The deal grew out of the two cities' sister city relationship formed in 1981. Kasugai Fuels obtained a liquor wholesaler's license last year. Kasugai Deputy Mayor Yasuko Kuwahara says that though the wines are expensive, regular customers are increasing thanks to their unique and superb taste. Her dream is to see the products marketed throughout Japan. The strong probability of a strike at Inco's Sudbury, Ontario facility is causing nickel prices to rise worldwide.
Japan uses nickel for semiconductors and for alloys for electronic components.
Demand is rising. The technology was acquired through technical cooperation with iFire Technologies of Canada. The company is proceeding with research on use of iFire's technology for giant-screen TV as well. A group of 20 students and graduate students from Montreal's McGill University Faculty of Management visited the Tokyo and Osaka areas for about two weeks in May. Led by the university's Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies Director Peter Johnson, they visited both large and small Japanese companies not only to observe and learn about Japanese management techniques, but also to look for future business opportunities in Japan.