The Chubu region has played a major role as a driving force of the Japanese economy by virtue of the high concentration of the world’s leading manufacturing industries centered on the automotive industry, which can be described as the source of the competitiveness of Japanese industry.

Meanwhile, the world is changing drastically along with the progress of innovative technologies centered on digital technology, the acceleration of decarbonization (carbon neutrality) trends, and the increase in uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In preparation for the era of coexistence with COVID-19 and the post-COVID-19 era, it is necessary to further advance initiatives including the following: 1) the promotion of digitalization, 2) the transition to a green society, and 3) the enhancement of resilience by, for example, restructuring the supply chain.

Looking at the Chubu region, while confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for the region to revitalize its economy and improve its earning power by overcoming the long-standing challenges facing the regional economy and society, including depopulation, an aging population and a declining birthrate, and overconcentration in Tokyo.

Under these circumstances, to strengthen industrial competitiveness and pave the way for the revitalization of the entire region, the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry will collaborate closely with companies, economic organizations, support organizations, local governments, and other entities in providing support aimed at strengthening the foundations of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including support for business restructuring with an eye toward doing business during the era of coexistence with COVID-19. In addition, based on the region’s advanced manufacturing infrastructure, we will proceed with various initiatives toward the creation of diverse next-generation industries that can adapt to digitalization and a green society. These initiatives include: 1) further strengthening the competitiveness of the automobile-related industry?the region’s core industry?which is exposed to the wave of such major changes as progress is being made in the CASE and MaaS fields, 2) providing support for the establishment and development of venture companies and startups, and 3) building an innovation ecosystem through the promotion of industry-academia-government collaboration.

With our eye on connecting the region’s power to the future, we will design the regional economy and society and aggressively work toward the achievement of our policy objectives.

Jurisdiction of the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

Jurisdiction of the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

Aichi Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture,
Mie Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture,
Ishikawa Prefecture

Electricity Jurisdiction

Includes Nagano Prefecture in its entirety, and parts of Shizuoka Prefecture and Fukui Prefecture

Gas Jurisdiction

Includes Parts of Shizuoka Prefecture

While the Chubu region (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Toyama, and Ishikawa Prefectures) only accounts for about 10% of the national total in terms of area, population, and gross regional product, it is Japan’s greatest manufacturing region, accounting for 20% of the nation’s shipment value of manufactured products. The Chubu region is a focal point for manufacturers with excellent technological prowess in various fields, including transportation machinery used in car and aircraft-related industries, production machinery such as metalworking machines, electronic parts and devices, textiles, and ceramics.

Status of the Chubu region

The Chubu region enjoys a 20% share of the nation’s shipment value of manufactured products.

• Sources:
• - Geospatial Information Authority of Japan “Areas by Prefecture, City, Ward, Town, and Village” (as of January 1, 2022)
• - Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications “Population Estimation” (as of October 10, 2021)
• - Cabinet Office “2018 Prefectural Economic Calculation”
• - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry “2020 Industrial Statistics (Confirmed Report)

The Chubu region’s industry-based national shipment values of manufactured products

The Chubu region serves as a focal point for a wide range of industries, primarily featuring the transportation machinery industry.

• Sources:
• - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry “2020 Industrial Statistics (Confirmed Report)”