Japan Country Profile
As North Carolina’s leading capital investor, Japan has known about the state’s prime business opportunities, especially in the technology and research sectors.
Japan
Expand to the US
Toyota Announces $8B Expansion at its North Carolina-Based EV Battery Plant
Toyota will invest an additional $8 billion in its first North American EV battery manufacturing facility, adding another 3,000 jobs. The project was first announced as a $1.29 billion investment in 2021, with expansions in 2022 and 2023.
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Dai Nippon Printing Selects Davidson County For Its First US Operation
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), a lithium-ion battery pouch manufacturer, will create 352 new jobs in Davidson County. The company will invest $233 million to build its first US advanced manufacturing facility in the City of Linwood.
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Kyowa Kirin to Invest $200 Million for Manufacturing Complex in Lee County
The company will create 102 jobs to support the manufacturing of biologic products for targeted clinical and commercial use, create more resilient and efficient supply lines, and support the training of Kyowa Kirin’s global manufacturing workforce.
Learn MoreJapanese Investment by the Numbers
#1
Country in NC for Announced Capital Investment and New Jobs
$2.5
Billion in Goods Imported from Japan (2023)
67
New and Expanding Japanese Companies Since 2014
9,000+
New Jobs From Japanese Companies Since 2013
5,274
Japanese Immigrants Live in North Carolina
9
Universities with a Japanese Studies Program
5
Japanese Gardens
Strategic Location
With population of 10 million that ranks 9th in the country, North Carolina is strategically positioned in the middle of the United States’ East Coast. The state has mild climate and four seasons, much like Tokyo, which is on the same latitude.
#1 FDI Partner
Japan leads all countries in capital investment (67 firms investing nearly $18 billion) and new jobs created (9,000 since 2014) in North Carolina. It also exported $2.5 billion in goods ranging from machinery and electronics to vehicles and parts.
North America’s Largest Research Park
The Research Triangle Park contains 375 companies with more than 50,000 employees. Nearby, three Tier 1 research universities partner with Japanese companies like Fujifilm, JSR Life Sciences, and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals on research initiatives.
Speed to Market
You don’t have to navigate complicated tax structures or bureaucratic red tape to do business in North Carolina. We have a top business tax environment and are full of resources for all permitting, licensing, and other regulation questions.
Japanese Companies Prosper in North Carolina
At A Glance
| Governor | Roy Cooper | State Capital | Raleigh |
| Population | 10.6 Million | GSP | US $541.9 Billion |
| Time Difference with Japan | -14 hours (-13 hours in Summer) | Area | 139,000km (Approximately 56% of Honshu) |
| State Abbreviation | NC | State Nickname | Tarheel State |
| National Park | Great Smoky Mountains | Memorial Hall | Write Brother’s National Memorial (Kill Devil Hill)
NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte) |
| State Bird | Cardinal | State Flower | Dogwood |
| State Tree | Pine (Long Leaf Pine) | Highest Peak in the State | Mount Mitchell (Approx. 2,037m) |
| Average Temperature in Raleigh | Summer 25° C
Winter 6° C |
Latitude | 34 to 36 Degrees North Latitude (Almost the same as Tokyo, so similar seasons and climate.) |
Featured Resources
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Publication
News
American Retailer to Invest Over $500M in Rowan County, Bringing 2,800 New Job Opportunities
Well-known American retailer, Macy’s, Inc., will build its first-ever fully automated distribution center in China Grove,...
News
Toyota Announces $8B Expansion at its North Carolina-Based EV Battery Plant
Toyota will invest an additional $8 billion in its first North American electric vehicle battery manufacturing...
News
Governor Cooper Continues Meetings with Business Leaders at Southeast U.S./Japan Association Meeting
Today, Governor Roy Cooper continued to meet with business leaders in Tokyo and delivered remarks at...
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