(This fact sheet has been compiled by the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom, based on publicly available material. The list contains some facts illustrating the current situation and is not intended to be exhaustive.)
1 Overview
(1) Close investment relationship between Japan and the UK
○The UK is the fourth-largest source of EU investment in Japan (¥765.0bn in 2010).
○The UK is Japan’s second-largest investment destination in the EU (¥3.938 trillion in 2010). [stock; Source: Bank of Japan]
○In FY2010, Japan was the world’s no. 2 source of project-based investment in the UK (105 projects). [Source: UKTI]
○The EU is the world’s largest source of direct investment in Japan (approx. ¥6.7 trillion; €56bn, 2010).
○Japan is the world’s third-largest source of direct investment in the EU (approx. ¥15 trillion; €125bn).
[2010; Source: Bank of Japan]
(2) Recently UK direct investment in Japan has surpassed investment in the reverse direction.
○In 2009 and 2010, the flow of direct investment from the UK to Japan (¥527.7bn in 2009; ¥417.1bn in 2010) exceeded that from Japan to the UK (¥204.5bn in 2009; ¥385.5bn 2010).
(3) Japanese corporations’ contribution to employment in the UK
○As many as 1, 272 Japanese companies are operating in the UK. As of 2010, they had created over 130,000 jobs.
(4) Recent pronouncements of senior British officials on investing in Japan
○On 3 June 2011, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable said during a visit to Japan: “Japan is an entirely safe place and a good place to do business.”
○On 19 October 2011, Prime Minister Cameron spoke approvingly of the 200 and 500 new jobs created by Nissan and Hitachi respectively in North East England.
2 Examples of British investment in Japan
○GlaxoSmithKline
Pharmaceuticals; No. 10 in terms of sales
○Rolls-Royce
Aircraft engines and integrated power systems with civil and military applications; Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Forces and All Nippon Airways among its customers
○Dyson
Home electronics; No. 3 share of the Japanese vacuum cleaner market and winner
of the “Good Design” award in 2010)
○Burberry
Fashion
○Paul Smith
Fashion
○Top Shop
Fashion
○Lush
Health and beauty
○The Conran Shop
Fashion
○Unilever
UK/Netherlands; cosmetics and toiletries
○Regus Japan
Office rental services
○Intercontinental Hotels Group
Extensive network in Japan
○Travelex
Foreign exchange and other financial services
3 Examples of EU investment in Japan
○Knorr-Bremse
Germany; supplier of bullet train brakes to JR East
○Airbus
Supplier of aircraft to Skymark Airlines and Peach Aviation
○Eurocopter
Germany/Italy; top share of the Japanese helicopter market
○Volkswagen
23% increase in new car registrations in 2010
○Evonik Degussa
Germany; specialty chemicals
○Umicore
Belgium; lithium cell batteries for electric cars
○IKEA
Sweden; furniture; the IKEA Sendai Mini-shop opened in September
○Mag-Isover
France; glass fibre products and building materials; investing approx. ¥15bn in a factory in Mie Prefecture
4 Examples of Japanese investment in the UK
(Environment & energy)
○Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Offshore wind power generation
○Sharp
Solar batteries
○Toyota Motor
In June 2010 began production of the Auris Hybrid, Europe’s first hybrid vehicle
○Nissan Motor
Production of the Leaf to start at the Sunderland plant in 2013
○Mitsui & Co.
The company to pursue low-carbon city projects with the UK engineering group Arup
○Itochu
Involved in developing a large waste management facility in North East England
○Nippon Sheet Glass
Planning a major investment in energy-saving glass in St Helens
○Sanyo Electric
Solar panels; taking part in the Solar Bridge project in London
○Toyota Tsusho
Chemicals & energy; machinery & components
○Nomura Holdings
Electric power and natural gas products; in February 2010 acquired Nexen Energy Marketing Europe in London
○Toshiba and Westinghouse Electric Company
Nuclear power industry
○NGK Insulators
In a consortium with EDF Energy and other companies to develop large-scale sodium sulphur battery assets to provide ancillary services in the UK
○Tokyo Gas
LNG project in Australia
(Research & development)
○Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
Diagnostic imaging products and solutions; started a new R&D programme in Edinburgh
○Eisai
Established its European Knowledge Centre in Hatfield; investment approx. £100m
○Hitachi
Conducts R&D at its Cambridge Research Laboratory
(Telecommunications)
○Telehouse
In 2010 opened the £150m Telehouse West data centre in London’s Docklands area
○Dentsu
Marketing communications; in 2011 acquired the digital media company Steak Group Ltd
○Secom
Home and office security systems
○Itelligence
German subsidiary of NTT Data
○Digital Arts Europe
Information security equipment
○SBI Holdings
In 2011 established SBIH UK to oversee its business in Europe
○Fujitsu
In 2010 established a new regional HQ in Inverness, Scotland
○Mitsubishi Estate
In 2011 bought an office building in London through its UK subsidiary
○Kyocera Mita
Communications equipment division of Kyocera; opened its new Technology Suite in London in 2010
(Medical and pharmaceutical products)
○Sekisui Chemical
In 2011, following the acquisition of Genzyme Diagnostics of the US, formed new companies in the US and the UK
○Kyowa Hakko Kirin
In 2011 announced its plans to acquire the Scottish drugmaker ProStrakan
○Kowa
Selling the high cholesterol treatment Pitavastatin to 16 countries in Europe through its subsidiary Kowa Pharmaceutical Europe
○CellSeed
Biotechnology; in 2010 established its subsidiary CellSeed Europe in London
(Foodstuffs)
○Princes
Major player in the UK food industry; a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation
(Automotive-related)
○Itochu
In 2011 agreed to acquire the UK’s KwikFit Group(Tyre)
○Toyoda Gosei
Planning to construct a car parts facility in Wales
(Precision equipment)
○Nifco
Plastic car parts maker; supplies Honda, Toyota and Nissan in the UK
○Tamura Europe Ltd
In 2010 acquired the electronic parts maker Romarsh
(Transportation)
○Hitachi
Involved in the UK’s Intercity Express Programme to supply high-speed trains
(Other companies)
○Sony
In 2011 purchased the hi-tech sport officiating company Hawk-Eye Innovations
○Fuji Television Network
In 2010 formed the Creative Exchange Alliance with FremantleMedia to develop new television formats
○Sony Computer Entertainment
In 2010 acquired the UK firm Media Molecule, a specialist developer of software for the PlayStation 3
○Mitsubishi Chemical
In 2010 decided to establish a local production and sales company to facilitate the production of formulated electrolyte for lithium ion batteries in the UK and the US
○Fujikura Kasei
In 2010 acquired the British high technology coatings manufacturer Sonneborn & Rieck
○TOTO
Bathrooms, etc; in 2010 established its first European concept store in London
