--- description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. title: Diverse Regions and High Standards image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Diverse Regions and High Standards Japan has always been a country that is more than the sum of its parts. Consisting of four main islands boasting a range of incredible landscapes, climates and cultures, the nation’s diversity is one of its great strengths. For companies throughout the different prefectures and cities, there is plenty to celebrate and champion. Despite facing many challenges today, Japan’s business community is working together to meet them in its typically efficient and diligent style. Takeshi Minamida, president of Minamida Co., Ltd., a metal processing firm based in the bustling metropolis of Osaka, believes that the performance and loyalty of Japanese workers are key strengths. “I think that part of it comes from the low turnover rate in Japan, with employees staying at companies and gaining expertise for a long time, improving quality. Japan has enjoyed recognition for its quality for a long time because of this,” said Minamida. Also from Osaka, Tatsuaki Hisakado, president of valve and industrial product supplier Hisakado Co., Ltd., champions his firm’s success across different regions of Japan. “Within 13 companies in our group, four of them are manufacturers and engineering companies, and five are distributors. Despite owning 100% of the shares in those companies, I don’t want to refer to them as subsidiaries because I value the harmony of our partners covering Tokyo, Kyushu and Shikoku. They are not involved in textiles, food, or timber—they specialize in pipes and valves,” said Hisakado. Noritsu Precision Co., Ltd. President Go Yoshii is proud of his firm’s home in the city of Wakayama, in the Kansai region, and sees a bright future ahead. “We have a lot of surrounding nature, with mountains and ocean that we can perhaps leverage in the future. We have actually been talking to several people in the prefectural government to think about how we can increase our competitiveness in the future,” said Yoshii. “One thing we have been looking at is the south of the prefecture, where there are launchpads for spacecraft run by a company called ‘Space One’. Many manufacturers are trying to leverage this movement, developing a new space industry in this area,” he added. Located in Minami-ku, Kyoto, manufacturing firm DKS Co., Ltd. is placing great emphasis on innovation and sustainability. “Over the past few years, we have made significant progress in digitalization, particularly in our factories, where we have improved process visibility and strengthened workplace safety. For example, we have introduced camera sensors in our facilities, which has led to increased efficiency,” said President Naoki Yamaji. “When it comes to sustainability, we are utilizing substances like sugar and cellulose derived from timber, which are among the renewable materials we use. We are actively looking to expand their use as part of our commitment to becoming more sustainable,” Yamaji added. Dental products firm Nissin Corporation, based in Kameoka, a city in Kyoto, works closely with the nation’s globally renowned healthcare system but believes it can also be improved. “I highly appreciate the National Health Insurance in Japan. There needs to be a lot of paperwork for certain devices to be covered by National Health Insurance, and often budget constraints mean that patients have to pay privately to get the best equipment,” said President Koji Yokoe. “Of course, there are many positives, including easy access to a large network of clinics,” he added. Takeshi Ujigami, president of Yokohama-based electronics manufacturing company UGM Co., Ltd., is focusing future strategy on digitization and automation to maintain and strengthen its performance. “With the declining population and fewer workers in manufacturing, the balance between demand and supply is becoming increasingly difficult. This is why it’s crucial for SMEs like ours to embrace automation to survive in today’s business environment. We are committed to introducing the latest technologies and improving efficiency wherever possible, with robotics and AI playing a key role in the coming years,” said Ujigami. Located in Iwata-shi, Shizuoka, Nippa Corporation is working at the heart of the automobile electric revolution, both at home and overseas. “In Japan, the needs of the automotive industry have shifted from traditional combustion engines to EVs. Against this backdrop, our Thailand outpost is exploring how best to tailor its operations to meet the demands of the EV market,” said President Yukio Yamaguchi. Keiichiro Maki, president and CEO of the Nagano-based Nitto Corporation, wants to capitalize on the nation’s proud business traditions. “We would like to leverage the strengths of Japanese companies, such as customer-first R&D, adaptability, and flexibility. We must enhance quality, delivery timing, and adaptability,” said Maki. 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