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2009 |
 In Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, research and development of peptide vaccines for cancer treatment has been pursued by forming the Kurume Cutting-Edge Medical Research Cluster, led by Kurume University, with participation of institutions from industry, government and academia. Cancer peptide vaccine therapy is the “fourth therapy" for cancer, after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Peptide vaccine therapy has fewer side effects since vaccine dosages are individualized for each patient and the patient's own immune system is utilized to attack specific cancer cells. Kurume University has played a leading role in the development of cancer vaccines in Japan, having established the country's first outpatient facility for vaccine administration to treat and cure cancer in April 2009, and conducting ongoing clinical trials for vaccines. This is a project commissioned by the Japanese government, and Kurume University will continue to focus its efforts on research toward commercialization of tailor-made therapies in which optimum peptide vaccines are administered after identifying the type of cancer and conducting genetic testing, and on reinforcement of cooperation with foreign research institutes. The ultimate goal of this project is to make the Kurume region a global center for research and development, by forming a cluster of cutting-edge medical-related research institutes and companies to attract patients in need of cancer vaccine therapy at home and abroad, and to perform clinical trials at the request of pharmaceutical companies throughout the world. In Saga Prefecture, a project is under way to establish Japan's first non-governmental facility for heavy particle radiotherapy, with support of the prefectural government as well as the business and medical communities. Heavy particle radiotherapy is the most advanced method of cancer treatment, in which accelerator-propelled protons and carbon ions are aimed directly at cancer cells. This therapy minimizes damage to normal cells while delivering a damaging blow to cancer cells. Construction work will start in 2010, with the facility scheduled to commence operations in 2013. A total of $170million is expected to be used for this project. |
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 To attract international conferences in particular, Fukuoka City has developed a zone that accommodates a concentration of convention facilities. Moreover, the city has enjoyed a high reputation from overseas convention participants for its easy accessibility from other Asian countries and warm hospitality extended to visitors by local people. From September to October 2012, the city is scheduled to host the International Congress of Urology, in which approximately 4,500 people from 105 countries are expected to participate.
Ranking of Number of International Conventions Hosted in 2008, by City
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 The Busan-Fukuoka Economic Cooperation Council, launched in October 2008 for the joint economic initiative, examined possible regional cooperation models and decided on collaboration between the two cities in four areas, including the promotion of business cooperation, development of human resources, exchanges on a daily basis, and joint requests to Japanese and South Korea government. As part of efforts to facilitate business cooperation, offices will be established, and forums designed for small and medium-size business CEOs and B2B meetings will be arranged. Furthermore, efforts to boost exchanges will include the introduction of electronic money that can be used in either city and the inauguration of new flight services to and from the two cities. The initiative to create an integrated transborder economic region by promoting cooperation between the two regions, a political commitment also made by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, is expected to lead to further development of East Asia as a whole. |
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In the annual survey, the magazine assesses cities according to a wide variety of criteria, including public transportation, housing conditions, and education. Consideration is also given to unique factors such as the quality of architecture, climate that encourages new business entries, the number of international flights, and people's average shopping time. Fukuoka was voted one of the best places in the world because of its accessibility to other areas in Kyushu and the rest of Japan as well as its active exchanges with China and South Korea. |
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2008 |
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Annual production of vehicles in the Kyushu region is nearly 1.5 million, which is approximately 10% of the total in Japan. In 2007, the 1st Fukuoka International Motor Show ,following Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, was held and projects regarding electric vehicles and hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in the Kyushu region have been introduced all over the world. The Kyushu region is now known as the core region of eco-car research and development in Japan. |
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The advantages of electric vehicles are no greenhouse gas emissions and lower running cost (one-tenth of gasoline-fueled vehicles). Key technologies for practical use of electric vehicles include increasing battery capacity and improving the electric-charge method. Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc. has developed the latest lithium-ion battery and efficient electric-charge system. These are currently ongoing testing using "i-MiEV," developed by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation.
Kyushu University, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toyota Motor Corporation and Fukuoka prefectural government are jointly conducting both theoretical and practical studies for hydrogen energy research and development in the Kyushu region. Kyushu University, the core member of the research team, has been funded by a Japanese government research program, and has established the world's first graduate school specializing in integrated hydrogen energy engineering. Driving tests of a hydrogen-fueled car on campus and related experiments regarding the hydrogen infrastructure system have attracted the attention of many professionals worldwide.|
Fukuoka City has hosted more international conventions than any other city in Japan, except Tokyo and Kyoto. In 2006, the number of Asia-related international conventions increased 2.5 times from the previous year. The following are major conferences and forums held in Fukuoka City in 2007. - The 2nd International Hydrogen Energy Development Forum - The Asian Pacific City Summit |
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 ECO ASIA 2006 |
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2007 |
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Nissan Motors Co., Ltd.'s Kyushu plant, located in Fukuoka Pref., Kyushu region, will produce 650,000 vehicles in 2009 and become the largest Nissan factory in the world. It will also become the largest assembly plant of all automobile manufacturers in Japan. Mr. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., recognizes their Kyushu plant as 'the most important plant for Nissan.' He says, "The Kyushu plant produces high-quality products, and has stronger cost competitiveness than other areas in Japan. Its distribution cost is low, because a quay is available at the port for our exclusive use. Furthermore, the employees are trying hard to achieve a result higher than their original target." He also aims to release strategic automobiles that can enjoy both high quality and low cost on the global market, through increasing Nissan's future exports from Kyushu. |
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Fresenius Medical Care AG, one of the major dialyzer manufacturers, has two plants in the Kyushu region, which are their only manufacturing facilities in Japan. The company intends to invest about 26 million dollars in these two plants, one in Fukuoka and the other in Oita. By extending the capacity of these plants in manufacturing artificial kidneys for dialysis treatment, the company aims to intensify the product supply system and increase their share in the Asian region including Japan. |
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Kotobuki Industries Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) and Posteel Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of POSCO, a major steel corporation in South Korea, will invest about 175,5 million dollars in building a new plant for their joint venture 'Asia Special Steel Co., Ltd.' (Tokyo) in Kitakyushu City. The plant will be furnished with an electric furnace and a steel ingot manufacturing facility and will start operations by the end of 2008. According to their plan, a hundred and fifty workers will be employed there. This is the first manufacturing base in Japan for POSCO group companies. Kitakyushu City was chosen because it is close to South Korea, where there is a great demand for iron and steel. |
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Satyam Computer Services Ltd., one of the four leading IT corporations in India, will expand its business in Fukuoka City. The company will build a full-scale "System Development Center" for the first time in Kyushu, and start operations with about twenty members of staff from April next year. Mr. Norihisa Ando, the representative director of the company, highly appreciates the Kyushu region. He says, "Kyushu is an attractive region with active business performances in automobile and semiconductor industries. Fukuoka City is the nearest large city to China and South Korea, and we have assessed that the city will become one of our main Asian bases in future." |
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'Fukuoka International School' has become the thirteenth school accredited by the 'International Baccalaureate' in Japan, and the first in Kyushu. IB is regarded as a university entrance qualification in most nations in the world. The 'educational infrastructure' has been advanced for employees and families of non-Japanese companies that start operations in Japan. |
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Nippon Roballo Co., Ltd., a German manufacturer of large-size bearings, intends to construct a new plant for manufacturing large-size bearings (rotation bearings) for wind power generation in Kitakyushu City at the cost of 4.5 billion yen. The site is 23,000 square meters and is located within the coastal industrial complex at Wakamatsu ward, Kitakyushu City. About twenty members of staff will be employed to start operations from October 2008. Tsutomu Tomita, representative director & president of Nippon Roballo, favorably evaluated Kitakyushu City, saying, "We have selected Kitakyushu, because it's convenient for commodity distribution to and from other Asian nations." |
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| 2006 |
 Oct. 31UPS, the world's largest small cargo company |
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UPS Japan, the Japanese branch of UPS, the world’s largest small package cargo transport company, specializes in international express transport. On October 30, 2006, it opened a collection and delivery center in Fukuoka Prefecture, their first base in Kyushu, in response to growth in the northern Kyushu region, especially in the automobile and semiconductor fields. |
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| Sep. 1 HANATOUR, Korea's largest tour and travel agency |
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HANATOUR, Korea’s largest tour and travel company, established its subsidiary HANATOUR JAPAN on September 1, 2006, and opened a branch office in Fukuoka, making this city its second base in Japan after Tokyo. |
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