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HOME / INVEST OSAKA / Huge Market and Economy(Osaka and Kansai)

Huge Market and Economy(Osaka and Kansai)

■A Major Market in Japan
Japan has the second largest economy in the world. The Kansai region is comparable to a major industrialized nation with a population of 21 million and GRP of US$701.1 billion (fiscal 2006).
■GDP (nominal) of World's Major Economies
Unit: billion US dollars
GDP (nominal) of World's Major Economies A bird's-eye view of Osaka City
Note: Values represent the fiscal 2006 GRPs for the Kansai region, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City. Yen-dollar exchange rates are monthly simple averages on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market.
(FY2006: US$1.00 = ￥116.94)
Sources: Values for OECD members are based on data from OECD's "National Accounts of OECD countries." Values for other countries and regions are based on data from "Overseas Business Information" by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). Values for Kansai Region and Osaka Prefecture are based on data from each prefecture's "Prefectural Accounts" and value of Osaka City from Osaka City's "City Accounts."
Source: “Outline of Osaka Economy” 2009, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications National Census
Source: “Outline of Osaka Economy” 2009, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications National Census
■Kansai’s Top Companies and Fortune 500 Companies
Kansai is home to top global companies from the electric equipment, chemical, food, pharmaceutical, and finance industries. Of the 64 Japanese companies on Fortune Magazine’s 2008 list of top 500 companies by revenue, 8 companies are based in the Kansai region and 6 are based in Osaka.
  Suntory (Food/Osaka City)
  Asahi Kasei (Chemical/Osaka City)
  Takeda Pharmaceutical (Pharmaceutical/Osaka City)
★ Sumitomo Electric Industries (Nonferrous Metals/Osaka City)
★ Sharp (Electrical Equipment/Osaka City)
  Keyence (Electrical Equipment/Osaka City)
★ Kansai Electric Power (Energy/Osaka City)
★ Itochu Corp. (Commerce/Osaka City)
★ Nippon Life Insurance (Insurance/Osaka City)
★ Sumitomo Life Insurance (Insurance/Osaka City)
★ Panasonic (Electric Equipment/Osaka Pref.)
★ Sanyo Electric (Electric equipment/Osaka Pref.)
Omron (Electric equipment/Kyoto Pref.)
Kyocera (Electric equipment/Kyoto Pref.)
Nintendo (Home leisure equipment/Kyoto Pref.)
Nestle Japan (Food/Hyogo Pref.)
Procter and Gamble Japan (Chemical/Hyogo Pref.)
Eli Lilly Japan (Pharmaceuticals/Hyogo Pref.)
Kobe Steel (Steel/Hyogo Pref.)
（★） signifies companies selected for the FORTUNE GLOBAL 500 list.
Source: Fortune Magazine, “BINGO! KANSAI”
pamphlet by JETRO
■Reasonable Business Costs
In Osaka City, office rents are about 37% lower and employment costs (average salaries) are about 10% lower than in Tokyo. Furthermore, in terms of the total cost, establishing an office in Osaka requires 88% of the total cost in the greater Tokyo area.
Comparison of Business Costs between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Business Costs between Osaka and Tokyo
Sources: ※1 “Statistical Handbook of Japan 2009”
※2 CB Richard Ellis K.K.
※3 National Statistics Center
※4 Osaka City Datanet
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
Comparison of Costs for Establishing an Office between Osaka and Tokyo
(As of July 2006)
※1 Based on data from Ikoma Data Service System’s “Real Estate White Paper 2005.”
※2 A deposit of about 11 month’s salary is normally required in Osaka and Kobe, but 40-50% of the deposit is returned when the housing unit is vacated.