Industry in Chiba Prefecture

Manufacturing

Industry in Chiba Prefecture is ranked 6th in Japan with shipment value of manufactured goods from business establishments with more than 4 employees amounting to 15,430.8 billion yen in 2008. The same year, the number of business establishments was 6,610 and the number of employees 227,224.

The foremost industries are petroleum industry, chemicals industry, and steel industry. The contributing proportions for each of the above-mentioned industries to the shipment value of manufactured goods in 2008 were 23.6%, 21.0% and 14.2%, respectively, and the three industries accounted for 58.8% of the total shipment value of manufactured goods (2008; Report on Results of Industrial Statistics Survey).

Up until the 1950s, the main industries of the prefecture were the brewing of soy sauce, sake and mirin (sweet cooking sake).

In subsequent years, the prefecture actively sought to attract big enterprises. After the Chiba steel plant of then Kawasaki Steel Corp. was constructed on a reclaimed site made off the coast of Chiba City in November 1950, other enterprises in the heavy and chemical industries poured into the prefecture and constructed their plants.

Since then, about 12,000 ha of landfill have been completed along the 76 km of coastline between Urayasu City and Futtsu City. Out of the planned industrial portion of about 9,265 ha, 99.6% of the area (9,230 ha) has been sold in lots.

In the inland area, industrial parks are being developed taking the area's strengths into consideration, and the welcoming of leading-edge industries and growth industries is actively promoted. Currently, and various enterprises, including those in processing and assembly industries, are locating their facilities there.

The shipment value of manufactured goods made in the coastal areas constitutes 64.2% of the total, and that in inland area constitutes 35.8%. (Source: Results of the Industrial Statistics Survey of Commerce and Industry in Chiba Prefecture, etc.)

Commerce

Commercial business activities in Chiba Prefecture support the rich lives of our 6 million residents, and also play an important role in supporting the regional economy.

According to the Report on Results of the Census of Commerce in 2007, as of June 1, 2007, the number of retail establishments in the prefecture was 39,498 and that of employees was 329,783, and the total yearly sales amounted to 5,735.0 billion yen.

The combined numbers of establishments in the cities of Chiba, Funabashi, Matsudo, Ichikawa and Kashiwa accounted for 39.8% of the total number in the prefecture, and the combined values of sales accounted for 47.5% of the total value of sales in the prefecture. Moreover, looking at the ratio of stores classified by workforce size, small stores, with a workforce of 4 or fewer employees, account for 62.9% of the total. Kashiwa Niban-gai, a shopping street (Kashiwa City)	Source: Prefectural Department of Statistics "Commercial Statistics Study"

Agriculture

Chiba Prefecture, which has a mild climate and fertile soil, is one of the major agricultural prefectures in Japan. The agricultural output of the prefecture was 421.6 billion yen in 2008, which was ranked 3rd nationwide. Additionally, there are many items occupying the top position in production amount nationwide such as Japanese radish, and pears while rice, flowers and livestock also hold high positions across the nation. The regions of Chiba and Higashi-Katsushika are very close to Tokyo, one of the biggest consuming regions. In these areas, komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and spinach have been successfully produced taking advantage of their location.	Various agricultural products from throughout the year
In the regions of Kaiso, Katori and Imba, cultivation of vegetables, such as cabbages, carrots and watermelons, as well as wet rice cultivation and dairy farming are popular. In the regions of Sanbu and Chosei, wet rice cultivation, and greenhouse production of melons and tomatoes are popular. In the Kimitsu region, cultivation of wet rice and vegetables, and dairy farming are carried out in good balance. In the Isumi region, the features of intermediate and mountainous areas are utilized. In addition to rice, staple such as bamboo shoots are actively produced as main products. In the Awa region with its mild climate and bountiful nature, flowers such as carnations and stocks, and fruits like strawberries and loquats are actively produced.
Output value of main agricultural products (in 2008) Items Output value (Unit: billion yen) Ranking in Japan Rice 77.4 8th Vegetables 165.2 2nd Tubers and roots 22.8 3rd Flowers 19.1 3rd Raw milk 24.0 3rd Pork 36.7 4th Hen eggs 31.7 2st (Source: Chiba Prefecture Statistics on Income from Agricultural Production)

Fisheries

With both open sea and inland bay waters, the prefecture of Chiba is a rich and varied fishing ground. Both the Black Current and the Oyashio Current intermingle off Chiba’s Pacific coastline, making Chiba one of the world’s top three fishing grounds in terms of the variety of kinds of fish and shellfish that can be caught. In 2008 Chiba’s fishing industry yielded a total amount of 195,133 tons, with the highest production amount of anchovies, perch and lobster in the nation, solidifying Chiba’s position as one of the foremost fishing prefectures in Japan.

The Choshi/Kujukuri area features a continental shelf upon which the Black and Oyashio Currents merge to form an abundant fishing ground in which sardine seine fishing and squid trawl fishing are conducted.

The region extending from Isumi to Awa contains jagged coastlines with many reefs inhabited by red sea bream, flounder, abalone, turban shell, lobster and other high-end seafood, where small vessel and shore fishing thrives.

Tokyo Bay’s quiet waters provide an excellent location for nori seaweed farming, as well as for catching Manila clams, righteye flounder, perch and other mid- to high-end seafood.

Seafood Production amount (tons) National ranking Sardines 3,559 4 Anchovies 78,424 2 Scomber 37,791 4 Saury Pike 19,545 6 Yellowtail* 8,585 3 Perch 2,660 1 Lobster 301 1 Haliotidae 126 3 Manila Clams 907 7 Nori seaweed (farmed) 18,826 7 ■ National seafood production rankings (2008/person-based) (Source: 2008 Fishing/Farming Production Statistics (rounded figures)) *Yellowtail: Farmed yellowtail not included.