Livable × Business City: Fukuoka

Fukuoka

Methanegas

Greenhydrogen

Fukuoka Method

Fukuoka City has overcome urban problems such as water shortages and waste management. It has succeeded in creating a comfortable urban environment and a high quality of life while maintaining continuous growth.

Based on the concept of “universal design” in which all people can live their lives in comfort, Fukuoka’s urban environment has been developed in cooperation with local citizens, from both hard and soft infrastructure perspectives.

2.4%

Narrow Gap facebook

ChildrenSenior Citizens

Fukuoka’s Vision for a Sustainable City

Increasing non-resident population

Promoting knowledge-creation-oriented

industry

Departing from branch-based economy

Short-term

Mid-term

Long-term

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Fukuoka Directive CouncilThe Fukuoka D.C. is a multi-sectoral “think-and-do-tank,” which has formulated regional growth strategies to create a new vision for the future of Fukuoka and to strengthen the international competitiveness of the region.

-One of the largest local governmentled services in Japan -About 370 Wi-Fi hotspots in 81 areas, implemented in collaboration with private facilities-Free automatic access for the first 6 months

Taizo Son MOVIDA JAPAN

Osamu Ogasawara, Nomad

Soichiro Takashima Mayor of Fukuoka

CityTony

Hughes TechCity UK

Startup City Declaration！Sept.2012

National Strategic Special Zone

Maintain startup-friendly

environment

Facilitate startups

Increase in Business Entry Rate!Promotion of Innovation!

Creation of New Businesses!

268.3 269.7

276.1

282.1284.1 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

billion

Local tax revenue

More than 2millionincrease in 5years

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

millionInbound tourists

16.4216.78

17.40

18.55

Selected as National Strategic Special Zone

Steady Results: Record high tax revenue & inbound tourists

Taking advantage of  the strengths of Fukuoka City’s economy, such as the high ratio of the service industry (90%), the public, private, academic and civic sectors work together to increase the non‐resident population through tourism, and to attract knowledge‐creation industries, thus departing from a branch‐based economy.

2012 Mar.

Sept.

Nov.

2013 Jan.

July

Sept.

Nov.

Dec.

2014 Jan.Mar.

Apr.

May

July

Sept.

Oct.

・Fukuoka City concluded an MOU with the UK Government・Commenced Operation of Open Top Bus・Declared ‘Startup City Fukuoka’

・Beginning of ‘Start up supporters,’ supported by the private sector・Attracted LINE to Fukuoka City・Designated MICE strategic city・Proposal for ‘National Strategic Special Zone’ for startups・Business matching at ‘Tech City’ in the UK・Established Startup City Promotion Association

・Business matching in Taiwan・Designated ‘National Strategic Special Zone’・Established MICE Bureau・Founded Startup Scholarship・Hosted the Fukuoka Global Venture Award・Started “Challenge Mind Education” whereby entrepreneurs visit junior high schools・Established ‘Innovation Studio Fukuoka’・Opened Startup Cafe

Featuring”CreativeCity,Fukuoka”

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17.82

Record high city taxfor three consecutive years

（Est.）

There are 362 daily domestic flights and 628 international flights a week, serving about 20 million passengers a year.

Besides the airport, Fukuoka offers a fully developed railway and subway network.

There are also large-sized cruise ships that call at the Port of Hakata.

Compared to major cities in the world, Fukuoka’s costs are very appealing.

Source/ New York, London, Singapore: JETRO Homepage Tokyo, Fukuoka: CBRE Office Market Report 2010

Direct flights to 22 international destinations,Port of Hakata,railway and subway network.

Fukuoka Airport is one of the world's most easily-accessible airports. It only takes about 10 minutes to arrive in the city center.

Note: Red circle shows a radius of 5km.

Transportation Hub

Reasonable Cost for Business

A Livable & Business-minded Environment

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Rich in Human Resources

◆ University students represent 5.3% of the total population ⇒ Second highest of Japan’s major cities.

Young generation (ages 15 – 29)

… 19.5% of total population. ⇒ the highest among major cities in Japan.

(*Average 16.5％ in ordinance-designated cities)

Young women (ages 15 – 29)

… 51.3% of total young population.⇒ the highest among major cities in Japan.

(*Average 49.8％ in ordinance-designated cities)

You can easily secure talented people who have sufficient knowledge and skills in the IT and content industries.One advantage is our pool of talented human capital.Universities and technical colleges in Fukuoka produce as many as 7,000 science major students every year.

Livability

for Non-Japanese as well !

MONOCLE (U.K.)The 7th Most Livable City in the World”Tenjin Big Ban” Deregulation in the Special Zone

Dynamic growth under the Mayorʼs leadership

Investment for the future (fuel-cell stations, BRT)

More inbound tourist from Asia

Number of International Students – No. 2 after Tokyo (Fukuoka Prefecture)

Fukuoka International SchoolThe City has a WASC-and IB approved international school that provides education in English based on the U.S. curriculum for children from pre-schoolers to high school students.

Voice directions in foreign languages on public transport

Voice direction in multiple foreign languages are available on public transport such as the subway. Questions about the subway are answered at the ticket windows at the subway station. (Free of charge: available in English, Chinese, Korean and Thai).

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Startup Café Networking hub for startups

Employment Consultation CenterIncrease in publicity of employment rules & prevention of labor disputes

Consultations for startups

Seminars/Networking events

Special Deregulations

≪Effect of Deregulation≫

Current Maximum Height

67m (15F)

76m (17F)

Looser street occupancy restrictions

Looser building height restrictions under the Civil Aeronautical Act

Tenjin Big Bang Project

Construction investment effectover the next 10 years

290 billion yen(Approx. $2.4 billion)

Knock-on effect aftercompletion of redevelopment

850 billion yen/year(Approx. $7.1 billion/year)

Downtown

Maintain startup-friendly

environment

Facilitating startups

Encouraging 30 buildings to be reconstructed in the next 10 years

(Tenjin Big Bang)

National Strategic Special Zone Initiatives

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A deregulation measure to reduce corporate taxes to compete with rivals in Asia

Eligibility is restricted to companies headquarteredin Fukuoka City which havebeen in business in Fukuoka for five years or less..

0 10 20 30 40

Fukuoka

Singapore

Korea(Seoul)

China

Tokyo

Corporate tax rates in other areas of Asia

Reduce barriers for foreigners who wish to start a business in Japan. Create the world’s most welcoming entrepreneurial environment.

Barriers Fukuoka’s strategy

A foreign national who wishes to acquire the “Business Manager” status of residence must make an investment of at least ¥5 million or employ two or more full-time employees.

A foreign national may be granted the“Business Manager” status of residenceafter completing a screening process of his/her business plans. (A foreign national applicant must make an investment of at least ¥5 million or employ two or more full-timeemployees within 6 months.)

Procedures for setting up a company and starting a business in Japan are not only very complicated but also very time-consuming.

Providing one-stop services for global entrepreneurs.

Barriers for foreigners who wish to start a business in Japan

Through deregulation, Fukuoka can offer the best business environment!

② Corporate Tax Cut for Startups

③ Reduce Barriers for Foreigners

Proposed Measures ① Deregulation of Wireless Radio Act The global IoT market is expected

to greatly expand in the future Proposing regulations of the

Wireless Radio Act to be eased to simplify licensing procedures

Making Fukuoka an R&D hub for IoT 2014

$ 0.66trillion

$ 1.7 trillion

Prospective IoT Global Market

2020Source: US-IDC,2015.6

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Livable × Business City: Fukuoka