You are here: Home › Long-term business opportunities arise

Long-term business opportunities arise

By Jan Onghanseng
-    Jul 07, 2017
Credit : GMI Post

While Japan and California have long enjoyed a strong business ties, new investment prospects have emerged, particularly in the areas of agriculture infrastructure.

State entities like the Almond Board of California and California Walnut Commission have identified Japan as one of their biggest markets, while the California High Speed Rail Authority is looking to work closely with the Japanese government because of its expertise in the development of the shinkansen or bullet train.

The Almond Board of California, reorganized in its present form in the 1970s, was set up to work closely with industry members to improve research, food safety, nutrition and global market development. The board allots a significant portion of its budget for global marketing, which emphasizes the health benefits of almonds.

California Walnut Commission International Marketing Director Pamela Graviet

“A lot of our nutrition research became ubiquitous around the world. Tree nuts and almonds became well known as a healthy snack alternative, so we enjoyed growth everywhere,” Almond Board President and CEO Richard Waycott said.

With changing consumer habits, healthier lifestyles and a higher acceptance of imported food, Japan has become one of the fastest-growing markets for California-grown almonds. The board also works with the Japan Nut Association to conduct extensive consumer research and education and reactivate trade programs.

Meanwhile, California accounts for 99% walnut production in the United States and 65% of global production. Similar to the almond industry, walnuts have also seen a steady rise in worldwide consumption, driven mostly by consumers aware of the nutritional value and health benefits.

“People are more mobile and they want healthier food options. Nuts are a healthier alternative and a mobile society, along with healthy options, makes it challenging for several products,” said California Walnut Commission Senior International Marketing Director Pamela Gravier.

Japan is among the top importers of Californian walnuts, which have gained widespread acceptance in a market known for being particular about quality and food safety. While Japanese consumers traditionally use walnuts for baked goods, the commission is focusing on educating them about the walnut’s versatility. 

“Japan is a consistently strong market for Californian walnuts because of its quality, consistency, reliability and food safety, all of which are very important to the Japanese consumer,” Gravier also said.

California High Speed Rail Authority Chief of Communications and Spokesperson Lisa Marie Alley

And for an ambitious infrastructure project that will change the face of travel in the United States, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has naturally sought the advice of the Japanese, which were the first to develop a commercially successful high-speed train.

The goal is to connect the entire state of California and make travel fast and easy. The project is seen to connect far-flung towns with big cities, generate jobs and develop those small economies. The system will operate fully on renewable energy, with any excess put back to the state’s energy grid. It will also bring fiber optic networks to areas still without any Internet.

As a pioneer in the area and the first to begin construction, CHSRA has faced a lot of scrutiny and has met several challenges.

“It’s not just about the train. There are other benefits, like creating thousands of jobs along the way, opening small towns, as well as other peripheral benefits,” said CHSRA Chief of Communications and Spokesperson Lisa Marie Alley.

CHSRA’s priority is to advance construction of the rail network and secure early train operators and train set manufacturers. Aside from transport and logistical considerations, CHSRA also aims to make each train station a profitable enterprise for the state.

“People still do not see the benefits the way we do. So, our number one job is to talk about all these benefits and educate the people. The more people we talk to, the better,” Alley said.

Business opportunities in Latin America for Japanese companies

Thanks to Texas' proximity to the emerging markets of Central and South America, several major Japanese companies with significant investments in L...

The Evolving Military Balance in the Taiwan Strait

Panelists discuss the risk of an armed conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan and how the United States should adapt its defense ...

Young Professionals Briefing: The Future of Democracy Around the World

Panelists discuss democratic backsliding, the rights of marginalized populations living under authoritarian regimes, and the prospects for and obst...

TWSE: Cultivating Growth

When gauging a country's economic prospects, analysts first study the historical performance of its financial market and activity that characterize...

Philippines' top EdTech startup secures Series A funding as it boosts reach and engagement

Edukasyon, the leading education technology platform in the Philippines, recently closed its Series A financing round, joined by Asian and European...

Japanese carmakers: A vital part of the U.S. economy

Over nearly four decades, Japanese-brand automakers have built up a vast American presence. It has made a cumulative manufacturing investment of ab...

Casino slot manufacturer attributes success to hard work, vision, and dedication to core values

Japanese gaming giant Konami has invested heavily in Las Vegas, setting up a huge head office in the city from where it develops and markets indust...

Reaffirming a commitment to create equal opportunity

Tracing its origins back more than a century, LHAG has nurtured a reputation for excellence and expertise in dispute resolution, international arbi...

Malaysia: A fresh start

Ten months since historic elections that rocked the nation's political landscape, Malaysia, once again headed by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, i...

latest special Reports:

More Special Reports: more...

Upcoming Reports from




  • Global Media is your partner in reaching a powerful international audience through high-level economic reporting.

    Our ambition is to highlight under-reported developments and opportunities around the world, and allow leaders in these regions and sectors to take their message to the highest global level. We partner with top media to communicate with the world’s most powerful audiences. We specialize in communication and branding initiatives that help our clients effectively get their messages to their existing and potential partners. We achieve results for our clients by introducing them and their initiatives to an audience of elite international business and government leaders.

    Global Media Inc. is an independent media agency with offices in Hong Kong and Canada. GMI has more than a decade of experience in the writing, researching, and production of promotional country reports, with media partners from East Asia to North America. We have teams worldwide that develop country and thematic reports on the latest economic trends and developments.

    We are a media partner of Foreign Affairs,the United States’ most influential publication, published by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations.

    Nearly a century old, there isn’t a more influential or higher-reaching publication in the United States than Foreign Affairs. The journal is ranked #1 in influence by U.S. opinion leaders in a recent nationwide study conducted by Erdos and Morgan, the premier business-to-business research firm. Their findings place Foreign Affairs ahead of all media, both print and broadcast, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The Washington Post.

    Testimonials:

    “We were extremely impressed with how efficient, well-coordinated, responsive and reliable the Global Media Inc. team was. We owe them a lot for their professionalism. We were very pleased with the outcome, and the article was very well-written. We hope to have an opportunity to work with Global Media Inc. again in the near future.� – Japan Airport Terminal Co. Ltd.
    “The Global Media team’s professionalism was excellent. Their team was great and always gave us the right suggestions and information. The product was excellent, and we were very happy to have such a great opportunity working with their excellent team.â€� – National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies (GRIPS)
    “We were honored to be chosen as one of the good universities in Japan. This article conveyed Seigakuin University’s educational ideals and the message from President Akudo. The advertisement was conspicuous and gave a good impression that Seigakuin nurtured students to contribute to world peace. We really appreciated what Global Media Inc. had did for us.â€� – Seigakuin University

    Whom we have featured:

    • Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
    • Australian Foreign Affairs Minister (and former Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd
    • Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
    • Qatari Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed
    • Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yoshiaki Takaki
    • Taiwanese Foreign Minister Yang Chin-Tien
    • Taiwanese Finance Minister Lee Sush-Der
    • Taiwanese Economic Affairs Minister Shih Yen-Shiang
    • Taiwanese National Science Council Minister Lee Lou-Chuang,
    • Taiwanese Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Yeh Kuang-Shih
    • Taiwanese Political Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Lin Tsong-Ming
    • Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dr. Dino Patti Djalal
    • Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board Chairman Gita Wirjawan
    • Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III
    • Philippine Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile

Join our newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get the latest news and updates directly to your inbox.