JETRO Spotlight September 2011

Welcome to the latest edition of JETRO Spotlight USA, JETRO USA's national e-newsletter featuring the latest articles and events on our website. Each month JETRO brings you relevant and timely articles highlighting business opportunities between the United States and Japan along with updates on JETRO seminars and events.

Contents in this newsletter:

• Information and application

• Pharmaceutical/Bio: Product Opportunities in Japan - Focus on Medicinal Products for Rare Diseases; Orphan Rules Part 1
• Medical Device: The Japanese reimbursement system offers attractive initial reimbursement rates and reduced reimbursement rate volatility for most medical devices

• Japan Turns to Smart Grids, Cities, and Homes to Raise Energy Efficiency and Boost Renewables

• BKK Worldwide On Track to Doubling Japan Revenue, Says Earthquake Did Not Hold Back Business

• Industrial Rivet & Fastener Company Opens Distribution and Service Facility In Japan
• Managed Print Services Company Photizo Group Opens Tokyo Office
• Fruit Smoothie Retailer Robeks Opens First of 500 Asian Stores in Tokyo
• Tech Soft 3D Opens Office in Yokohama, Maintains Confident Long-Term Outlook

• Japanese Ingredients at Worlds of Flavor 2011: Call for Applications from Food Manufacturers

• Re-examining the State of Japanese Entrepreneurship
• 6th Annual SAKE DAY 2011: A Toast to Recovery
• BioJapan 2011: World Business Forum
• World Smart Cities Forum 2011
• CONNECTIONS Europe 2011

Subsidy Program for Projects Promoting Asian Site Location in Japan

JETRO recently announced a new Subsidy Program for Japanese Fiscal Year 2011 for Promoting Site Location in Japan. The program is intended to sustain and strengthen high-value-added business sites in Japan and to achieve sustainable growth of the Japanese economy by supporting the establishment of new high-value added sites in Japan. Applications are due Monday, October 31, 2011 (before noon Japan Time).

>> More information and application

Japan Healthcare Market Update

Read the latest bi-monthly installment from JETRO's North America Pharmaceutical/Bio Advisor, Richard Lowenthal, on opportunities in the world's second largest pharmaceutical/bio market - Japan.

Product Opportunities in Japan - Focus on Medicinal Products for Rare Diseases; Orphan Rules Part 1

Read the latest bi-monthly installment from JETRO's North America Medical Device Advisor, Harold Smith, on opportunities in the world's third largest medical device market - Japan.

The Japanese reimbursement system offers attractive initial reimbursement rates and reduced reimbursement rate volatility for most medical devices

Japan Cleantech Sector Update

Read the latest installment of our Cleantech Sector updates, written by Cando Advisors, a consulting firm supporting clients on international business development, strategic alliance and investment, focusing on the Japanese market.

Japan Turns to Smart Grids, Cities, and Homes to Raise Energy Efficiency and Boost Renewables

Includes:

• Changing definition and recognition
• Smart City
• Smart Home
• Low-Carbon Society

JETRO Case Study

News Update: Companies making progress in Japan

Keep an eye on what companies are doing in Japan with this monthly news update.

Industrial Rivet & Fastener Company Opens Distribution and Service Facility In Japan
August 3, 2011

New Jersey-based manufacturer, distributor and importer of rivets and fasteners, Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co., announced the opening of a distribution and service center in Japan. The company will offer "engineering and application support to Japanese manufacturers of electronics, solar panels, automobiles, and pleasure crafts such as ATV's, Boats, and Motorcycles," states a company press release. Bill Goodman, President of Industrial Rivet, is quoted saying, "The new site will further expand the RivetKing? brand globally and will also strengthen our relationship with Japanese companies operating in the USA."

Sources: Company press release  and company representatives


Managed Print Services Company Photizo Group Opens Tokyo Office
August 11, 2011

Headquartered in Kentucky, Photizo Group, a research and consulting firm for the managed print services industry, announced the opening of an office in Tokyo, Japan, effective September 1, 2011. When asked why the company has moved forward with establishing a Japan office in light of the March 11 earthquake and following nuclear disaster, Founder and CEO Ed Crowley said, "As our business in Japan has grown, the importance of having 'local' support for our Japanese clients has increased....Opening an office is a logical next step in expanding our presence and client support resources in Japan. In my view, a key aspect of showing commitment is to invest through good times and bad times. As such, regardless of the recent events, we will continue to invest and expand our presence there."

Sources: Company press release  and company representatives


Fruit Smoothie Retailer Robeks Opens First of 500 Asian Stores in Tokyo
August 11, 2011

Based out of Los Angeles, Calif., fruit smoothie retailer Robeks announced the opening of a store in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo store is the first of 500 in Asia, including 300 in Japan, that Robeks plans to open through a multi-year master franchise agreement with Clarence Corporation, a Japanese company specializing in importing and distributing health food products. Robeks CEO Steve Davidson is quoted in a company press release saying, "Tokyo is the gateway to Asia. The Japanese people are very discerning, educated consumers and expect the highest quality when they make a purchase. As such, Japan is the ideal market for Robeks..."

Sources: Company press release  and company representatives


Tech Soft 3D Opens Office in Yokohama, Maintains Confident Long-Term Outlook
September 1, 2011

Berkeley, Calif.-based Tech Soft 3D, provider of component technology to the engineering software industry, announced the opening of its new sales and consulting office in Yokohama, Japan. "With the growth of our technology suite, and a positive response to our components in the Japanese market, it was the right time to open this office," company CEO Ron Fritz is quoted in a press release saying.

When asked whether the March 11 earthquake and nuclear disaster has affected Tech Soft 3D's outlook for its business in Japan, and why it has moved forward with opening the Japan office in light of these events, Mr. Fritz said, "Yes, it has caused us to adjust our short-term outlook, but not our long-term confidence. Our customers are software developers who create and sell their software to manufacturing companies. Clearly, many major manufacturing companies are struggling due to the March 11 events and also the strong Yen impacting exports at the moment. However, our business is based on very long-term technical partnerships and we believe the long-term forecast for Japanese manufacturing is still very strong. The Japanese manufacturing sector is still a powerful force. In addition, we have often seen Japanese companies respond to difficult economic or competitive challenges by focusing on innovation, and our business benefits when a commitment to innovation is strong."

Sources: Company press release  and company representatives

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See how you can use JETRO's free services to establish your company's office in Japan.

 
 

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Upcoming Events

JETRO-Organized Event

Japanese Ingredients at Worlds of Flavor 2011: Call for Applications from Food Manufacturers

Date:	Thursday, November 3, 2011 - Saturday, November 5, 2011
Location:	The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
	2255 Main Street
	St. Helena, CA 94574
	JETRO will be participating in Worlds of Flavor 2011, a conference held in Napa that brings together the top level of culinary professionals from around the globe. We are seeking Japanese food manufacturers interested in supplying their products for our cooking demonstration. We believe this could be a great opportunity for manufacturers to get their products known in the U.S.

Third-Party Events

Re-examining the State of Japanese Entrepreneurship

Date:	Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Location:	Fenwick & West LLP
	801 California St.
	Mountain View, CA 94041
	Join panelists Robert Eberhart, Kenji Kushida, and Lisa Katayama as they discuss the myths, reality and promise of Japanese entrepreneurship and its impact on the overall Japanese economy.

6th Annual SAKE DAY 2011: A Toast to Recovery

Date:	Saturday, October 1, 2011
Location:	Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
	Japan Town
	1840 Sutter Street
	San Francisco, CA 94115
	Join us for an evening of over 100 sakes, great food from Northern Japan, fun sake learning stations, special brewers' tables, an Okinawan band, and a silent auction. 100% of proceeds from this year's event will benefit the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

BioJapan 2011: World Business Forum

Date:	Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - Friday, October 7, 2011
Location:	Pacifico Yokohama
	1-1-1 Minato Mirai
	Nishi-ku
	Yokohama 220-0012
	Participating BioJapan, which provides the chance of open innovation as a platform, will offer you the best opportunity for finding better alliances as your prospective business partners from all over the world.

World Smart Cities Forum 2011

Date:	Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Location:	Hyatt Regency Austin
	Downtown on the Lake
	208 Barton Springs Road
	Austin, TX 78704
	Smart City projects aim to take full advantage of leading edge technologies to improve energy efficiency and save resources as much as possible. Participate in the "World Smart Cities Forum 2011" with key decision makers and innovators to help plan a global business model and global standard of the related technologies including those for Smart Grid.

CONNECTIONS Europe 2011

Date:	Tuesday, November 8, 2011 - Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Location:	Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre
	Piet Heinkade 11
	1019 BR Amsterdam
	Netherlands
	CONNECTIONS Europe is part of the CONNECTIONS Conference Series, hosted by international market research firm, Parks Associates. These interactive events host 100-125 executives in an intimate setting to learn, network, and address key issues relevant to digital products and services for consumers.

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We welcome your comments or suggestions for future article topics. Feel free to contact us at www.jetro.org/contact