Case study Osaka Kobe Pgs.- 152, 153

Industry in a city in a developed country Osaka-Kobe The Osaka Kobe conurbation is japans major industrial areas. The many reasons for this industrial growth include the following: It is a natural harbor situated within Osaka bay, an inlet of the inland sea. The inland sea itself is protected from the worst of the typhoon winds by the sands of shook

Osaka imports many of the raw materials needed by japan. Many of these raw materials are processed within the port area, egg- oil, coal and iron ore. The port is also a major outlet for Japanese exports The land around Osaka bays one of the relatively few areas of flat land in a country that is 83 percent too mountainous for development. Even so Osaka Kobe has spread outwards as far as the highland allows

Japanese industry is actually highly efficient. It is based on hard work, loyalty and their trust. The Japanese compare their industrial organization to a pyramid At the base are thousands of small, often family run, firms. Small firms, usually employing fewer than 6 people, account for 90% of Japanese companies

Land in Osaka bay has been replaced for port development, new industries and international airports It has a population of over 90 million which provides a highly skilled, dedicated workforce and a large wealthy domestic market High tech industries have grown rapidly as a consequence of these inventiveness of these Japanese areas And finally, it is the center of many banks and large Japanese companies

Above them are medium sized companies which together with the small firms produce % of japans manufactured goods . At the top of the pyramid are the large corporations, many of which, like Toyota Nissan sharp Panasonic and Mitsubishi have become a major transactional

From oil to camcorders The port petrochemical industry processes oil into many by products one of which is plastic some of this plastic is take to the workshop district of Osaka which is located near the motorway in the east of the city

Within this district are the numerous small work units including the one run in the small converted garage by mr.yamaski. They produce plastic pars which they send daily to a nearby medium sized company run by the Kawasaki. This produces a range of products which include for e.g. the tops of car batteries and safety goggles. Recently the won the orders to produce the sunglasses for Italy and 100000 lenses for Panasonic to use in cameras

The lenses when finished are sent 20 kms across the city to a huge Panasonic plant They assemble the component parts made by many small firms the assembly is highly automated with robots doing technical jobs, it still employs more than several 100 workers The major problem for Panasonic is the competition with the NIC's Especially those in the pacific rim of the south east Asia

Japanese industries never stands still. The recent developments include: Demolishing the 100 year old Nippon steel works located alongside Osaka bay and using former employs to develop new forms of technology and automation

Building up to 11 new science parks some the size of a small city in pleasant environments beyond the present urban limits. The science parks with their research centers for by japans leading corporations are being developed to make sure that japans high tech stays ahead of the rest of the world