Konpira(or Kompira) Shrine in Kagawa, aplace many Japanese wish tovisit at least once in their lifetime;and Dogo hot spring in Ehime,
one of the oldest in the country.
With an area of 18,800 square
kilometres, Shikoku is too big tobe covered in a single trip. For
visitors who have only a few days
to spare, Tokushima andShikoku has several traditional
festivals, but none is as renowned
as the Awa Dance (Awa Odori)Festival in Tokushima city which
attracts some 1.3 million tourists
each year from all over Japan andoverseas. The largest such event in
the country is held in the summer
as part of the Obon festival, aBuddhist custom to honour the
spirits of one’s ancestors. This
year’s event takes place from
August 12 to 15.
Awa dance is one of Japan’s
representative traditional
performances practised inTokushima and elsewhere in the
country. Also known as “drunken
dance” or “the fool’s dance”, it ischaracterised by the rather
unusual movements of thedancers, who stumble back andforth on their toes, accompanied
by loud music played on common
Japanese musical instruments
such as the taiko drum, shamisenlute, shinobue flute and kane bell.
The dancers usually bend theirknees and keep their bodies low.
There are women’s dance(onna odori) and men’s dance(otoko odori). In women’s dance,
the dancers wave their hands
above their heads at all times,
while the men’s dance ischaracterised by lively anddynamic movements.
Awa dance is performed bygroups of dancers and musicians
called ren. Different groups havedifferent coloured costumes andflags. Women wear robes calledyukata, while men wear a shortyukata, called happi, over theirtrousers. There are bothprofessional and amateur groups
formed by office workers andstudents.

The dance is believed to have ahistory of over 400 years, but its
origins are relatively unknown.
One suggestion is that the dance
originated from the celebration of
the opening of Tokushima Castle in
1587, when the Lord of Hachisuka
offered rice wine to the locals who
got drunk and danced freely tocelebrate.
Another suggestion is that thedance, which is performed bydifferent groups, was influenced
by the Furyu dance hosted by Sogo
Nagayasu (or Masayasu) at theShozui Castle in 1578.
There is also another theory
that the dance is actually a local
variety of Bon Odori (a dance by
the Buddhists) performed
throughout Japan in summer
during the Obon festival.
Today, the Awa Dance Festival
in Tokushima is a mega event held
at locations throughout the city.
Groups of dancers, wearing
costumes, chant and sing as they
parade through the streets indesignated areas and on stages(with spectator stands either freeor paid). Food and game stands
are also available.
For some large stages, tickets
can be bought in advance atconvenience stores nationwide, orat the tourist information centre
near Tokushima’s railway stationon the day of the performance.
Those who cannot make thetrip to Tokushima during thefestival can watch the dance at thecity’s Awa Dance Museum (Awa
Odori Kaikan) throughout theyear. There are performances
several times a day by aprofessional dance group, andguests also have the opportunity
to join the dancing.

Crossing any of the few remaining suspended vine bridges in the Iya Valley has become a breathtaking experience for visitors. Photos: Alamy
Kagawa are good starting points
as the two neighbouring
prefectures boast many of
Shikoku’s attractions and can bereached easily by bus from
Osaka’s airport and city centre inless than three hours. The capitalof Tokushima prefecture,

Tokushima is a coastal city withplenty of 3- to 4-star hotels andrestaurants. A key attraction is
the Awa Dance Museum (Awa
Odori Kaikan), where therenowned traditional dance ofTokushima is performed
throughout the year. On the top

Konpira Shrine, known as the ‘God of the Sea’, has been worshipped by the Japanese since ancient times.

of the museum is a ropeway
leading to the summit of Mount
Bizan, which offers panoramic
views of the city. Anotherattraction is Tokushima Central
Park which was built around theruins of Tokushima Castle. The
city is also the gateway to theworld-famous Naruto
whirlpools about 40 minutes bybus from the centre. The Naruto
Strait produces whirlpools of up
to 20 metres in diameter, some of
the largest in the world.
Visitors can watch thewhirlpools from the glass panelon the Great Naruto Bridge
across the strait. Those who wantmore excitement can join one of
the sightseeing boats which passabove the whirlpools.
For hikers and nature lovers,
the Iya Valley and the Oboke andKoboke gorges deep in themountains of western
Tokushima are the places to go.
Iya Valley is known for its hot
springs and outdoor activities. It
is home to the country’s few
remaining vine bridges built in
ancient times by locals for daily
commuting.
Today, crossing a suspended
vine bridge has become abreathtaking experience forvisitors.
At the entrance of the Iya
Valley is the Oboke Gorge, which
is known as the Koboke Gorge
3km downstream. These are
narrow, steep-sided gorges withemerald green water andswirling rapids. Visitors can joina cruise on a sightseeing boat or
take part in activities such as
canyoning and white waterrafting. For those who arelooking for a place to relax, there
are several hot spring resorts
with stunning views of the valley.
Kagawa, the smallest
prefecture in Japan, has few
attractions but is known for its
Konpira Shrine in Kotohira,about an hour by train from thecapital city of Takamatsu. The“God of the Sea” has been
worshipped by the Japanesesince ancient times. Located on ahill, the shrine is also known for
its long staircase of 1,368 steps,
making the visit particularly
challenging.
Back in Takamatsu, the key
attraction is the Ritsurin Garden
completed in 1745. It is one of
the most historical gardens inJapan, with six ponds and 13

Awa dancers show off their skills during the festival.

landscaped hills. There is also ateahouse within the pretty
landscape.
Takamatsu is also thegateway to several outlying
islands popular among tourists.
Naoshima is known as an art
island with a number of art
installations and two art
museums designed by architect
Tadao Ando. It is also a place forswimming and fishing in thesummer.
Another island, Shodoshima,

is known for its beautiful naturalscenery, including the “AngelRoad”, a sandbar which appears
at low tide.
Both islands can be reached
in an hour by ferry from the portof Takamatsu. A visit to Shikoku
is incomplete without sampling
its famous food, such as Sanuki(a place in Kagawa) udon
noodles, Tokushima ramen,
Awa-odori chicken, Honetsukidori chicken, and Katsuo no
Tataki bonito fish.

TRADE

Fostering stronger ties a key objective
Lee Hill-choiJapan ranks third as the world’s
largest economy with a service
sector that contributes to about
70 per cent of its GDP. The Landof the Rising Sun was Hong
Kong’s fourth largest trading
partner in 2017, according toHong Kong’s Trade and Industry
Department (TID). Not bad
considering it was not until 2010that Hong Kong and Japansigned a double taxation treaty,
with an update in 2014.
In 2017, bilateral trade

between Japan and Hong Kongreached HK$381.8 billion, TID
reveals, which was an increase of
5.1 per cent on 2016. Exports
from Hong Kong to Japan
reached HK$995 million.
Products included
metalliferous ores and scrap
metal, jewellery, gold andsilversmith ware as well as edible
products; whereas imports fromJapan totalled over
HK$253 billion, including
electrical machinery, apparatus
and appliances.
Despite registering growthfrom 2016 to 2017, results fromJapan’s Minister of Justice, Takashi Yamashita, and Hong Kong’s
Secretary for Justice, Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, sign a Memorandum of
Cooperation in January 2019. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

the Census and Statistics
Department in its external
merchandise trade statistics
released earlier this week
showed that compared to a year
earlier, December 2018 Hong
Kong exports to Japan fell by 3.6
per cent.
Nevertheless, this does notchange Japan’s substantial
involvement in Hong Kong’s
economy, with many Japanesecompanies setting up regional
headquarters in the city.
According to the Hong Kong
Trade Development Council’s(HKTDC) research, the latest
numbers online showed that at
the end of 2016, Japan’s foreign
direct investment (FDI) in Hong
Kong reached a total stock of HK$220.7 billion, making thecountry the ninth largest sourceof FDI in the SAR.
“As of June 2017, there were
233 Japanese companies with
regional headquarters in Hong
Kong, while another 428 hadregional offices here,” theHKTDC says.
Promoting Hong Kong as afinancial centre in the region has
been an active campaign byChief Executive Carrie Lam
Cheng Yuet-ngor, exemplified byher speech at a forum in Japanlast November on financial
cooperation between the
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau
Greater Bay Area and Japaneseenterprises.
In Japan, the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry(METI) and the Japan External
Trade Organization (JETRO) aretasked with advising foreigncompanies on investing inJapan.
METI also has the importanttask of recording and advising on
the topic of renewable energy inthe country through its Agency
for Natural Resources andEnergy.
When Japan introduced afeed-in tariff (FIT) in 2012,
renewable energy increased 22
per cent annually andcontributed to 16 per cent of
total power generation in 2017.
To lower generation cost,auctions for commercial solar PV
and biomass were introduced in
November 2017 and December
2018, respectively.
“To achieve the energy mix
goal of renewable energy, Japan
will firstly reinforce efforts at cost
reduction through setting midto long-term price targets andHong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, makes a speech at a forum in Japan last November
on financial cooperation between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and Japaneseenterprises. Photo: ISD
utilising an auction scheme,”says Akemi Ota, the assistantdirector at METI’s International
Affairs Office. “Secondly, [Japanwill] secure long-term stablebusiness operations, thirdly
overcome grid constraints, andfinally, secure operational
flexibility.”
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics will
be a showcase of Japan’scommitment to renewableenergy use as the event’sorganising committeeannounced back in June 2018that it wishes to power the
Games exclusively through clean
energy.
The Olympics are considered
the fourth arrow in the wake ofthe country’s “three arrows”
strategy to reinvigorate theJapanese economy, which isreferred to as “Abenomics”.
HKTDC research says: “As ofJanuary 2018, Japan had
concluded 15 free trade
agreements and economic
partnership agreements,
including those with Singapore,

Mexico, Malaysia, Chile,
Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, thePhilippines, Switzerland,
Vietnam, India, Peru, Australia
and Mongolia.”
Meanwhile, earlier this year,
Japan’s Minister of Justice,Takashi Yamashita, and Hong
Kong’s Secretary for Justice,
Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, signed
a Memorandum of Cooperation,
which aims to promote Hong
Kong as a hub for deal-making
and international legal anddispute resolution services.

S2

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

M. WATANABE & CO OPEN TO EXPANSIONOSAKA SANITARY
WITH PRODUCTS FOR THE
PROMOTES SAFETY SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRYAND EFFICIENCYWITH ENVIRONMENTFRIENDLY PLANT
EQUIPMENTThe third generation of Japanese
conglomerate M. Watanabe & Co iscelebrating its 90-year legacy with bigger
future plans, and significant parts of it areinternational expansion and productdiversification. The company is also
open to more partnerships such as
mergers and acquisitions and researchand development (R&D) collaborations.
With four subsidiary manufacturing
companies and two sister companies
that provide logistical information,
M. Watanabe continues to be a leading
import and manufacturing company inJapan since its founding in the 1930s.
From trading goods during the war to
producing quartz glass, silicone rubber

Reports by Cassandra Carothers, Brittany
Loveless and Nour GouiderClients have as much to celebrate
as Osaka Sanitary on its 50th
anniversary this year. The
company has a passion for
designing and fabricating
among the best sanitary or food-grade
pump and piping systems for the foodand beverage, biotech, pharmaceuticaland cosmetic industries, giving clients thecompetitive edge across their respective
markets. With products ranging fromvalves, pumps and fittings to in-line
sensors and large-scale units such as
sterilisation and air-extractor systems,
Osaka Sanitary offers utmost safety,
efficiency and environment-friendly
features.
“Our products and facilities playa vital role in people’s safety and health,which are indispensable components in

Tomosaburo Uno, president

the production of many personal
products,” says president Tomosaburo
Uno.
The company’s love for innovation
has given clients a distinct advantage
against the competition. While breweries
in Japan were using a mixture of different
metals for their brewing equipment in
the 1990s, Osaka Sanitary introduced
a revolutionary idea of using an
all-stainless-steel brewing system
to ensure cleanliness.
“That is how the concept of Nama
Biru or non-pasteurised beer cameabout,” Uno says. “We started giving
clients the option of using an all-stainlesssteel brewing equipment because if you
are producing something you put in yourmouth, it has to be exceptionally clean.”
Driven by its pioneering spirit, thecompany continued to develop
equipment that promotes production
efficiency. It was among the first suppliers
to come up with pumping and piping
equipment that could be easily
disassembled. This feature has enabled
factories to save time on cleaning andputting back together the equipment after
every manufacturing batch.
Osaka Sanitary’s inquisitiveness did
not stop there as its in-house research anddevelopment team has again come up
with another breakthrough innovation
called outstanding surface pipe or “OSpipe” technology.
“In the past, you had to take down theequipment one by one and use a brush toclean each component,” Uno says. “Wehave developed a way to keep the slurryor any liquid from sticking to the insides ofthe equipment. This outstanding
technology provides a sort of automaticcleaning system, which raises the level ofproduction efficiency while providing an
excellent solution to countries facing
labour shortages.”
Osaka Sanitary has achieved thisprocess using a distinct technique.
Together with a Japanese partner, thecompany took more than two years of
research work to finalise the revolutionary
technology, and started introducing it in
the Japanese market in January last year.
Osaka Sanitary is applying for apatent for the innovation, a move that willfurther raise the company’s list of originaltechnologies comprising approved
patents in Germany. In collaboration with
universities in Japan, Osaka Sanitary isagain conducting research focused on
pumping and piping equipment for otherfields, such as medicine, whiledeveloping solutions that use less waterfor cleaning.
“We want to try something new given
our success in the food and beverageindustry,” Uno says. “Given thetremendous growth across thepharmaceutical industry, we have started
to focus our sights more on this area.”
Osaka Sanitary is similarly optimisticwith the expansion of its geographicalreach as it aims to raise its internationalsales, which account for only about 10 per
cent of overall revenues at present.
Following Japanese clients as they
expand overseas, Osaka Sanitary sees
opportunities in other Asian countries
beginning in China.
“We want to work with moreinternational sales representatives andengineers as we grow into markets
outside Japan,” Uno says. “We want toshare with the rest of the world our
distinct concept of safety, health,efficiency and environment protection.”and other essential components,
M. Watanabe has been renowned for its
expertise in delivering high-quality
products to the semiconductor industry.
“Our key to success is our ability tomake products that fit the era,” says
M. Watanabe president Ichiki Kusuhara.
“We are able to build a company thatcaters directly to what the market
needs.”
M. Watanabe enjoys its growth fromtrading and manufacturing, which
account for 60 per cent and 40 per cent ofbusiness respectively, of which 70 per
cent is from the domestic market and 30
per cent from international sales. There is
no stopping it from dreaming bigger,

however, as the company aims to makeits product offerings stronger by adding
quartz glass fabrication, processed
quartz glass and other possible
iterations.
“We welcome international
companies and institutions that would
like to invest in or partner with us indeveloping new products andtechnologies,” Kusuhara says.
M. Watanabe also aims to reach newmarkets. With offices in Taiwan and theUnited States, and establisheddistribution networks in South Korea,
Singapore and India, the company iskeen on expanding its presence inGreater China. “We are actively

Ichiki Kusuhara, president

searching for local partners,” Kusuharasays. “China is the market to be in termsof the semiconductor industry and it’s
where we want to be.”NSS GIVES MODERN COMFORTS NEWMEANING IN VESSEL INTERIOR DESIGNOver the years, the shipbuilding industry
in Asia – led by Japan, China and South
Korea – has been steadily becoming as
robust as, if not stronger than, its
European and American counterparts.
Innovation is the name of the game andwith a company such as Nagasaki
Sempaku Sobi (NSS) taking charge ofthe interior planning, companies acrossthe globe can continue to focus ondeveloping the next-generation
solutions for the maritime industry.
Established in 1943 as Nagasaki
Kansen Sobi, the company initially
specialised in furniture manufacturing
for warship interiors. It changed its
name in 1946 to Nagasaki Sempaku Sobi
(NSS) and it expanded its business focus

to include planning, designing,procurement and constructing interiorsof various vessels and land buildings

Kazutaka Akiyoshi, president

such as commercial, medical andwelfare facilities.
NSS collaborates with companies
across the globe such as AIDA Cruises,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI. To
successfully support their needs in atimely manner, NSS has establishedstrong connections with a network of
reliable partners and suppliers in China,
South Korea and Singapore. Carryingout more than 300 ships’ turnkey
projects annually, the company holds
more than 60 per cent of the market
share in Japan, and it aims to raise thisfigure to 90 per cent by its 100th
anniversary.
“We work closely with our clients toensure that we meet varying regulatory

requirements. NSS is the partner ofchoice of many companies because we
execute even the very niche
requirements,” says president Kazutaka
Akiyoshi.
Outside Japan, NSS established an
office in Taiwan to cater to local clientsand others from the region, particularly
Singapore, mainland China and Sri
Lanka. With the demand for cruise
vessels continuing to grow in Greater
China and Europe, NSS hopes to reachmore customers with its expanding
geographical scope.
“Our company’s shape is infinite.
We want to keep growing andinnovating with our clients andpartners,” Akiyoshi says.

HERITAGE BRAND FUKUTAROPUTS COD ROE ON THE MAP
When talking about Fukuoka and its foodspecialities, steaming bowls of flavourful
hakata tonkotsu ramen immediately
come to mind. Yamaguchi Aburaya
Fukutaro has spent over a century
perfecting other signature Fukuoka

delicacies using spiced cod roe to offer
consumers an authentic taste of Japan.
Initially a cooking oil and condiments
wholesaler, Fukutaro was among thecornerstones of many companies inFukuoka’s thriving food industry.
Aspiring to diversify its business,
Fukutaro banked on Fukuoka’s richbounty from the sea and developed
its own spiced cod roe recipe.
“We try to introduce many products
locally and internationally. We’relooking for speciality products that really
showcase the strengths of the Kyushu
area,” says vice-president andrepresentative director Hiroyuki Tanaka.
Fukutaro harnessed the rich taste
of cod roe and imbued it into products
such as sardines, ramen noodles andbread. Among its bestselling products isthe menbei: spiced cod roe-flavoured
potato starch crackers available in avariety of flavours including leek, onion,
bonito and more. Beyond cod roe,
Fukutaro is developing a green tea paste,
which is conveniently packaged anddoes not turn brown when oxidised,holding its green colour in food products.
While cod roe is widely popularin Japan and the rest of Asia, othercountries have yet to discover this prized
ingredient. Fukutaro aims to change thisby partnering with restaurants abroadto develop ways of localising andincorporating cod roe in various cuisines.
The company also aims to join foodexhibitions. It likewise seeks partners
in Hong Kong and other Asian markets
to expand its distribution network.
Celebrating its 110th anniversary

Hiroyuki Tanaka, vice-president
and representative director
this year, Fukutaro envisions a stronger
brand locally and internationally.
“We are marketing our products abroad,but for us, it is equally important toremind the younger generations
about mentaiko being part of ourculture. Fukutaro is a heritage brand,”Tanaka says.

TAITEC STEPS FORWARD IN
SPREADING REVOLUTIONARY
INCUBATION TECHNOLOGY IN
CHINA AND THE REST OF ASIA
With a 5 per cent growth rate forecast
through 2020, Asia and Australasia are
currently the fastest-growing health caremarkets in the world. Japan, in particular,
ranks next to the United States among
the largest markets for pharmaceuticals
and medical devices. To capitalise on themarket’s huge potential, life science
companies are moving quickly, led byindustry experts such as Taitec, Japan’s
leading manufacturer of instruments forlife science and environmental tests.
From manufacturing glass
apparatus for chemical and scientificexperiments when it was established in
1942, Taitec has grown to offer morethan 200 products. It now corners morethan 50 per cent of the market share, andhas mastered and simplified the processof incubation using the basic
technologies of temperature control andshaking.
“Incubator shakers are our main
products, but our work has always beencustomer-centred. We gained ourcredibility from our outstanding aftersales service,” says Taitec president
Ayako Sakashita.
Known for its high-quality, durable
and cost-efficient incubator shakers,
Taitec has also become the go-to partnerof research laboratories of various large
private companies and academic

Ayako Sakashita, president

institutions, including University ofTokyo.
Ready to explore new territories, theJapanese company is set to bring its
latest revolutionary technology invaccine production with the eco-friendly
biotech incubator shaker. Primarily
introducing this product through an
exclusive distribution partnership in
mainland China, Taitec also eyes more
distribution partners from India, Taiwan,
South Korea, Hong Kong and Southeast
Asia.
With overseas sales comprising 20
per cent of its overall revenues, thecompany is working its way to expand
the reach of its cutting-edge technologies
and double its international distribution
in the next five years.
“Our focus is to grow overseas andto capture the food and chemicalindustries. We are also open tocollaborating with research institutions
sharing similar values and vision,”
Sakashita says.

DRG EXTENDS WORLD-CLASSCONTENT CREATION EXPERTISE
With more than 4000 clients and almost
two decades of experience in premium
content creation, Discovery Reports
Group (DRG) has launched Discovery
Communications, a content writing
services division dedicated to helping
clients create relevant messaging andbranding. Discovery Communications
collaborates with clients to develop
targeted content.
“Effective communication is key inthis era when everyone has access to
information instantly,” says Angela
Gaspar, DRG’s managing partner. “At
Discovery Communications, we help
our Japanese clients convey theirmessage to potential customers,
partners and investors globally withutmost clarity, conciseness and polish.”Discovery Communications offers
professional and comprehensive
content creation – including editorial
support for all corporate publications
from web content, press releases,
brochures and newsletters to annual
reports and company presentations. It
guarantees high-quality and high-value
content adhering to international
standards of editorial excellence.
The new business division
leverages on the group’s best-in-classteam of professionals in research,

analysis, reporting, correspondence,
production and writing. It is also backed
by DRG’s expertise in connecting global
businesses with a strong Asian
readership of potential investors,
partners, distributors and clients.
“We have worked with companies
across many industries, fromengineering, logistics and finance toeducation and consumer goods.
Discovery Communications aims tohelp clients articulate their ideas
effectively to engage their target
audience,” Gaspar says. “Our clientscan focus on their core operations andleave the writing to us.”Friday, February 1, 2019¢

S3

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢Sponsored section in cooperation with Discovery Reports

NIHON KOSO
STRENGTHENSGLOBAL REACH
WITH ACQUISITION
OF PARCOL’SCONTROL VALVE
BUSINESS

S

teered by its commitment tobring the highest technicalcapabilities to the global
industrial valve market, Nihon
KOSO – a world leader in valve
manufacturing and engineering –completed the acquisition of the control
valve business of Italy’s Parcol in June lastyear. With more than 60 years of expertise,
Parcol bolsters the global competitive
strength of the KOSO brand, particularly inEurope where the Parcol name is highly
respected for its consistent productquality.
“Through acquisitions, we gain
added business and technologicalknow-how that we always bring back to
Asia to help in the advancement ofregional manufacturers,” says CEO
Yuichi Ikegaya. “Asia continues to be
one of our key markets, and it has been
our goal to grow with our partners in
the region.”
Since its foundation in 1965, Nihon
KOSO has produced numerous
technological breakthroughs that
contribute to process automation invarious fields of industry, including theoil and gas, petrochemical, power
generation, industrial andmanufacturing businesses. In each ofthese sectors, many of the world’s

biggest names have come to trust
Nihon KOSO for the design andmanufacture of high-performance
valves to tackle some of their biggest
challenges. In the oil and gas industry,
one of the primary sectors served by
Nihon KOSO since inception, theTokyo-based company has suppliedvalves to several offshore andnumerous onshore installations for use
in the processing of liquefied naturalgas, liquefied petroleum gas, refinery
products, petrochemicals andderivatives.
All products are made from the bestmaterials – from small- to large-sized
valves, used in low and high pressures,
cryogenic to super-critical hightemperatures and handling of a variety
of exotic fluids – under the name of“Made in KOSO”. Meeting the moststringent quality requirements, theseare made in two Nihon KOSO-owned
foundries and manufacturing facilities
located in Japan, China, South Korea,
India, Britain, Italy, Oman and theUnited States. As a comprehensive
manufacturer of automation devices,
Nihon KOSO also offers actuators,
valve accessories, sensors andinstrumental equipment.
To guarantee that clients receive

Three-lever switch valve

There is virtuallyno product that
we do notproduce in thefield of control
valvesYuichi Ikegaya, CEO

what they need when they need it,
Nihon KOSO has adopted a just-in-timepolicy in its production plants. Exports
account for more than 80 per cent ofsales, with products shipped to Europe,
the Americas, the Middle East and Asia.
“Our unceasing commitment topursuing advanced technology stems
from our creative spirit that flows
throughout the organisation,” Ikegaya
says. “We continue to challenge
ourselves to meet our clients’ diverse
and ever-changing needs. There isvirtually no product that we do not
produce in the field of control valves as
we’ve expanded our portfolio to
respond to the automation
requirements of any scale in all fields ofindustry. We can say that our
technological prowess in this field isunmatched globally – making that ourmost important competitive edge.”
Market development and productinnovation have been the pursued
goals of Nihon KOSO for a long time.
The broader market prospects havebeen brought to Nihon KOSO as a resultof today’s globalised market. The
continuous innovation of products
towards better, faster and moreadvanced platforms has created a solid
foundation for its business.
Additionally, the high-end valves used
globally for high-temperature, highpressure and severe service
applications have resulted in a
substantial qualitative leap.
Artificial intelligence, internet ofthings, cloud computing and big data
create an unprecedented era for thecompany. Nihon KOSO has produced aseries of high-end, intelligent
instruments, which are devoted toserving the times, and have allowed thecompany to become the first intelligent
valve manufacturer in the industry. This
also brings Nihon KOSO to the forefrontof the smart factory.
“We regard product quality as thelifeline of the enterprise,” Ikegaya says.
“The casted KOSO brand stands forpremium quality. We will always holdquality as our priority and produce safe,
reliable, high-performance products.”

FEEL HEALTHY AND LIVE
LIFE TO THE FULLEST
WITH FORDAYSIn recent years, concern that modern
diets are lacking in nutrients vital to themaintenance of good health has driven
exponential growth in demand for
dietary supplements. Fordays, one ofJapan’s leading supplementcompanies, has found success bydeveloping supplements that support
good health at the most fundamental
level – the genetic level.
Established in 1997, Fordays is thethird-largest multilevel marketingcompany in Japan, with annual sales
surpassing 42 billion yen (HK$3 billion)
in 2017. The face-to-face nature ofmultilevel marketing has been crucial to
Fordays’ success, enabling it to build atight-knit community of more than
280,000 members and realise continued
revenue growth for nearly two decades.
“Based on the latest science, wecreate products that support peoples’
physical well-being, while at the sametime providing them with anopportunity to achieve greater financial
independence by sharing their passion
for Fordays products with others.
We want to help people live life to
the fullest,” says Fordays president
Keiko Wada.
The product that put Fordays on the
map is Natural DN Collagen, a nucleic
acid-based supplement drink
containing deoxyribose nucleic acid,ribonucleic acid and an optimal balanceof other high-quality ingredients that
support good health. Since its
introduction in 1999, Natural DN
Collagen has been reformulated on
numerous occasions to keep the

Fordays istaking its
top-selling
products
andrewardingbusinessmodel tooverseas
markets
Keiko Wada, president
product at the cutting edge ofnutritional science. Now in its eighth
iteration, Natural DN Collagencontinues to be one of the top-selling
supplements in Japan, with averagemonthly sales of 300,000 bottles andcumulative sales projected to exceed
60 million bottles by middle of the year.
Spurred on by the success of
Natural DN Collagen, Fordays has
invested heavily in R&D, leading to thedevelopment of numerous outstanding
dietary supplements, as well as anextensive range of skincare products
and cosmetics.
Fordays collaborates with
universities locally and abroad to
discover new applications for nucleic

acids and methods of synergisingingredients. Wada expressed a desire
to build similar partnerships with
universities and research institutes
across Asia and to conduct research
into the major health issues affecting
people in the region, such as cancer,
diabetes and hypertension.
Looking to capitalise on its successin the Japan market, Fordays is taking
its top-selling products and rewarding
business model to overseas markets.
With operations already established in
Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea andthe Philippines, and offices due to openin Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand in
the coming months, the future looks
bright for Fordays.

S4

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢SATAKE PRECISIONTECHNOLOGY FINDS NICHEGROWTH MARKET WITH
TACTILE SENSORS FORCONSUMER ROBOTICS

A

s a supplier of precision
mechanical components withmore than 80 years ofexpertise, Satake Precision
Technology continues tochallenge itself and evolve to respond tothe constantly changing landscape ofmodern manufacturing and customer
needs. Working towards the vision ofcompany president Kenichi Ogata, Satake
has strengthened its factory automation(FA) business to help production facilities
transition to smart components andsmart machines while increasing its focus
on consumer robotics as a new area of
expansion.
“When I assumed the leadership in
2009, I restructured the company andchanged our business model so that wecan be flexible and agile in finding newopportunities in up and coming markets,”
Ogata says. “We initially shifted to
manufacturing factory automation
components, but seeing that theindustrial robotics market will soon hit its
peak, we have ventured into the next
growing market – consumer robotics.”
Apart from its well-establishedcustom-made metal processing business,
Satake is strengthening its body of workon robotics for non-manufacturing
purposes through its subsidiary
Touchence. The Tokyo-based company
sees the consumer robots market as thenext stage in the FA market. Touchence, asensor development company, offers theworld’s first tactile sensors that can detect
three-dimensional deformation and havea naturally soft and flexible texture.
With technology licensed from the
University of Tokyo, Touchence hasdeveloped the thinnest, smallest andlightest sensors that can measure forcesalong three axes, and can be mass
produced at low costs. In addition to
consumer robots, these sensors haveprocessing. Leveraging tie-ups with morethan 60 specialised manufacturing
companies in Japan and overseas, Satakesatisfies the changing requirements of its
customers, ranging from high-mix, lowvolume production and prototype design
to mass production. Through a provenintegrated manufacturing process at its
in-house factory, Satake can handle morethan 3,000 components on a short leadtime, one-by-one production basis to fulfil
same-day delivery.

Changing
lifestyles will
drive newmarketdemands andopportunities

Kenichi Ogata, president

Kenichi Ogata, president

potential applications in sporting
apparatus, daily living support, nursing
care, automobiles and virtual gaming.
Touchence’s dedicated engineering teamcan also customise sensor modules tospecific customer requirements.
“Changing lifestyles will drive newmarket demands and opportunities for
consumer robotics,” Ogata says. “InJapan, the ageing population isincreasing the need for automation in
everyday life, while globally, driverlesscars, smart wearables in apparel andmedical/health monitoring are gaining
traction.”
Responding flexibly throughinnovations to match the new era, Satake
pursues research and development (R&D)
collaborations with Japanese universities
and leading industry players withcomplementary expertise. To makeinroads into the field of robot awarenessand control technology, Satake has acontinuing research alliance with the
University of Tokyo.
“With the sensor business, open
innovation is a must,” Ogata says. “We’relooking for partners with strong R&D
capabilities and willingness to grow with
us in unprecedented markets. We hope tofind research partners based in Hong
Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Singapore
and Silicon Valley, which are allprominent places for innovation.”Starting in 1937 as a manufacturer offastening components such as nuts andbolts, Satake now offers full-fledged
production and quality control capability
for precision mechanical components
with a focus on metal component

Through another subsidiary Sanko
Kogyo, Satake specialises in making ultrahigh precision fittings for manufacturing
semiconductors, ultra-high vacuum
products and liquid crystal displays.
Using the ultra-clean technology it hasdeveloped and refined for more than 25
years, Sanko Kogyo offers revolutionary
products that are valued by a wide rangeof customers because of their technicalstrength and reliability.
“We’re among the few to support
high-mix, low-volume and short lead time
production,” Ogata says. “This highlights
our commitment as a reliable, trusted
partner to our customers. We hope tobring this advantage to more of Southeast
Asia through additional customer anddistribution partners.”

Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

KOSEI PHARMACEUTICALSAFEGUARDS STEADY SUPPLYOF LOW-COST GENERIC DRUGS
A pharmaceutical drug takes a complex
route before it reaches a pharmacy,
hospital or physician. To penetrate one ofJapan’s 60,000 general pharmacies, forinstance, a drug goes through primary,secondary and tertiary wholesalers. Eachlevel adds margins that make medicines
more expensive for markets worldwide.
To ease the burden of customers andpatients, Kosei Pharmaceutical focuseson building an efficient system forpharmaceutical distribution. By
collaborating with knowledgeable andwell-connected distribution partners,
the region’s leading pharmaceuticalwholesaler and manufacturer ensures
a stable supply of safe, high-quality andlow-cost pharmaceutical products.
Established as a drug wholesaler in
1952, Kosei Pharmaceutical expanded
its borders in 2010 when it set up its
subsidiary Kosei Pharma in Britain todevelop its import business. Enjoying
huge growth, Kosei Pharmaceuticalentered the manufacturing space and built

its own generic drug production facility
in 2013. The company has since garnered
40 pharmaceutical licences and aims toincrease its product line-up to 200 within
the year.
“As an independent, medium-sizedcompany, we can move quickly,” says
Kohei Toda, managing director of Kosei
Pharm Group. “We can take on import,

Kohei Toda, managing director

export and manufacturing activities
efficiently, depending on what thecustomer requires.”Led by third-generation family
owners, Kosei Pharmaceutical nurtures
an online business stream apart fromsubsidiaries in India and Germany tofurther expand its reach. With 10,000 types
of hospital-use medications in its portfolio,
Kosei Pharmaceutical offers a fast andstable one-stop solution for customers.
Partnerships are in place in China,
Vietnam, Indonesia and Nigeria to growits overseas sales, which are targeted
to reach 200 billion yen (HK$13.78 billion)
by 2021.
Kosei Pharmaceutical is putting
significant resources into research anddevelopment activities. It seeks to create
new Kosei Pharma-branded generic drugs
in cooperation with industry players
and universities.
“We’re strengthening our network tokeep prices competitive and showcase
our integrity and reliability,” Toda says.

NOGAWA CHEMICAL ADVANCESHIGH-PERFORMANCE SEALANTS
FOR ASIA’S BUILD-UP
Generations of Shinkansen coaches
showcase the evolution of highperformance sealants pioneered by
Nogawa Chemical in the 1950s. An
enabling material for noise insulation,
high-performance sealants have helped
ensure passenger safety and comfort eversince Japan’s bullet trains came tocommercial operation in 1964.
“Our product is the sealant used forthe window shields in all of the
Shinkansen coaches. It has proven reliablewith zero incidents from those windows
since 1964. That’s why even now, ourproduct is used for all of the window
shields – 100 per cent,” says Takayuki
Nogawa, president.
Known in the market as Diabond andSealing Master, Nogawa Chemical’s
polysulfide rubber, silicone and modified
silicone high-performance sealants areextensively used by first-tiermanufacturers of cars and rolling stock inJapan and China, where the company
opened a subsidiary in 1994. Nogawa
Chemical also manufactures a wide rangeof adhesives under the Diabond brandused in the electronics equipment,
shoemaking and the building andconstruction industries. It is a recognised
original equipment manufacturer (OEM)in the adhesives and sealants industry,
with about 20 per cent of the company’sbusiness involving OEM production.
“We develop customised formulas
based on customers’ specific needs,
focusing on industrial applications. For
instance, we have made special
formulations of adhesives and sealant toimprove fatigue performance or ourlaboratory makes a new formula for adifficult-to-adhere material such as
polypropylene plastic. We get detailed
information from the customers for thesecustomised formulas,” Nogawa says.
Having acquired IRIS (International
Railway Industry Standard) certification in2017, Nogawa Chemical has raised its
competitiveness as a supplier for
European rail systems and to the rest of
the global market. The company invites
partnerships throughout Asia, especiallyfor distribution in China and establishing afootprint in Vietnam. Research anddevelopment collaborations with industry
players and universities globally are also
welcome.
“We’d like to expand moreinternationally, starting with Southeast
Asia’s massive infrastructure build-up,”
Nogawa says.

Takayuki Nogawa, president

TOGAWA INDUSTRY PROVES
THE BUSINESS IMPERATIVE OFRESPONDING TO MARKET CHANGE
From its establishment in 1959 as amanufacturer of environment-friendly
plastic hoses, Togawa Industry has
managed to adapt its diverse range of
product offerings based on the everchanging needs of its clients. Known forserving the agricultural, public works,
automotive, construction, semiconductor,
home electronics and food industries in
the past 60 years, the Japanesemanufacturer possesses long-term
relationships with customers such as
Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Sharp, Panasonicand Hitachi.
“The market needs change throughtime, and we manage to evolve fastenough to deliver the modified
requirements,” says president Ikuo
Yokota. “And while our customers plan toexpand outside Japan, we at Togawa arefollowing through to address suchdevelopment.”
Having the imperative of responding
to customers expanding internationally,
the industrial hose producer aims to growits total sales within the next three to five
years. Togawa’s domestic sales accountfor 90 per cent of total sales. With a reachthat covers mainland China, Indonesia,
Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines,
Vietnam, Malaysia, India and Singapore,
the company aims to establish solid brandIkuo Yokota, president

recognition and strong distributorship in
Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Thailand
and India.
Aside from improving its distribution
and reach, Togawa also focuses onenhancing its expertise by harnessing its
technologies and technical capabilities inorder to continually provide new products
and solutions.
The company will be adding a new
industrial hose that boasts durability
against high pressure and heat, a newpainting hose and a new foaming hose to
its wide array of hose solutions, which aresuperior in flexibility, transparency,pressure resistance, negative pressure
resistance and oil resistance.
Togawa prides itself on its highly
competent research and development
team in Japan, while also welcoming
strategic partnerships. “We are alsointerested in cooperating with research
centres and government organisations inorder to improve our latest technologies,”
Yokota says.

OPPEN OPENS DOORS FOR
INTERNATIONALPARTNERSHIPS WITH TOTALBEAUTY PHILOSOPHYFor Oppen Cosmetics, beauty is not justskin-deep. For the skincare and cosmetics
expert, looking good and feeling good go
hand in hand, and this is the driving force
behind Oppen’s commitment todeveloping high-quality products that
promote total healthy beauty.
Oppen celebrated its 65th anniversary
last year, continuing to specialise in basic
and anti-ageing skincare solutions.
Complementing its skincare ranges,
Oppen also develops and manufactureshigh-quality make-up lines. Moving
deeper into the beauty regimen, Oppen
targets inner beauty with its health foodsupplements.
“If you see our long-time, loyal
customers, you can never guess their realages. These customers are living proof ofthe efficacy of our products,” sayspresident Teruaki Takikawa.
A cutting-edge beauty company withmultiple patents, Oppen has ongoing
research initiatives to develop innovative

products. One of Oppen’s research studies
looked into the effect on anti-ageing of ablue flower locally grown in the Shiga
prefecture.
The company’s breakthroughfindings show that it can slow thedegradation of collagen, thus resulting in
more supple skin. This flower extract is a
key ingredient in the Yakuyou Tae line.
Oppen has also discovered that anotherspecies of this blue flower has an effect on
photoaging and has incorporated it in a
new product line released last year.
Oppen has always believed that thepersonal approach is the best way to
conduct business, and this is why itleverages a network of sales personnel
instead of going the traditional
department store retail route. In doing so,
the highly trained distributors can bestadvise the customers about what products
would suit them the most.
Eyeing international expansion,
Oppen aims to fulfil OEM and ODM orders

from other cosmetics companies looking
for an honest partner who can provide
high-quality products. To date, it works
with an Asian partner with an extensive
sales channel in the region, and Oppen
hopes that this partnership will open
doors to Asian markets.

Teruaki Takikawa, president

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢S5Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

SANKYO SEISAKUSHO SHOWA GLOVEPROVIDES STEPPINGCONTINUES TO
STONE FOR
CUSTOMERS’REVOLUTIONISE THE
SUCCESS
HAND PROTECTION
Innovation is what keeps the world
moving forward, but without the righttechnology to support its development,
brilliant concepts will only remain
concepts. This is what fuels Sankyo
Seisakusho to become the engine of
growth that moves companies forwardwith its cutting-edge automation
technology which helps turn ideas into
reality.
“Rather than catching up with theglobal manufacturing industry trends,
we strive to be at the forefront of the
global movement. Being an industry
leader is part of our company policy toensure our continuous growth,” says
Sankyo Seisakusho owner andpresident Hiroumi Ogawa.
Born right in the midst of Japan’s
rapid industrialisation, Sankyo
Seisakusho possesses an innate
understanding and knowledge of the
manufacturing industry like no othercompany.
As a forward-thinking company,
Sankyo Seisakusho has an intensive
research and development
programme. It collaborates with
universities to gain fresh insights fromstudents and faculty. The company also
works closely with its customers tounderstand their demands and adapt its
solutions to their needs accordingly.
The company’s core technology is
the roller gear cam, which wasdeveloped in the 1970s. Since then, it
has been modernised, improved andintegrated into new products such as
the RollerDrive precision reducers,
Sandex indexing systems, Variax press
material feeders, and other machine
tool products.
Sankyo Seisakusho is the leading
name when it comes to precision parts
manufacturing devices that deliveradvanced performance andoutstanding reliability.

SOLUTIONS MARKET

Hiroumi Ogawa, owner andpresident
Supporting many industries suchas electronics, semiconductors andprecision machinery, among others,
Sankyo Seisakusho sees great
opportunities to develop new products
to accommodate new technologies
such as electric vehicles, 5G networks,
robotics and internet of things. The
company is in the process ofdeveloping a small-sized speed reducer
in an effort to adapt its products forthese new applications.
In its drive to be ahead of thecompetition, the company is expanding
its supply and production capacity byincreasing its investments in China andVietnam. Sankyo Seisakusho aims todouble its production output within
three years to cater to the imminent
demands brought about by new trends.
Sankyo Seisakusho is eyeing India
and Europe as its next big markets, and
it is opening its doors to partnerships
with distribution companies that canhelp it gain traction there.
“Something that we’ve always
done and will never change is striving
to help customers become more
efficient. We want to be a part of many
more companies’ success stories,”
Ogawa says.

S

tanding out means consistently
delivering distinctive
technological breakthroughs: afeat that SHOWA GLOVE
continues to achieve sinceinventing the world’s first fully coatedpolyvinyl chloride (PVC) household glove
in 1954. With more than six decades ofaccumulated expertise, SHOWA GLOVE
has emerged as a global manufacturing
powerhouse in the hand protectionindustry. Beyond the household, its highquality protective gloves have proved
invaluable to diverse industries, ranging
from automotive, construction, foodservice, health care, oil and chemicals,
general manufacturing to commercial
fishing.
At the leading edge of handprotection advances, SHOWA GLOVE
has produced many firsts thatrevolutionised the industry, including
polyurethane gloves for the hi-techmarket, 100 per cent nitrile, latex-freegloves, biodegradable disposable gloves
and latex foam gloves with breathable
and waterproof technology. Today, itsvalued-added portfolio consists of morethan 200 types of gloves for a vast array ofhousehold and industrial applications.
This year, SHOWA GLOVE is set to unveil
a new addition to its cut-resistant glove
range, which is the industry’s fastestgrowing category, driven by rising
worker safety concerns.
“We have built a solid reputation for
innovation and originality,” says Shuji
Kondo, president and group CEO.
“Always innovating and never imitating
is a foundational belief that encapsulates

SHOWA DENKI RAISES BRAND
TO THE GLOBAL STAGE WITH
JAPANESE QUALITY BLOWERS
Venturing outside a home market can bea daunting endeavour, but when acompany specialises in products that
help raise the operational productivity ofmany industries, it becomes less of a risk
and turns to an effective strategy. This isexactly what Japanese firm Showa Denki
has accomplished.
Taking its solid portfolio of electric
blowers, environmental equipment anddust collectors, Showa Denki expanded
its horizons – initially to Thailand andeventually the rest of the globe. The
company first ventured beyond Japan
in 2010 and has since continued tostrengthen its presence internationally.
“We want the rest of the world to see
the difference our products can make.
Additionally, I want them to experiencemagokoro, a uniquely Japanese wayof showing hospitality and sincerity
from the bottom of our hearts,” says
CEO Kensaku Kashiwagi.
Building on its 69-year-longexperience serving local manufacturers,
Showa Denki established a subsidiary
office and warehouse in Thailand toserve the robust automotive
manufacturing industry in the country.
Its products are also used in thepharmaceutical, electronics and foodbeverage sectors.
Showa Denki moved next to Taiwan
and South Korea to better support its
clients’ business outside Japan and tocollaborate with locals in addressing

Kensaku Kashiwagi, CEO
specific market demands. The company
also built a network of distributors toserve the Americas, Europe, the Middle
East and Asia as Showa Denki attracts
increasingly more attention from global
automotive manufacturers.
In extending its geographical scope,Showa Denki broadened its offerings to
become a fully integrated provider
offering after-sales service. “We are firstand foremost a manufacturing company,
but we also want to push a ‘solutions
idea’ business. We want to help ourcustomers come up with solutions totheir requirements,” Kashiwagi says.
Showa Denki welcomes
partnerships with universities, research
centres, environmental organisations
and government agencies that can leadto new products and solutions.
Kashiwagi is the visionary thatmasterminded Showa Denki’s
expansion to Thailand. A seasoned
fisherman with a passion for exploration,
he frequently travelled to Thailand forfishing expeditions, and it was during
these trips that he realised the potential
for Showa Denki to contribute to thegrowth of the automotive industry in the
country.
As a pioneering figure for thecompany, he is also the man behind thecompany’s foray into boat distribution.
Kashiwagi turned his passions into a newenterprise for the company. With thisnew business, Showa Denki imports
boats from the United States for local
distribution.

ICHIEI FOODS BUILDSLOYALTY AROUNDUNCONVENTIONALAND FUN SNACKS
Authentic Japanese food has aninternational following that transcends
trends or borders given its association
with healthy eating. For snack
manufacturer Ichiei Foods, the affinity ismore personal because it comes to themarket with clever word play andunexpected products that evoke
merriment.
“We would like to have that factor of
humour and dream in our products, andabove all, satisfy the craving forauthentic Japanese delicacy,” says
Eiichi Ikeda, founder and president.
Ichiei snacks have a cult following inJapan. Marine delicacies Yokattara,which combines the Japanese terms forsquid, cod and “if you please” andAisurume, a snack that pays homage towomen, are staple items in senior citizen
meetings. Meanwhile, multiflavoured
baked scallop snacks, dried sour plums
and dorayaki – sweet-filled pancakes

which Ichiei has innovated with Amaou
strawberries and Yame matcha from
Fukuoka – are party favourites. Wasabiflavoured snacks – beans and cutlets,cheese or fresh scallops dipped inwasabi – have likewise gained
popularity in Hong Kong, Taiwan andSouth Korea.
“Our products are created forchildren but can also be enjoyed byadults over drinks. That unexpectedness
is something we’re known for,” says
Ikeda, whose lighthearted approach tocreating bestsellers was featured onJapanese television in March.
Ichiei seeks to expand its richresource of raw ingredients to sustain its
prolific launch of new products andflavours. The company’s facilities areequipped to produce snacks from raw
ingredients as diverse as scallops andsmoked quail eggs using the same
techniques.

Eiichi Ikeda, founder andpresident“Innovation is everything. It’s been
26 years since our foundation, but year
by year, our core products are different,”
Ikeda says.
The Ichiei founder welcomesreliable distributors that can bring his
bestsellers to mainland China, theUnited States and all across Asia
through speciality channels such as
health food shops or children’s andduty-free stores. Trusted partnerships
are most important to Ikeda in tacklingthe company’s market expansion.

the spirit of SHOWA GLOVE.”
Since its inception, SHOWA GLOVE
has been the market leader in Japan,
accounting for more than 40 per cent ofgloves worn by professionals andindividual consumers. Key to its successis its fully owned and integrated
manufacturing operations. With nine
production facilities across the globe,

SHOWA GLOVE has 100 per cent control
over each step of the manufacturing
process, from the hand mould to
production through marketing, toachieve a high standard of quality.
SHOWA GLOVE expanded its reachto the international market in the early
1990s and has been achieving increasing
success, particularly in Europe and the

Shuji Kondo, president and group CEO
Americas. The company ventured into
Asia in the early 2000s, and it is seeing theimmense growth potential in the region,
especially with the adoption of more
stringent industry regulations tominimise occupational hazards. SHOWAGLOVE’s innovative products areavailable through its strong distribution
partners located everywhere in the world.

“We’re quite new in the Asianmarket,” Kondo says. “We realise that we
can expect much more from the region if
we can get more people to see thesuperior quality, flexibility and durabilityof our gloves. Our trusted distributors
play a key role in this initiative and in thedevelopment of high-level protective
products.”

S6

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢FUTAMURA CHEMICAL’S
FOCUSED GROWTH
DELIVERS ENDLESSBENEFITS TO CLIENTS

F

ocus makes perfect. Such is thecase of Futamura Chemical,
which for nearly 70 years hasconcentrated its efforts on being
the best in three productcategories – plastic film for packaging,cellulose film which is drawing publicattention for its biodegradability, andactivated carbon used in water and gas
filtration.
“Our emphasis on areas where wehave already established a distinct
advantage in terms of quality,
technology and production capability
significantly benefits our clients,” sayspresident Yasuo Nagae.
In the plastic film for packaging
business, where Futamura holds theleading market share in Japan, thecompany’s flexible production
capabilities and huge inventories acrossthe country ensure next-day delivery formost orders. As a result, clients nolonger need to carry large amounts ofstock and can immediately receive theYasuo Nagae, president
plastic films they need, even for sudden
orders. Futamura has been highly
acclaimed as the key to the stablesupply of plastic films in Japan.

“We foresee substantial growth in
our activated carbon and cellulose
businesses as we uncover new
applications and markets over the next
three to five years,” Nagae says.
For activated carbon, the company
is working with several Japanese
universities to pursue the developmentof new technologies and products.
Futamura is also promoting initiatives
for the practical application of leadremoving agents and solid acidcatalysts. Moreover, in the field of
molecular sieving carbon that has
molecule filtering functions, thecompany has entered the equipment
business by acquiring Adsorption
Technology Industries (Adsotech).
With an advantage in air separation
facilities, Adsotech is also involved in
the treatment facilities for effluents andexhaust gas, using ozone efficiently.
Futamura strives to enhance its
cooperation with reliable suppliers ofhigh-quality raw materials and withcompanies capable of developing
products to be sold in Asia, especially in
China and India.
For its cellulose film segment,
Futamura will use the wealth oftechnology it has accumulated thus far
and the distinct cellulose processing
technology it has newly developed toaccelerate the development of not only
film but of cellulose products with
distinctive functions.
Futamura welcomes partners whoshare its corporate philosophy thatvalues long-term growth founded on
genuine relationships. It has cultivatedsuch relationships early on. Since its
inception, the industry expert has stoodon the principle that the company exists
to ensure the daily lives of the people
working for it.
“We do not really worry about
short-term revenues, but seek partners
with whom we can build lasting
relationships,” Nagae says. “For us,
building a family is key.”

ANGES OPEN FOR PARTNERSHIP TO
REMAIN A HERO IN GENE THERAPY

Dr Ei Yamada, president and CEO

Biotech venture company AnGes isreadying itself for another era in its longestablished history in the life science
industry of Japan. With the ageing of theJapanese population and thedemographic shrinkage in the country,
Japan has become a life sciencelaboratory for pharmaceuticalcompanies and a model of innovation
for the rest of the world.
“AnGes looks forward to a future of
improving human health and quality oflife through pioneering in thedevelopment of innovative medicines,”
says president and CEO Dr Ei Yamada.
“We focus on research anddevelopment (R&D) of next-generation

biopharmaceuticals such as genetic
medicines, and aim to achieve practicaluse of new drugs.”
Since its establishment in 1999,
AnGes has been collaborating withvarious organisations and universities,
including Osaka University and Stanford
University. Its plans of commercialising
its developments are set to roll out thisyear, upon the conditional approval ofits breakthrough gene therapy drug, theHepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)
plasmid discovered by professor Ryuichi
Morishita, founder of AnGes. The drug
promotes revascularisation, and has
been filed for approval as a treatment for
Critical Limb Ischemia in which thevascular flow in limbs is severelycompromised.
Other ongoing projects include thedevelopment of nucleic-acid drug NF-kB
decoy oligonucleotide with the
University of California San Diego, andthe DNA vaccine as the new type oftherapeutic vaccine of genetic medicine.
While forging alliances to continue
being a global innovator in the field ofgene medicine, AnGes is also planningto expand its reach worldwide.
The global gene therapy market is
growing. To keep pace with the expectedindustry growth, AnGes understands
that it has to keep the company open forinvestments.

Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery ReportsTEXTILE SUPPLIER TOYAMAMAXIMISES CUSTOMERSATISFACTION IN NICHE
HIGH-FASHION MARKETIn the highly fragmented global textiles
market, Toyama has built an excellent
track record as a supplier of high-fashion
fabrics, with almost a century and a half ofexpertise. Founded in 1877 as a familyowned cotton yarn business, Toyama has
become a trusted partner to leading

Takuro Toyama, CEOapparel makers in Japan and overseas,
and is valued for helping clients come up
with concepts for their new product lines.
Its wool materials business also forms asignificant part of its operations, with
Toyama being among the top Japanese
exporters to the United States.
“We’ve stayed competitive not only
by focusing on quality and on-time
delivery, but by keeping abreast andadaptable to perpetually moving sector
trends,” says Takuro Toyama, CEO andninth generation of family management.
“While constantly changing with themarket, we’ve remained true to our
founding principles of sincerity, ingenuity
and consonance.”
Sourcing first-class raw materials
from all over the world while closely
working with quality-focused Japanesespinning mills, weavers and dyeworkshops, Toyama continues to develop
differentiated textile products, including
wools, cotton yarns and polyester fibres.
A recent offering from the company is

the sasawashi fabric, an innovative
material woven from the Japanesetraditional plant, washi. This eco-friendly
fabric is infused with antibacterial andnatural-deodorising properties andprovides good ultraviolet protection.
Meanwhile, Toyama’s silky powder
fabrics, noted for their anti-electrostaticand wrinkle-free attributes, have gained afollowing among European high-fashion
brands.
“We aim to strengthen our presencein the European market to help boost our
reputation as a reliable supplier in Asia,
primarily to Chinese apparel makers,”
Takuro Toyama says.
With the growing popularity of smart
and athleisure clothing, Toyama seeks todevelop technologies to adapt to theseemerging trends and welcomes
opportunities to collaborate with othertextile manufacturers and fashion brands.
It is also open to strategic partnerships tomove into new applications such as
household textiles.

MIYAZAKI’S WIRE
MACHINES RAISEPRODUCTIVITYACROSS INDUSTRIES
Renowned in Japan for high-performing
wire forming machines, Miyazaki
Machinery Systems cuts across industries
with technology that is rooted in a totalcommitment to quality.
“Because of the demanding
requirement of the Japanese market, wehave reached 90 per cent domestic market
share for our combined drawing
machines. Globally, no other company
can provide the high quality of thesemachines,” says Kazuaki Miyazaki,
president. A family-owned business that
traces its roots to 17th century Japanese
metalworking, Miyazaki Machinery
Systems is celebrating its 75th
anniversary this year with a newly
renovated headquarters in Osaka and a
trading subsidiary in Shanghai that isturning 10 years old.
The company has long-standing
relationships with well-known Japanesecompanies such as Nippon Steel &Sumitomo Metal, JFE Steel, Kobe Steel,
Sumitomo Electric, Hitachi Metals andother industries whose overseas forays
were supported by speciality machinesdesigned by Miyazaki engineers toprecision requirements. It alsocollaborates with Tokyo’s University ofElectro-Communications and Vesuvius
McDonnell.
“We can present various proposals to
any industry based on our successful
history of innovation in this nichebusiness,” Miyazaki says.
As the only comprehensive wire
forming machine maker in Japan,
Miyazaki Machinery Systems is thehighest-level provider of integrated
systems for combined drawing machine(coil to bar) and wire drawing machine(coil to coil) and wire stranding machines.
Equipped with the latest microprocessorbased control systems, these machines
produce the high-quality wire for power

Kazuaki Miyazaki, president
cables; electric wires, parts used in
vehicles, fasteners, appliances, electronic
products and communication systems;
and structural wire ropes.
Miyazaki machines are increasingly
being used in the automotive and heavy
industries across China and Southeast
Asia. In China alone, up to 2.4 million
vehicles – whether hybrid, electric orinternal-combustion engine – areequipped with control cables, fasteners or
springs made by Miyazaki machines. The
company is keen on doing the same forthe home appliance industry.
“We want to keep giving ourcustomers the support and raise ourservice level to satisfy their needs
anywhere in the world,” Miyazaki says.

FJ HOTELS ENSURES LEISURELY
AND STRESS-FREE STAYS AT
HYATT AND HOME-GROWNFORZA HOTELS
Steadily gaining prominence among
tourists from South Korea, Taiwan andHong Kong, Japan’s third-largest island,
Kyushu, presents a distinct culture. Unlike
the business-like demeanour commonly
encountered in Tokyo, Kyushu locals
exude a more relaxed vibe, and FJ Hotels
seeks to showcase this unfamiliar trait tovisitors by rapidly expanding its own
branded establishment, Hotel Forza,across Japan while managing the Hyattbrand of hotels in Fukuoka.
“We offer a different kind of hospitality
in Fukuoka,” says Kunihiko Kiyohara,president of FJ Hotels. “Our people have astronger sense of community. We have arich local culture that may not be so
famous outside of Japan, and we’d like toexpress that through our hotels.”
The hospitality managementcompany has been nurturing apartnership with Hyatt for 23 years,

managing the 5-star Grand Hyatt and the
4-star Hyatt Regency in Fukuoka. This
wealth of experience in high-end hotelmanagement equipped FJ Hotels increating Hotel Forza, offering comfortable
and smart lodging. Guests at Hotel Forzaenjoy stress-free stays at locations that put
a premium on accessibility and centrality
while delighting in relaxing amenities suchas larger rooms and beds, in-room iPads
and coffee machines. In just 10 years, FJ
Hotels opened four Forza hotels in Kyushu,
and aims to operate 15 hotels in popular
destinations across Japan by 2025.
“We have diversified to get thedifferent layers of customers from abroad,and that grew our brand and occupancyrate,” Kiyohara says.
FJ Hotels sees potential in establishing
more comfortable and smart hotels withstraightforward service across Southeast
Asia, particularly in Thailand and Vietnam.

Kunihiko Kiyohara, president
With a continuing collaboration with
Richmond Hotels and the company’s
Singapore branch office, it welcomes
partnerships with foreign brands looking
to build hotels that promote a different
aspect of Japanese culture.
“We bring new value and philosophy
in Japan and within the Southeast Asianmarket through smart, lifestyle hotels,”
Kiyohara says.

CRUSHING, FILTRATION AND
DRYING TECH SHARPEN
MAKINO’S INDUSTRY EDGE
Makino is a leader in advanced
manufacturing machine tools with ahighly specialised advantage in crushing,filtration and drying technologies refinedover 85 years. Its customisable crushers,
mills, filter presses and dryers play anactive role in helping industries and theenvironment.
From purifying factory waste waterand helping with the construction ofJapan’s railways and airports to assisting
the government in rebuilding the nation
after the 2011 earthquake, the familyowned business’ first-rate machines,
systems and services satisfy the Makino
brand motto: “Our machine makes
everyone happy.”“We want to be No 1 in Japan in any of
our core technologies,” says Yoshinobu
Makino, president. “Our success lies in ourlong history. One of our customers has
been using our machines for more than 50
years – attesting to the strength, durability
and quality of our products.”

Established in 1932, Makino designs
and produces advanced manufacturingmachines with environmental andindustrial applications such as water
treatment, tunnel digging, manufacture ofceramics, batteries, semiconductors, andrecycling.
Wet and dry crushing systems such as
jaw crushers, roll crushers and ball mills

Yoshinobu Makino, president

guarantee less contaminants in coarse
crushing or fine milling processes.
Meanwhile, simple feed and diaphragmtypes of manual, automatic and semiautomatic filtration machines are used inwaste water treatment and various
production processes such as brewing,mining and manufacturing.
In drying, Makino excels in spraydryers – eco-dryers for fragile products
and humidity-controlled rapid dryers thatguarantee shortened drying times withless cracks and deformation. “Researchand development is important to us,”
Makino says. “We are working on
developing automation, robotics andremote control technologies, and haveconnected with universities to help us.”With markets in China, South Korea,
Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam andIndonesia, Makino is prepared to help
build Asia-Pacific’s growing economies –and work towards a global expansion as it
invites distributors from the United States.

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢TRANSFORMEREXPERT HIRAIDENKEIKI THRIVESWITH CENTURY-OLD
EXPERTISE IN EPOXY
MOULDINGTECHNOLOGY

A

lmost 100 years ago, Hirai
Denkeiki pioneered epoxy
moulding technology for the
manufacture of transformers.
Today, the Kyoto-based
company continues to thrive with its
proprietary “super” technology that isrelied on by an expanding customer baseconsisting of Japan’s leading power
generation companies and electricutilities along with prominent
manufacturers across industries.
“The sustainability of our business isanchored in our century-old expertise,”says Takaya Hirai, president. “We also
attribute our success to keeping ourcompany family-owned, which allows us
to make quick decisions and focus moreon ensuring customer satisfaction.”Starting in 1921 as a supplier ofindicating instruments and metertransformers, Hirai Denkeiki has created asolid reputation for supplying highperformance current transformers thatare noted for lasting 30 to 40 years ascompared to traditional transformers’
15 years. After its release of Japan’s firstsmall-sized, high-precision woundmagnetic core window-type current
transformer in 1958, Hirai Denkeiki has
progressively expanded its portfolio of
ultra-precise current transformers andhas also unveiled general-type voltage
transformers, auxiliary current
transformers, coupling transformers, andtransformers for extra high voltage.
Additionally, the company customdesigns transformers for any purpose,

Takaya Hirai, president

such as for low and high voltage or
frequency, for extra precision and forgeneral use. “We see ourselvescontributing to the safety and security ofsociety by helping prevent electricityrelated accidents in facilities where our
epoxy mould transformers are installed,”
Hirai says.
Hirai Denkeiki continues to refine its
expertise to create environment-friendly
transformers that are lightweight andsmaller in size, while delivering higher
performance. The company has also
begun exploring the possibility ofincorporating light-emitting diodetechnology, and is open to joint researchand development projects to develop
new applications and products.
Domestic sales account for about 90
per cent of the company’s revenues, withseveral big-name clients as part of its
established customer base. Beyond
Japan, Hirai Denkeiki has secured
sizeable projects, including the supply of
precise current transformers for an
installation in Malaysia and thedevelopment of a zero-phase sequencecurrent transformer for a project inThailand. Hirai Denkeiki has also carved
out a presence in China and South Korea
through sales agents.
“Our goal is to increase the share ofoverseas sales from 10 per cent to 30 per
cent,” Hirai says. “We believe theopening of our new factory this year,
which will increase our capacity
threefold, will play a major role inachieving this target. We also hope to findmore quality-minded distribution
partners to help boost our sales andcultivate business opportunities abroad.”

ANRITSU METER AFFIRMS NO
BETTER WAY TO MEASURE
SUCCESS THAN WITHUNQUESTIONABLE QUALITY
Since its establishment in 1949, Anritsu
Meter has continuously proven that there
is only one way to remain strong inbusiness, and that is through delivering
unquestionable quality.
Through the years, the company has
created its mark as a leader in temperature
measurement technology, and played an
active role in the enhancement of
measuring techniques in all types ofindustry, especially the semiconductor
and automotive segments.
“Our competitive edge is rooted in ourstrength that comes from our long-term
relationships with our customers, fromour tailor-made and durable products, andour quick response time,” says president
Masatsune Senbokuya.
A pioneer in the field of surface
temperature measurement, Anritsu Meter
commits to producing high-quality
products that answer the market needs
and adapt to advanced technologies.

“We are proud to share that we’realmost done working on new probes thatare quite rare with the use of optical fibre
technology,” Senbokuya says.
While gaining recognition worldwide
for producing more than 10,000 kinds oftemperature probes, Anritsu Meter proves

Masatsune Senbokuya, president

to be a proud carrier of the Japanesestamp of excellence across its wide sales
network in Asia. The company aims togrow its international sales, whichcurrently constitute 20 per cent of its
overall sales, by enhancing its steadypresence in South Korea, Thailand, Hong
Kong, Taiwan and mainland China, as well
as expanding its distribution in Vietnam
and Indonesia.
“We are open to partnerships,”
Senbokuya says. “But our focus is to
educate the agencies about our products.”
Anritsu Meter looks forward to further
increasing its sales in the United Statesand Europe by leveraging its wide range of
products, outstanding quality andremarkable 40 years of history. It aims tocapture a slice of the global temperature
sensor market, which is expected to growat a compound annual growth rate of 4.5
per cent to reach US$6.26 billion by theend of 2022.

NEW TECHNOLOGY AND
STRATEGY EXPANDHIGASHIMOTO KIKAI’S MEATPROCESSING BUSINESS
Asia-Pacific’s population of 4.5 billion
people is driving the demand for food andfood processing machinery – an industry
expected to reach US$93.5 billion globallyby 2026. Celebrating its 50th year as
Japan’s leader in meat and hamprocessing technologies, Higashimoto
Kikai is responding to this challenge with a
new offering, an upcoming factory androbust plans for expansion.
Founded in 1969 as a businessmaintaining imported meat processing
equipment, Higashimoto Kikai started
manufacturing its own machines toanswer Japan’s growing market for hamand sausages at the time. It merged
European-standard product technologies
with its own know-how to provide
customer-tailored machines.
Products range widely from vacuum
mixers and cutters, meat tenderisers andgrinders to frozen crushers, lift boys,
smoke houses and super injectors. These
highly durable and resilient processing
machines offer unsurpassed food safety

standards for ham and sausage
manufacturers, meat processing
companies and frozen food brands.
Using its expertise, Higashimoto Kikai
is developing an automated meat
processing technology that will replace
manual operations. It also plans to open a
new factory in Vietnam in five years toboost production capacity, and aims toincrease international sales to 10 per centof its overall sales volume.
“We develop and manufacture new
products based on requests from clients
and with their collaboration,” says Shinya
Okada, president. “Our portfolio has
expanded because we met customer
needs of different periods over time. So
we are still selling products that wedeveloped 40 years ago as these represent
our core technologies.”
Present in China and South Korea
through its clients, and targeting to
expand into Thailand and Vietnam,
Higashimoto Kikai aims to attract newclients and further grow its product

Shinya Okada, president
portfolio. It welcomes researchcollaborations with universities, and isinterested in automation and internet-ofthings technologies.
“Our company needs to be on thesame trend as our customers five years
from now,” Okada says.

S7

Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

SAKAE LACE, THE
WORLD’S LEAVERSLACE MARKET
LEADER, GOES
BEYOND LINGERIE
There’s a big chance that the lace one
sees in lingerie shops is made by Sakae
Lace. That’s because the company
makes 60 per cent of the world’s Leavers
lace, and is crafting more designs andmaking more innovations than everbefore.
Sakae Lace started in 1958 with just
two Leavers lace machines. It has nearly
90 machines today, maximised with asmall lot production strategy thatenables the company to create elegant
lace designs. Each year, nearly 2,500
sketches are created in order to provide
customers with 800 new sophisticateddesigns.
As much as 20 per cent of these new
designs are results from collaborations
with its clients. “The benefit of working

together with customers on design
development is they can purchasedirectly from us,” says company
president Tetsuya Sawamura.
With output consisting of 80 per
cent Leavers lace and 20 per centRaschel lace, the company is the partnerof choice for high-end European fashion
brands such as Chantelle and Simone
Perele.
According to Sawamura, Sakae
Lace grew to market dominancebecause of several factors. The
company started producing lace in
China in 1992, long before outsourcing
to China became a worldwide trend. Its
Chinese employees soon became
leaders as the company expanded into
Thailand in 2003. Today, the company

Tetsuya Sawamura, president
has sales representatives in up to 14
countries, spread across the globe.
Beyond geographic growth, Sakae
Lace also maintains partnerships that
improve its product line. The company
works with universities on using
cameras to detect damage andleveraging artificial intelligence toexplore ways to reduce labour costs.

NICHIRYO MARKS 75TH YEAR
WITH THE LAUNCH OF NEWNICHIPET MICROPIPETTE
Celebrating 75 years of innovation anddedicated work, liquid handling device
manufacturer Nichiryo strengthens its
commitment to meeting the utmost
requirements of clinical laboratories andthe life science sector worldwide. This is
showcased by the continuous
evolvement of the company’s flagshipNichipet series of micropipettes, which
will see a new model unveiled within theyear.
Based on a dispensing technology
developed and refined since its
establishment in 1944, Nichiryo offers abroad range of pipettes and dispensers
for handling different liquids, including
solvents and high-impact liquids. Its
market-leading Nichipet Premium
autoclavable model is noted forinnovations in durability, precision,
stability and comfort. To meet specificclient requirements, Nichiryo also

supplies custom-made liquid handling
products.
Three Nichiryo pipettes are on
display at the Nobel Museum ascommemorative gifts from Dr Shinya
Yamanaka, the winner of the 2012 Nobel
Prize for physiology or medicine.
Yamanaka has been using the Nichipet
EX micropipettes for a long time,
including in his award-winning stem cellresearch – a testament to the quality of
Nichiryo’s products.
“We attribute our success to ourunrelenting focus on delivering superior
product quality and customer service,”says Takayoshi Ito, president. “This has
been key to becoming a trusted partner
to our customers.”
Nichiryo exports its liquid handling
instruments worldwide, withinternational sales currently accountingfor 20 to 30 per cent of the company’s

While Sakae Lace draws most of its
sales from underwear, it is using its laceexpertise to expand sales to outerwear
such as haute couture, wedding dresses
and kimonos.
The next frontiers of growth,particularly for outerwear, are China
and India, where the company seeks toexpand its sales presence.

Takayoshi Ito,president

sales. In 1996, Nichiryo establisheda subsidiary in the United States
to better serve its expanding
client base in the Americas.
Over the medium term,
Nichiryo is considering
opening local branches in Asia
to provide genuine customer
support. It also aims to workwith quality-minded
distributors and service
partners who can offer the same
top-notch, “super-express”
calibration and repair services
provided by its Japanese subsidiary
Scimec.
“Asia is an important market forus,” Ito says. “We see growth
opportunities in China, India andSoutheast Asia, and future
possibilities in developing countries
in other parts of Asia.”

S8

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

UTAX PIONEERSNIPPONFUSSOSEAMLESS BONDING
DEVELOPS ORIGINAL
SOLUTIONS FORSOFTER, MORE
FLUOROPOLYMER
BREATHABLE AND COATING SOLUTIONSSUPPLE FABRICS
Isao Tsukamoto, president

PEACOCK SEEKS TO
EXPAND HOME
DELIVERY BUSINESSWITH PARTNERSHIPSIN ASIA
Hectic, on-the-go lifestyles paved theway for the emergence of a conveniencestore culture of consuming ready-to-eat
frozen food. However, choosing
prepacked meals could be hit-or-misssince not all food manufacturers areequal. Combining its discerning tastes
with the latest food manufacturing
technologies, Peacock changes theperception on frozen food with its
expertly curated line of flour-based
frozen products that deliver taste, quality
and value.
“There is an internal rule that unless I
taste and approve the product, thecompany cannot sell it. There are risks inthat but I want what’s best for ourcustomers,” says Peacock president Isao
Tsukamoto.
Established in 1971, Peacock is ahousehold name in the Japanese foodindustry, particularly in the fast-food andfrozen-food segments. With its timetested recipes for fast-food fare capturing
the tastes of the people, Peacock’s
hotplate, ramen, udon and sweet shops
continued spreading like wildfire acrossJapan. The company is looking to open
restaurants and shops internationallywith the help of partners interested inbringing an authentic Japaneseexperience to their home markets.
Gaining a wealth of expertise fromits fast-food arm, the company
broadened its scope to produce theready-to-eat counterparts of best-selling
fast-food products such as takoyaki andokonomiyaki. When it comes to frozen
goods, food moisture is thedifferentiating factor and the company
employs the latest solutions to preserve
it – ensuring quality and freshness thecustomers can taste. Peacock’s products
are available in supermarkets andthrough home-delivery service.
Peacock serves the local market
through its Oguni facility, while factories
in Vietnam and Indonesia primarily caterto international markets. The company
implements stringent quality measuresin these overseas factories to ensure that
products meet its exacting standards.
To support growth outside its homemarket, Peacock aims to partner withhome-delivery providers in Vietnam,
Indonesia and other countries
throughout Asia. In doing so, Peacockcan share its excellent manufacturing
practices while bringing genuine
Japanese products to more homes.

Good, quality intimate apparel should fit
the body like a second skin ensuring
maximum freedom of movement. The
best undergarments use fabrics that are
stretchable, soft to the touch and do notcurl or fray easily, but the secret is in thebond. Many garment manufacturers
today benefit from seamless bonding
solutions that make the most out of any
fabric. Thanks to seamless bonding
technology innovator UTAX, markets
today can delight in comfortable, “nobumps” yet tough inner wear and apparel.
“Seamless bonding has become atrend in Japan and worldwide,” says
UTAX president and CEO Daisuke Jackson
Utaka. “We pioneered this technology andcontinue to develop it. We use a special
kind of liquid glue instead of film for thebond, which makes the fabric softer, morebreathable and easier to shape.”
Preferred by top-tier intimate wear
brands in Japan for its high-quality bra
accessories and bonded seamlessgarments, UTAX is backed by decades oftechnical expertise that also go into its
own-designed automated production

machinery. The company’s original
bonding technology is not only behind
every hook and eye, underwire, tape or bra
component it makes, the specialisation
also extends into fabric applications for
sport, compression and active wear, andeven vehicles.
“Originality is our strength, and wedeveloped all our bulk production
machines so we safeguard theengineering and production know-how,”
Utaka says. “Bonding technology is notjust for intimate apparel. Many industries
use fabrics that need bonding so wecollaborate with textile companies,
garment manufacturers and suppliers tooffer solutions to any industry.”
UTAX seeks to collaborate with more
local and international partners to grow its
sales overseas. With a master facility in
Nishiwaki, Japan, followed by two
production sites in China and one in
Thailand, UTAX is eager to further
penetrate the sportswear, medical andautomotive markets in China, Southeast
Asia, North America, India and Saudi
Arabia.

Daisuke Jackson Utaka, president and CEO

WITH CUSTOMERS

N

on-stick, corrosion-resistantand possessing high-purity
features, fluoropolymer has
been making industries
greener, more efficient andsafer. When coated with the superplastic, mixing tanks for viscousmaterials become environmentallyfriendly and more efficient as
manufacturers do not have to clean thetanks afterwards with toxic chemicals.
Meanwhile, vessels for petrol chemicals
with fluoropolymer underlining or
reinforcement become explosion-proof.
Such a growing range of applications
has been the focus of Nippon Fusso,
which for more than 50 years has beendeveloping fluoropolymer solutions
carefully tailored to client needs.
“Solving customer problems is our
key business philosophy,” sayspresident Satoru Toyooka. “Each case isunique, and we draw on our vast
technical know-how, ultramodern
facilities and solid customer ties to comeup with the best original solutions.”
True to its pioneering spirit,
Nippon Fusso became the firstcompany in Japan to receive thehighest award from DuPont for
its improvements on Teflon
coating technology. Today,
Nippon Fusso has preserved
its reputation as a leading
innovator in fluoropolymer
applications. The Japanesecompany developed the world’s
first antistatic fluoropolymer
coating, a variety that prevents
coated materials from releasing

electric discharge that can cause
ignition.
Serving various industries ranging
from semiconductors and flat-panel
displays to pharmaceuticals andpetrochemicals, the company works
closely with clients through its
technology development department.
Nippon Fusso boasts of its Surface
Treatment Technology Research Center,
which analyses products, develops new
surface technologies and studies new
materials. ISO-certified, the facility isequipped with one of the largest ovens
and clean rooms in the world.
Such dedication to research anddevelopment has resulted in many

SatoruToyooka,president

We are focusedon growing ourcustomer base,especially in
China
Satoru Toyooka, president

highly tailored fluoropolymer coating
solutions. These range from ultrahighprecision electronic applications to large
projects such as vessels 6 metres highby 16 metres long used in thepolyethylene production process. To
minimise losses due to shutdowns,
Nippon Fusso guarantees clients onschedule resolution of maintenanceproblems.
Up ahead, the company is looking to
expand international sales while
exploring fresh fluoropolymer uses inthe battery, sensor, automatic
technology and automotive verticalsaligned with Industry 4.0. With theestablishment of its factory in Thailand,
Nippon Fusso expects to intensify its
presence in Asean before going to Indiaand southwest Asia.
“We are focused on growing ourcustomer base, especially in China
where we see the biggest opportunity,”
Toyooka says. “We have committed
ourselves to the fast delivery of highly
reliable products in the past half century,and promise clients the same excellent
service ahead as we strive to become a
global company in the next 50 years.”

REGENCY STEEL JAPAN HELPSGLOBAL COMPANIES TACKLEOFFSHORE AND STRUCTURAL
CHALLENGES
Delivering 21 offshore rigs in a single
year is no easy feat, but Keppel FELS did
this in 2013, aided by niche steel
components maker Regency SteelJapan (RSJ). The achievement was so
unprecedented that the global rig designand construction company received the
Guinness World Records title “largest
manufacturer of offshore rigs” thefollowing year. Keppel FELS continues
to successfully deliver many of theworld’s jack-up rigs and semisubmersibles using RSJ’s quality rackand chords, welded structures and otherdurable steel products.
“We have adopted Keppel’s corevalues including being qualityobsessed, and this makes us a very
reliable supplier,” says Wong Chun-yu,
RSJ president.
A joint venture of Keppel Offshore &Marine subsidiary FELS Offshore, Mitsui& Co., and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo
Metal, RSJ applies its parent companies’
40-year steel manufacturing expertise tosupport some of Japan’s major
landmarks. These include the Tokyo

Wong Chun-yu, president
Skytree and parts of the Tokyo
International Airport at Haneda.
RSJ’s high-level steel is remarkably
strong, lightweight, and resistant tofracturing and corrosion – features thatare vital in rack and chord fabrication.
The company’s innovative steel

production techniques together with its
heat treatment furnaces and 10,000tonne press machines also allow it tooffer various services that conform tocustomers’ objectives, budget andschedule.
Expanding its Asian and global
business, RSJ exports steel components
to many of Keppel Group’s projects
overseas. Plans to widen its know-how
in steel materials and methodologies
that will allow it to adapt more quickly tomarket demands are underway. To
continue delivering offshore
applications such as offshore wind farmjackets and other services, RSJ
welcomes strategic research anddevelopment collaborations with
universities and partners globally andacross Asia, particularly in mainland
China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
“We are starting to diversify ourofferings, but we will continue to do
projects that we are good at,” Wongsays. “We are open to partnerships
where we can maximise our facilities
and apply our niche proficiencies.”

HOKUSHO LIFTS CUSTOMERS’MANUFACTURING EFFICIENCYWITH LEADING GOODS
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Industries today face many challenges
such as wage increases, labour
shortages and demand for moresophisticated products. To improve
production speed while maintaining
exceptional results for customers, theimplementation of the right material
handling system is crucial. As industries
increasingly turn to automation andother Industry 4.0 solutions, the region’s
leading material handling equipment
maker Hokusho evolves with the market
changes as it upholds manufacturers byproviding material distribution
equipment backed by the latest
Japanese technologies.
Starting as a machine trader anddistributor, the decades-old familybusiness developed its first product, aslat conveyor, in the 1950s after thecompany’s founder witnessed thecumbersome way Japanese farmers
lifted and stockpiled 60-kilo rice sacks.
Hokusho has since created a range ofpatented material distribution systems
under the helm of third-generation scionand president Takahiro Kitamura.

Takahiro Kitamura, president“As investments in automation
grow, we act fast to incessantly develop
new solutions while regularly improving
and modifying existing ones,” Kitamura
says.
Some of the company’s standard

products used in multilevel factories andwarehouses are the vertical transfer
system, automated sortation systems
such as the piece assorting system andthe sorting and transfer system, and theclean vertical transfer systems. Hokusho
also carries system engineering
products such as palletising, production
line, and packaging systems that save on
labour costs and streamline operations.
Hokusho applies its solid technicalknow-how to develop environmental
systems that improve frozen warehouseefficiency. As consumers demand
fresher produce and food products,
companies are looking for moreinnovative and reliable food storage andhandling solutions. Hokusho seeks topenetrate China’s burgeoning frozen
warehousing market in addition to
cementing its presence in Japan, South
Korea and across Southeast Asia.
“Our company exists to contributeto society,” Kitamura says. “We serve
customers by continuously bolstering
our capabilities to meet delivery, costand quality demands.”

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢S9Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

EMBROIDERED PRODUCTS
MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE
WITH TAJIMA INDUSTRIESI

t is not easy to carve a niche in the
dizzying industry that is fashion.
Creativity becomes the key todistinguishing one designer from thenext. However, concept andexecution are two different things that cansometimes be conflicting. With its 75-year
expertise in manufacturing embroiderymachines, Tajima Industries has been aloyal partner of many companies in giving
life to intricate designs and patterns.
Tajima put a modern spin on
needlework – mechanising the art of
sewing to make many customised andoriginal creations. Since its
establishment, it has developed about
3,000 embroidery machine models usedin many industries in more than 100
countries worldwide. It has become thepartner of choice for embroiderymachineries by the apparel, technology,
automotive, aerospace and medical
industries.
“As an embroidery machines
specialist, we always stay on top of trends
to adapt our products to client
requirements. We add value by
supporting the innovation of our clients intheir exploration of new applications.
Companies actually approach us to testsew new materials such as sensors,carbon fibre, heater wire and othertechnical textiles,” says president Hideki
Tajima.
One such product of the company’smarket intuitiveness is the Tajima SAI.
The compact embroidery machine makes
it easy for artisans and smaller businesses
to benefit from the know-how andexpertise of Tajima. Even with its compact

appearance, the Tajima SAI is equippedwith the same features as the company’sother flagship products such as durable
mechanical and electrical parts, precisely
adjusted components, easy to use forinexperienced operators, among others.
With international companies making
up almost 90 per cent of its customer
base, Tajima has stitched together astrong support network with more than 60
distributors worldwide. Aside frommanufacturing and distributing
subsidiaries in Japan, it has establishedan assembling factory in Shanghai andrepresentative offices as sales andtechnical service bases in the UnitedStates and France.
Tajima envisions that its market sharein Japan will increase in the future,especially as domestic sales in the apparelWe add value by
supporting theinnovation of
our clients intheir explorationof new
applications
Hideki Tajima, president

Hideki Tajima, president

and automotive industries continue torise. Outside its home market, thecompany sees great opportunities togrow its market share in India,

Bangladesh, Pakistan and Russia, as thesecountries are mass production hubs of
many apparel companies. Tajima is also
seeking partners such as sales

representatives who can help it navigate
the African market.
“Our customers invest in our
products because they know they can

succeed with our technology. We willcontinue to develop new technologies tomaintain the trust of our customers andgain new ones,” Tajima says.

NITTO REINETSU SEEKS TO
CHUKOH CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES MOULDS
BRING OPTIMAL AIR
SUPER PLASTIC PTFE TO SUIT CLIENT NEEDSENVIRONMENT TO ASIA’S
FACTORIES AND CLEAN ROOMS
Leading up to its 45th anniversary, aircleaning and cooling solution specialist
Nitto Reinetsu is moving towards astronger internationalisation strategy andopportunities to grow in Asia.
“This expansion is prompted by ourcommitment to further serve our
predominantly Japanese customers who
have expanded their manufacturing
presence across Asia,” says CEO Eiichi
Ichikawa. “We also aim to serve a wider
market and help bring an optimal air
environment to the region’s factories andclean rooms.”
Nitto Reinetsu specialises in the
production of energy-saving heat andhumidity control units, air purifiers andcooling devices. It has become renowned
for its monozukuri approach to
manufacturing – a guarantee that its
products are made with the highest levelof workmanship, manufacturing
excellence and continuous improvement.
The company is trusted to keep dust-freeand sterile clean air at many food factories,

chemical plants, laboratories andhospitals, and manufacturing facilities
with precision work spaces, including thesemiconductor and automotive sectors.
Its flagship product, the eONE-A1W/
A05 W super-energy-saving typeprecision temperature and humidity air
conditioner, has won the grand prize forexcellence in energy efficiency andconservation. Serving as a replacement
for the air handling unit and external air
conditioner, it cuts energy costs by up to
80 per cent. The eONE efficiently cools,
dehumidifies, humidifies and heats theentire surface through which air passes.
Other key offerings from Nitto
Reinetsu include various air showers andair curtains, fixed and easy-to-assemble
clean booths, pass boxes and fan filter
units. Nitto Reinetsu can custom-design its
devices, in terms of dimension andfunctionality, to match specific client
requirements.
“As we seek to expand ourgeographical footprint, it’s vital that we

Eiichi Ichikawa, CEObroaden our collaboration network,”
Ichikawa says. In Asia, Nitto Reinetsu
seeks distribution partners, particularly in
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam,
India and China. It is also looking for
quality-minded subassembly partners
and aims to expand its network for
product development.

CONSTANT INNOVATIONPUSHES OHM’S GROWTH
IN AND OUT OF JAPANBetter futures through creation anddevelopment – this vision has always
fuelled OHM Electric’s drive to give life tounprecedented products andtechnologies that will transform andimprove societies. As continued
industrialisation sweeps the globe, OHM
positions itself as the ideal partner of

Yoshiro Tozuka, president

manufacturing companies across many
sectors with its revolutionary andenvironmental solutions.
“Our company is built on theprinciples of uniqueness and originality.
We focus on making one-of-a-kindinimitable products. We have been doing
this for 60 years, and we plan to continue
doing so in the future,” says OHM
president Yoshiro Tozuka.
OHM is a renowned wiring solutions
expert, as it is among the pioneers of thefirst cable gland CAPCON. It is also one of
the go-to companies for climate control
equipment that helps maintain optimal
temperature and humidity conditions in
an enclosure, and environmental
equipment that eliminate oil mist and dust
from production sites.
Making great strides in its
environmental advocacy, OHM
specialises in panel coolers and oil mistcollectors. The non-fluorocarbon coolers
launched in 2016 employ the refrigerant

R1234yf, which has an extremely low
Global Warming Potential of less than 1.
In the field of oil mist treatment, OHM has
been focusing on non-filter type for waste
reduction. OHM helps its clients protect
human health and maintain a clean work
environment.
Working closely with clients tounderstand their needs, OHM is
expanding its business scope to include
system integration. Backed by a robust
research and development team, OHM
aims to widen its scope to more industries,
including medical, food and robotics, andmore markets outside Japan.
OHM supports this geographicalexpansion by opening an oil mist collector
and cooling system factory in Thailandthat will serve as a distribution hub for the
Asian region. Aside from serving
important growth markets such as
Southeast Asia and China, OHM seeks toreach new markets such as North America
and Europe.

NSC SHARES SEWAGE AND
WATER TECHNOLOGIES WITHREST OF ASIA
Leveraging nearly 60 years of expertise inwater-related environmental projects,
Nihon Suido Consultants (NSC) is giving
central and local governments in Japanand elsewhere around the world aglimpse of the future. The company, forinstance, wants to collaborate withappropriate experts in creating newtechnology such as a robot with artificial
intelligence to investigate sewer pipes
while developing special antennas thatwill allow sewer manholes to transmit
water data using internet-of-things
technology.
“We concentrate on our hi-techexpertise and excellent service to help
local governments faced with shrinking
budgets,” says NSC president Yoshikazu
Nomura. “We place emphasis on
excellent design work at the very onset toensure reliable operation andmanagement throughout the project’s life
cycle. We always strive for the best totalsolution for our clients.”
Adept across the whole value chain in

Yoshikazu Nomura, president
any project from water supply systems,
waste water treatment and riverengineering to flood control, NSC enjoys
the top market share in Japan. The
company maintains technologicalleadership, with eight of every 10

employees comprising seasoned
engineers, while pursuing extensive
collaboration with universities andindustries across the region.
Focused on raising the share ofoverseas business from 10 to 30 per cent,
the company is working with various
types of companies in countries such as
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar andIndonesia. Moreover, NSC has opened
branches in Singapore and in thePhilippines as it pursues a leading role inpublic-private partnerships across Asia.
Projects overseas include the Buaran
Water Treatment Plant in Indonesia, theChinaimo Water Treatment Plant in Laosand the South Binh Duong Sewage
Treatment Plant in Vietnam.
“Our clients’ financial situation will
not be an issue as we can customise oursolutions to suit their budget while using
local people and resources,” Nomura
says. “As such, the project benefits boththe host country and NSC. This is ourpolicy.”When Dr Roy Plunkett was trying toinvent a new refrigerant in 1938, he
accidentally discovered the super plastic
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or
fluoropolymer. Surrounded by tightly
packed fluorine atoms, PTFE canwithstand extreme heat, ultraviolet (UV)light and critical chemicals while
possessing superb non-stick andelectrical-insulation properties. The same
tough features, however, have madefluoropolymer difficult to process – anexpertise mastered by Chukoh Chemical
Industries to serve the specific needs ofclients in architecture, medicine, foodpackaging, transport and electronics.
“By instilling in every employee theconcept of kaizen or day-to-day
improvement, we are able to develop
core technologies that allow us totransform fluoropolymer into uniqueproducts for many modern industries,”says Chukoh president Naoyuki Shono.
Chukoh allocates about 10 per cent ofexpenses to research and development
while collaborating with partner

universities and companies. The
company, for instance, has thetechnology to process PTFE into silicone
resins and coat them onto airbags toprevent breaking or burning. Chukoh canalso impregnate glass fibre yarn clothwith fluoropolymer to produce Skytop, abreakthrough architectural roofing
membrane.
Stronger than steel, Skytop does not
sag over time as it can withstandtemperatures up to 800 degrees Celsius.
UV light bleaches the roofing membrane
pure white throughout its estimated50-year life cycle without cleaning. As
such, Skytop delivers significant energy
savings by reflecting up to 85 per cent of
the sun’s heat while letting in as muchlight as possible. Chukoh has installed theinnovation at the Bangkok Airport, theBeijing National Stadium also known as
the Bird’s Nest and several otherstadiums worldwide.
“We are always looking for a chance
to work with industry, academia anddistributors, especially in the field of

Naoyuki Shono, president
semiconductors, medicine and foodpackaging in China and Southeast Asia,”
says Jinichi Komiya, operating officer

and general manager. “Together, we canprovide customer-centric solutions theJapanese way.”S10

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢JOHOKU CHEMICAL SUSTAINSGROWTH WITH HIGHLY
DIVERSIFIED SPECIALITY
CHEMICALS PORTFOLIO

A

global leader inmanufacturing organic
phosphorus compounds andcorrosion inhibitors, Johoku
Chemical celebrates 60 years
of providing high-performancesolutions to its ever-expanding base ofindustrial customers. With its brand arecognised guarantee of quality, Johoku
Chemical enjoys the trust of some of thebiggest Japanese multinationals andmid-sized corporations in the plastics,
pharmaceutical, semiconductor,
agricultural, paints and coatingsindustries.
“Key to our sustainable growth in
the last six decades is continuous
expansion into new domains,” says
Tomoaki Ota, president. “We do not
rely on two or three key additives, andwe’re not limited to a few customers.
Our speciality chemicals portfolio isdiversified as well as our client base.
That way, we circumvent the effectsof economic downturns and periodic
industry ups and downs.”
Ota, who has been president of
Johoku Chemical over the past 17 years,

Key to our
growth in thelast six decades
is continuous
expansion
Tomoaki Ota, president

Tomoaki Ota, president
has led the company through the global
financial crisis in 2007 to 2008 and theGreat East Japan Earthquake andTsunami of 2011. With a long-term view,
he seeks to grow the company at amodest and consistent rate to deliver

sustainable benefits to loyal customers
and its team of dedicated employees.
“Business is like a marathon, not a
100-metre sprint,” Ota says. “We remain
steady over time and focus on nurturinglong-term relationships. My vision is tosustain this business for generations.”
Under Ota’s dynamic leadership,
Johoku Chemical’s products have foundapplications in many fields and markets,
notably in the semiconductor sector
where its solutions are increasingly
being integrated into smartphones andother consumer electronics. LAN RAM,the company’s new type of volatilecorrosion inhibitor, is noted for being

water- and oil-resistant yet highly
gas-permeable.
Johoku Chemical’s organic
phosphorus compounds are used asheat stabilisers and quality modifiers forplastics, fibres and rubber, as extremepressure modifiers and antioxidants for
lubricating oils, and as intermediates forpharmaceuticals and agriculturalchemicals. Additional key offerings
from Johoku Chemical include
multifunctional polymer moleculestabilisers, blister catalysts for urethane,city gas desulphurisation catalysts
and ultraviolet absorbers.
Broadening its business outlook
beyond Japan, Johoku Chemical looks
forward to the opportunity to grow its
business in Asia. “We are open to morequality-minded raw material partners
from mainland China, Taiwan, India andSouth Korea who can offer stable supply
and competitive prices,” Ota says.
“We also welcome joint researchand development efforts with otherindustry players who complement
our expertise and have a long-term
perspective as we do.”

KOMYO RIKAGAKU KOGYO
DETECTS NEEDS OF GASSENSOR, MEASUREMENTINSTRUMENT MARKETSThe market for gas sensors, detectors
and other related measurement
instruments is poised for growth. The
growth is propelled by stringent legal
and environmental regulations,increasing awareness about
environmental protection, health andsafety issues, and continued use of fossil
fuels and petrochemicals.
Aligned with this, Komyo Rikagaku
Kogyo K.K. affirms its commitment tobringing excellent gas detection andmonitoring products from Japan to theworld. “Our efforts are always centredon listening to the needs of ourcustomers and creating products forthem that also care for the world,” says
Fujio Kitagawa, president. “Such avision was inspired by my father, who
had just come back from the war, andmy grandfather, who supported thecause, when they built Komyo in 1947.”
True to its mission, Komyo has
grown to serve its customers, mostly
government and municipal agencies,
and organisations in energy,
engineering, transportation,
shipbuilding and electricity sectors, withhigh-quality monitors and sensors thathave gone through intensive researchand development. The Japanesemanufacturer’s core products include
gas detection tubes perfect formonitoring levels of the likes of carbon
monoxide; alcohol detection equipment
whose precision helps police forces intheir operations; and fuel emission gas
detection products that benefit
automotive customers.
“In recent years, we have also

Fujio Kitagawa, president
focused on adding sensory products andgas leak detection systems that are usedby the shipbuilding sector,” Kitagawa
says. “The latter actually prompted ourpresence in Singapore as we’d like to becloser to our customers and provide
them fast and reliable service.”
In addition to turning its temporary
office in Singapore into a permanent
one, Komyo has grown its businessthrough distributors in mainland China,
Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Dubai, Vietnam,
Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It has
also established Kitagawa America,
which caters to its growing clientele in
the United States. “We are expanding
internationally, most specifically inSoutheast Asia, so we’re open topotential local partnerships,” Kitagawa
says.

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KANOMAX’ HIGH-PRECISION
MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGIESAID INDUSTRIES AND SAVE LIVES
Air pollution is a serious global issue,
causing 7 million deaths annually. With
two-thirds of air pollution-related
casualties coming from Asia – amultibillion-dollar market for air
purification and monitoring systems –Japanese innovator Kanomax offers morethan eight decades of expertise inadaptable precision measurement
solutions for airflow, fluids and particles tohelp ease the region’s air quality
problems.
Founded as Kano Laboratory in 1934
by Goro Kano, a teaching assistant at
Kyoto University, Kanomax today covers
critical air environment focusing on indoor
air quality, health and safety; industrial
probe testing for automotive andaerospace manufacturing processes; andadvanced measurement services forresearch and development (R&D)
collaborations with universities and large
corporations.
“The Kanomax DNA lies in our
founder’s technological knowledge andpioneering focus to create unique
technologies – a legacy that we are
entrusted to carry on,” says Minoru Kano,chairman and CEO. “Our precise
measurement systems have a margin oferror of plus or minus two percentage
points of readings, which is within thehighest range of their class in the world.”
From airflow instruments andsensors, air velocity meters, air quality anddust monitors to particle counters andMinoru Kano, chairman and CEOsound and vibration meters, Kanomax’
products cater to nearly every industry.
Applications range from heating,ventilation and air conditioning
equipment testing, public and industrial
hygiene and environmental monitoring toenergy development and clean room
contamination control.
“One of our strengths is pursuing astandardised process while offering
highly customised solutions,” Kano says.
“We listen closely to each customer’s
needs.”
As it celebrates its China factory’s 30th
anniversary, Kanomax aspires to continue
expanding its presence on the mainland –with the possibility of a Singaporean office
to serve Southeast Asian markets.
The company is also developing an
original sensor measurement technology
using micro-electro-mechanical systems.
It welcomes collaborations with
universities and research institutions for
R&D and commercialisation support, andpartnerships with local players in Asia.

JAPANESE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY LEADER NIRAKUSHARES HAPPINESS WITH
ASIAN MARKETSHappiness may be an abstract concept,
but at Niraku GC Holdings, its creation has
been the cornerstone of a business thathas withstood the test of time.
When founder Tetsuyoshi Taniguchi
opened a pachinko hall in 1950 during
Japan’s prosperous post-war era, he laid
the foundations of an amusement-related
enterprise banking on customer
experience and goodwill. Today, Niraku
GC Holdings is a leading name in Japan’sentertainment industry – operating 55
pachinko halls across eastern Japan, an
11-storey hotel in Koriyama city and a
Spanish restaurant called Lizarran inTokyo.
The company was listed on the Hong
Kong stock exchange in 2015; and in 2017,it acquired Singaporean company Dream
Games, which operates amusement
facilities for arcade games, bowling andkaraoke in Vietnam and Cambodia. These
paved the way towards an Asian

expansion. “Our company has grownfirmly and steadily,” says Hisanori
Taniguchi, CEO and the founder’s son.
“Our philosophy is to make the world
happy, enjoyable and fun. We aim to
expand globally by providing the bestexperiences in amusement andentertainment. We welcome international
collaborations to continue growing
throughout Asia.”
Niraku GC Holdings was incorporated
in 2013. Its principal operating subsidiary,
Niraku Corp, is primarily engaged in theoperation and management of pachinkohalls and is responsible for the company’s
hotel and restaurant franchising business.
Niraku GC Holdings also maintains aproperty ownership and investment arm
called Nexia, and is engaged in theemployment of handicapped persons
through its subsidiary Niraku Merrist.
Despite Japan’s declining pachinko
market, Niraku GC Holdings confidently

Hisanori Taniguchi, CEOaims to expand its market share by
opening new halls and undertaking
mergers and acquisitions. It also plans toopen a 3,000-square-metre food court inShenzhen Upper Hills called Yokocho – theJapanese term for alleyway – featuring 16
popular Japanese restaurant brands, byMarch.
“We will continue expanding ourbusiness portfolio and moving towards
greater diversification of revenues,”
Taniguchi says.

ULTRA-FLEXIBLE BIOPLASTICREVOLUTIONISES 3D PRINTING
Hotty Polymer, Japan’s leading extrusions
manufacturer, is fast gaining a foothold in
Europe and Asia with breakthroughtechnology that enables rapid prototyping
using ultra-flexible bioplastic. The
company’s HP filament, or soft resin
combining polylactide and otherelastomers, allows anyone to create awide range of new products and designs
using the fused deposition modelling(FDM) technology in 3D printing. The
resulting 3D models are soft like rubber,
dramatically improved from the rigidity ofexisting prototypes.
“Our original material for the FDM
type of 3D printer is the first of its kind.
Demand has been high in Europe where
3D printers are designed to make thickmodels. We believe there will be a hugeincrease and need for our HP filament in
Asia as well, especially in China,” says
Hidetoshi Hotta, president.
Hotty Polymer has been creating
endless possibilities with polymer

extrusions since 1951. Continuous
innovation and rigorous quality control
have made the company Japan’s leading
provider of rubber and plastic extrusions
for the construction, housing andautomotive industries. The company
customises solutions to provide water- or
air-tightness, thermal or sound insulation,and design ability, depending on theclients’ needs.
It is No 1 in Japan for high-quality
sealing materials such as gaskets for
sliding windows or doors, weatherstrips
and glass run channels for vehicles.
Trademarked as “Sube-up” for theirremarkable air-tightness, anti-mould andeasy-sliding properties, these sealingmaterials have found their way to Taiwan,
South Korea, mainland China, Thailand
and other parts of Southeast Asia. The
company opened a branch in Thailand in
2011.
Hotty Polymer invites partnerships
with well-entrenched distributors in these

Hidetoshi Hotta, president
markets to broaden the reach of its
environmentally friendly products.
“We create products with theenvironment in mind. For instance, ourSube-up products are frictionless andprovide effective sealing for extreme
weather conditions. This level of durability
lessens the environmental impact ofindustries,” Hotta says.

SAWAI PHARMACEUTICAL
IMPROVES ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE THROUGH TOP-QUALITYYET AFFORDABLE GENERIC
PHARMACEUTICALSAs concerns grow over sharply rising
medical costs, the market for genericpharmaceuticals is expected to continue
expanding. Rising to the challenge ofincreased demand for generics is Osakabased Sawai Pharmaceutical, which taps
into its 70 years of expertise and an
industry-leading production system ofseven factories equipped with state-ofthe-art equipment and facilities“Our mission has always been todeliver top-quality, reasonably priced
medications to as many patients as quickly
as possible,” says Mitsuo Sawai,president. “We continuously work on
challenging the four different types ofpatents covering brand-name drugs,
namely, active chemical substance,
process, formulation and method-of-use
patents, for the timely creation of theirgeneric equivalents.”
Founded in 1929, Sawai
Pharmaceutical today ranks as the leading
Japanese generic pharmaceuticals
manufacturer. Its extensive portfolio

comprises about 740 high-value genericproducts with cardiovascular drugs,
gastrointestinal drugs and central nervous
system drugs as its top-selling offerings.
Stirred by its core value of always
putting patients first, Sawai
Pharmaceutical continues to expand its
portfolio thanks to its strong technologicalcapabilities to research a diverse array ofactive ingredients and combine these to

Mitsuo Sawai, president

develop new effective products. In the last
three years, Sawai Pharmaceutical spent
about 9 to 10 billion yen (HK$634 to 705
million) for research work.
“Research and development (R&D) islife itself for Sawai Pharmaceutical. It’s thatimportant,” Sawai says.
As part of the company’s vision to
become a globally recognised genericdrug company, Sawai Pharmaceuticalcompleted the acquisition of the genericpharmaceuticals business of UpsherSmith Laboratories in mid-2017. With thepurchase, Sawai Pharmaceuticalestablished a strong foothold in the UnitedStates, which constitutes the world’s
largest pharmaceutical market.
“Our priority now is to bring theUpsher-Smith integration to success,”
Sawai says. “But we remain open to
partnerships and merger opportunities tofurther enhance our R&D and sales
capabilities. We’re also taking a closer lookat Asia, seeing the vast growth possibility
in the region.”

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢KAWAMURASANGYO’S ORIGINALTECHNOLOGIESPROPEL MARKET
EXPANSIONW

ith rapid infrastructuraldevelopment in China andAsia-Pacific amplifying
demand for advanced
industrial technologies andelectrical insulation materials – a market
projected to reach US$8.95 billion this year
– Kawamura Sangyo is well-positioned tobenefit from the region’s economic
growth.
A leading manufacturer anddistributor of insulators, micro-machining
products and electronic materials in Japanfor more than 50 years, Kawamura
Sangyo supplies key Asian markets suchas mainland China, Taiwan and South
Korea. It aims to quadruple its exports
over the next five years.
“Our strength is precision processing,so there are many possible futureapplications for our technologies,” says
Toshifumi Kondo, president. “We want to
explore different fields and ways we canuse our expertise in Japan and throughout
Asia.”
Kawamura Sangyo manufactureshigh-performance, cost-efficient andworld-class insulator processing andelectronic processing products. These
range from slit products including plastic
films and metal foils, coating products
such as heat-resistant backup tape andadhesiveless laminate materials to router
processed products and insulators formotors and transformers.
Placing importance on research anddevelopment (R&D), the company has
developed a number of processing
technologies in slitting, film and sheet
forming, plasma surface treatment, heatlamination, coating, board forming, pureToshifumi Kondo, president

water cleaning and sputtering. Combined,
these technologies continue to generate a
growing roster of products.
Kawamura Sangyo’s uniqueadhesiveless insulating laminate material
called Namli, which is manufactured bydirect bonding of aramid paper and plastic
film, was developed in collaboration with
Mie University. The company also
provides insulators for electric vehicle andhybrid motors, and materials for liquid

agreements with 83 universities
worldwide, Oita University offers many
study exchange programmes abroad tosupport modern education and researchin the humanities, social sciences andnatural sciences fields.
“Merging together as one university
provides a lot of merit,” Kitano says.
“Multidisciplinary research and work can
now be done easily and efficiently.”
Oita was once the centre of Japan’s

Dr Seigo Kitano, president

crystalline displays and smartphones. It isalso exploring new areas of application
including the medical industry, andwelcomes R&D collaborations with
regional partners.
“We listen to the needs of the market
and see how these match up with ourtechnologies,” Kondo says. “We develop
new products to address evolving market
demands – allowing us to create distinct
solutions.”

intercultural exchange, and the 69-yearold Oita University builds on this tradition
as it reinforces its system with continuingteaching and management reforms. With
three campuses in Japan, a Bangkok officeand memoranda of understanding
brewing with institutions in Vietnam,
Thailand and Indonesia, Oita University isadvancing its research in many areas,
bolstering its three core domains: welfare,human environment and life sciences.
“Partnering with other universities
and research institutions, ourcollaborations turn into specialisations,and as teachers and students work
together, industries develop,” Kitano says.
Among the university’s many handson courses and specialised research
projects, two programme areas are
gaining wide acclaim: endoscopic
research to treat gastric cancers in Asia
and rabies research to fully eliminate
infectious diseases from canines in thePhilippines. The programmes involve
student exchanges, but the main work is
controlled by public-private cooperation,and research and development.
“Our mission is to eradicate gastriccancer and infectious diseases in Asian
countries,” Kitano says. “Many doctorate
students from developing countries train
with us and use high-quality andsophisticated equipment, then they goback and apply these learnings in theircommunities. We welcome moreinternational students.”

SAGA AIRPORT: ASIA’SGATEWAY TO KYUSHUStrategically located in southwesternJapan, Saga prefecture is Asia’s gateway
to the rich culture, nature and foodspecialities of Kyushu and Japan as awhole. Only about 90 minutes from
Shanghai or Seoul, Kyushu-Saga
International Airport (Saga Airport) is aconvenient entry point to many Japanese
attractions ranging from the worldfamous Wagyu beef and onsens, or hot
springs, to Olympic camps and state-ofthe-art cancer treatment facilities.
“Saga Airport has a great potential asa gateway to Kyushu, and the number of
its users is on the rise,” says Yoshinori
Yamaguchi, governor of Saga prefecture
and overall head of Saga Airport. “Kyushu
is the closest entrance to Japan from therest of Asia, and people can easily visit andenjoy Japan on a day or overnight trip.
With our ability to accommodate private
jets on a day’s notice for urgent business, it
is an easy-to-use airport for customers of
all types.”
In the fiscal year 2017 alone, Saga

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OHNO SEIKO IS THE
IDEAL PARTNER FOR
PRECISION PARTS
PROCESSING FOR
THE AUTOMOTIVEINDUSTRY
Ohno Seiko performs precision
processing of prototypes, moulds, jigs
and production equipment parts from its
main manufacturing facility in Nishio
City, Aichi Prefecture. Since its founding,the company has engaged mainly in thework as a first-tier supplier to theautomotive industry.
In the automotive industry, whichuses various production machines,
Ohno Seiko’s mission is to ensure thecontinuous operation of the customers’
equipment. The company responds toparts repair quickly and with flexibility.
Since it has almost all the processing

equipment necessary for manufacturing
precision parts, Ohno Seiko pursues
high quality standards as its customers’
second machine factory.
In addition, Ohno Seiko has
established a Vietnam factory located in
Ho Chi Minh. Operated by about 80 local
people, the Ho Chi Minh factory has
successfully adopted the concept ofmonozukuri manufacturing, which is thesame standard implemented at thecompany’s Japan facility.
Ohno Seiko also offers procurement
agency services through more than 150
excellent cooperative manufacturers

Takahisa Ohno, president and founderthat are capable of doing surface
treatment and special processing.
Currently, Ohno Seiko works with
Chinese, South Korean and Thai
corporations as cooperating partners.
“For anyone considering to enter
Japan’s parts processing field, wewelcome them to visit our homepage
and contact us,” says Takahisa Ohno,president and founder. “With theknowledge and technology we havegained in Japan, we believe that it is our
responsibility to promptly deliver lowcost products and services all over theworld. In the modern era when the speedof development is ever-increasing, we
will exert all efforts to support customers
in any way, day to day.”TANAKA FOODS SPICES UP PRODUCTLINE WITH NEW SEASONING FLAVOURSOITA UNIVERSITY EXCHANGE
PROGRAMMES COMBINE
MEDICAL SCIENCES WITH
SOCIAL SERVICES
Globalisation has spawned dynamicchanges in the way business and society
move. To keep up, people need to have awide perspective and an international
outlook. This is according to Oita
University’s president Dr Seigo Kitano.
Integrated with Oita Medical University in
2003, Japan’s first national university to
combine social services and medical
sciences counts imparting value to society
as its utmost priority. Through its

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Yoshinori Yamaguchi, governor,
Saga prefecture, and overall head,
Saga Airport
Airport welcomed a record high of 776,614
visitors, consecutively topping its own
usage records for the past five years.

Such growth has prompted the Saga
Prefectural Government to expand Saga
Airport. The facility is increasing airport
aprons to six while upgrading the terminalbuilding. The government will also extend
the runway by 500 metres to 2,500 metresto accommodate larger aircraft, and hopes
to collaborate with foreign airlines in Asianmarkets such as Hong Kong and Thailand
to increase international routes.
Projects are also moving forward tointerconnect the airport with thesurrounding regions, including theconstruction of a highway connected to
the facility. However, Saga faces thechallenge of having a limited number ofhotels and room capacity, making it
difficult to keep up with the influx of
tourists.
“Saga Airport has numerous repeat
users, including private jet operators. With
Asia on the rise, we eagerly welcome
investors interested in creating real value
with us,” Yamaguchi says. “Saga has a lotof potential.”

Combining the vibrant fragrance of sesame withthe salty burst of laver and the savoury richnessof bonito flakes and several other ingredients,
furikake sprinkled on steaming Japanese ricedelivers a stimulating sensory experience inevery bite. But more than its delicately balanced
flavours, furikake provides unbeatable nutrition
and adds a one-of-a-kind taste to many types offood including salads, steaks and even potato
chips.
Tanaka Foods was among the pioneers thatdeveloped the ryoko no tomo, the early
incarnation of modern-day furikake, during the
Taisho era.
“My grandfather started our business tomake something that contributes to society,”says company president Shigeki Tanaka.
Furikake was originally developed as a rice
topping and is now widely used as a cooking
condiment. Further exploring this path, thecompany is developing other seasoning
materials to provide convenient cooking
solutions to busy homemakers.
It even aims to launch a colourful blend of
furikake for rolling that includes salmon flakes,

Shigeki Tanaka, president

spinach, cabbage and other Japanese herbs.
For the furikake expert, providing nourishingproducts to society is a continuing commitment.
It is this dedication that fuels its research anddevelopment department to constantly create
new offerings and food supplements such as abreakfast rice milk drink designed for those wholack the time for breakfasts.
Tanaka Foods’ overseas sales constituteabout 5 per cent of total revenues. With its strong
product line helping add a touch of Japanese
flavours to many dishes, the company is hopefulthat more consumers outside Japan will
patronise the brand.
Aiming to raise exports to 50 per cent ofoverall sales, the company has established afactory in Vietnam to serve the Southeast Asianmarket and beyond. It is open to joint-venture
partnerships with companies and distributors
that can help adapt Tanaka Foods’ products todifferent market preferences.
“To keep up with the changing needs ofsociety, we welcome partners willing to
exchange wisdom and technology,” Tanaka
says.

S12

Friday, February 1, 2019¢

JAPAN BUSINESS REPORT ¢NEW FACTORY AND
PRODUCT TO SPURPRECISIONPRODUCTS EXPERTTECNISCO’SGROWTH OVERSEASW

hen it comes to highquality precisioncomponents, Japanesepioneer TECNISCO is at
the forefront of providing
cutting-edge products for the world’s
optoelectronics, electronics and life
science industries.
With 70 per cent of its businesscoming from sales of medical glass andheat sink laser products across theUnited States, Europe and China, thecompany looks forward to growing its
business further overseas.
Armed with a new product, a newfactory in Singapore and freshly tapped
Asian markets such as South Korea andTaiwan, TECNISCO aims to achieve anannual revenue target of 1 billion yen(HK$72.35 million) over the next few
years.
Established in 1970 as a cutting
service for its then-parent company
DISCO, TECNISCO has since honed its“cross-edge” microprocessing
technology that combines fiveprocessing technologies as a one-stop
solution for precision components. This
expertise allows TECNISCO to maintainproduct quality stability and cost
efficiency, shorten lead times andOur goal is tomake things
that seem
impossible
possible
Keizo Sekiya, chairman of the board
and CEO

Keizo Sekiya, chairman of the board and CEO
address client needs with original
solutions.
“Our goal is to make things thatseem impossible possible,” says Keizo
Sekiya, chairman of the board and CEO.
“Product quality is our strong point. We
have the advantage of offering fivemain technologies – cutting, grinding,polishing, metallising and bonding – inone factory, whereas other companies
specialise in only one or two
techniques.”
From microchannel coolers withimproved corrosion resistance toinsulation-type three-layer submounts,
TECNISCO offers heat sinks for opticalcommunication, industrial laser andpower semiconductor devices.
It also provides various glass
products for the life science industries

such as microfluidic glass and cavity
glass; and silicon products withexcellent thermal conductivity andoutstanding heat and corrosion
resistance to improve process
productivity and yield. Other
applications cover automotive andsemiconductor manufacturing.
TECNISCO has also created adurable, long-lasting and reliablematerial called Metal Diamond
Composites. With excellent thermal
conductivity and relatively low thermal
expansion unknown in past materials,
the company’s latest offering isbeneficial for high-power applications –a new chapter in product development
combining TECNISCO’s inventive
technologies and decades-honed
expertise.

Sponsored section in cooperation
with Discovery Reports

SEIWA KASEI HELPS COSMETICS BRANDSRIDE MARKET TREND WITH
BREAKTHROUGH INGREDIENTSWhen Dr Masato Yoshioka says researchand development (R&D) is thecornerstone of Seiwa Kasei, thepresident of the biotech company
means every word. With more than halfof its 70 employees dedicated to R&D,
Seiwa Kasei is behind more than 100
original breakthrough cosmetics
ingredients.
“Our strength dwells in our
technology which allows us to create
one-of-a-kind products with excellent
properties and effects,” Yoshioka says.
“We are notably capable ofmanufacturing products that ourcompetitors do not or cannot
manufacture.”With special effort in protecting its
intellectual property, the company isable to give clients the confidence andpeace of mind that they are using only
original chemical inputs. In Japan,

countries including China, South Korea,
India and Brazil.
Such inquisitiveness has served
global cosmetics brands well. For
instance, vitamin C is unstable anddegrades easily, but Seiwa Kasei foundin Amitose VC a way to bond the vitamin

Dr Masato Yoshioka, president
Seiwa Kasei has 82 approved patents,and has applied for 297 more. The
company has a similar R&D dominanceglobally with 41 approved patents andpending applications for 72 more in
North America and Europe, and in otherWe are notably
capable ofmanufacturing
products that
our competitors
do not or cannot
manufacture
Dr Masato Yoshioka, president

with glycerine and lend cosmetic
products exceptional colour stability andmoisture. The company is further
adding an alkyl group into the novel
chemical concoction to bring out
properties never seen before in vitamin
C derivatives. Another proprietaryproduct is the Silasoma, which wraps
ultraviolet absorbers inside special
microcapsules to prevent skin irritationfrom cosmetics products such as
foundations and sunscreens.
Looking to attract more clientsoverseas, Seiwa Kasei is taking part ininternational exhibits while welcoming
distributors in markets such as China
and the United States. “We expect
partners to fully comprehend thesubtleties of our products so they canpromote them properly,” Yoshioka says.
“The Asian economy is growing fast andwe want to be in.”

HORIBA STECBEHIND MANY KEY
ADVANCES INSEMICONDUCTORMANUFACTURING
The ability to understand and act ontechnology trends is like riding waves in
the ocean. It is easier to move throughtrends and respond appropriately if you
can see them coming. In the world ofsemiconductor manufacturing, one
measurement and control device
developer stands out. Not only can it
quickly anticipate the various turns andtroughs in the information andcommunications technology (ICT) field,
but HORIBA STEC also creates its own
waves by innovating solutions making it
the world’s leader in mass flow
controllers. Many advancements in theevolution of ICT – from personal
computers, digital cameras andsmartphones to today’s data centres –swell from HORIBA STEC’s fluid

measurement and control expertise.
Through proprietary engineering
ventures, HORIBA STEC produces
evaluative solutions for manufacturers ofleading-edge semiconductor devices,wafer fabrication and assembly
equipment makers, and other dynamic
industries in Japan and worldwide.
“Our line-up of analytical
instruments maintains high efficiency inevery stage of the manufacturing
process,” says Hideyuki Koishi,
president. “With decades of experiencein the semiconductor business, we havea better understanding of what thecustomer wants, the technicalcollaboration, support and timescale
they look for.”
HORIBA STEC’s all-encompassing

Hideyuki Koishi, president
quality control and assurance systems
are anchored in the dedication of skilled
engineers based in various locations
including Singapore, Taiwan, South
Korea, Europe and the United States.
Apart from closely supporting clients,
field staff members also collaborate withgovernment agencies and universities,
particularly in China, to work on researchinnovations.

“We seek collaborations externallyand within the HORIBA Group network,”
Koishi says. “By promoting open
innovation, we look for crossovers todevelop semiconductor andbiotechnology, food and pharmaceuticalbusinesses. Teamwork is key tomaintaining production and supply
systems that swiftly and reliably respondto changes in market environments.”

TAKIGAWA KOGYOINTENSIFIES FOCUS ON FOOD
MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT
Manufacturing machineries and adapting
them for a multitude of industries
showcase a company’s capabilities. Asidefrom understanding the products of eachindustry, the manufacturer has to comply
with varying quality and regulatory
requirements. Takigawa Kogyo is a primeexample of one such company with
its portfolio of industrial machinesthat promote high levels of operational
efficiency.
From designing, manufacturing toinstalling, Takigawa Kogyo works hand inhand with clients to identify solutions that
fit their needs.
“We always take the initiative to
explore new environments, facing
challenges head-on and coming up withnew ideas. We are confident we canprovide tailor-made services andproducts,” says executive vice-president
Shohei Takigawa.
Takigawa Kogyo became a renowned
name in Japan with products that support
steel manufacturing such as counting
equipment for bars and wires, tagging
equipment and rolling-related facilities. It

Shohei Takigawa, executive
vice-president
eventually broadened its scope to include
depositors, heating, cooling and packing
machinery for food manufacturing. The
company further expanded its horizons
with automated production-line solutions
such as conveyor, transfer and transportmachines.

While the steel industry makes up the
majority of Takigawa Kogyo’s business, itis working on intensifying its focus onfood manufacturing, especially given therising demand for solutions in Asia.
Among the company’s gems in this area
are its steamers, which are crucial in the
preparation of Chinese buns anddumplings. This solution is particularly
important for Takigawa Kogyo as it aims
to strengthen its presence in China.
As its machineries are durable andlong-lasting, Takigawa Kogyo constantly
seeks ways to increase its customer base.
Starting with its steamers, which are usedby big-volume manufacturers, Takigawa
Kogyo is adapting the technology sosmall to medium-sized companies canalso benefit from the Takigawa Kogyo
expertise.
“We are seeking partnership
opportunities with sales agents that canstrengthen our foothold in markets
including South Korea, Taiwan,
Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia,
Singapore and the Philippines,”
Takigawa says.

TAIYO CUSTOMISES INDUSTRIALSYSTEMS TO GIVE CLIENTSDISTINCT COMPETITIVE EDGE
Between Japanese firm Taiyo and its
American mother company, Parker
Hannifin, lies nearly two centuries ofcombined expertise in hydraulics,
pneumatics and motion control. Suchdeep know-how has allowed Taiyo toprovide clients with some of the finest
production automation technologies –from bespoke hydraulic and pneumatic
equipment to automated assembly andtransport solutions comprising carts andlifters.
“We have accumulated high technicalcapability by responding to customer
requests for many years,” says Takashi
Ishikawa, Taiyo’s president and generalmanager. “We maintain technicalleadership by keeping up with the
evolving demands of industries andproviding clients with a one-of-a-kind
quality experience.”
A comprehensive manufacturer ofhydraulic and pneumatic cylinders with
innovative technology, engineering
services and proposal capabilities, Taiyo
has earned the trust of railway car
manufacturers such as Hitachi Rail andNabtesco, car producers including Toyota
and Honda Motor, and semiconductor
fabricators such as Tokyo Electron and
Murata Manufacturing.
Based on customers’ requests, thecompany offers equipment designconcept, prototype production andevaluation, and mass production. All
these processes are focused on ensuring
clients low cost and fast delivery ofefficient production equipment, while
offering steady improvement and reliable
maintenance, repair and overhaul service.
Taiyo has a pending patent for its
revolutionary air saver unit. By using apulsating technique instead of acontinuous air-blowing one, theinnovation is far more effective in manyfactory applications such as dusting,drying and cooling. The unit also enables
clients to save about 50 per cent oncompressed air usage, thereby cutting
CO2 emissions by half.
Up ahead, the company expects sales
to increase by 42 per cent from US$240
million last year to US$340 million in
2022.

Takashi Ishikawa, president andgeneral manager“We will enter the railway equipment
business in Asia,” Ishikawa says. “In
China, we welcome collaboration with
suppliers and distributors ofsemiconductor manufacturing
equipment as we offer high-speed
pneumatic valves to semiconductor
fabricators.”