| Japanese
Residents in Florida The
number of Japanese nationals in Florida is increasing. In 2007, over 6,000 Japanese were
registered at the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami but the actual number is believed to
be as high as 10,000. According to the 2000 official Census, there
were 13,977 people
of Japanese descent living in Florida.
Japanese Residents Registered in Florida,
2007 |
| Permanent Residents |
3,619 |
| Temporary Residents |
2,661 |
| Other |
- |
| Total |
6,280 |
Source: Consulate-General of Japan
in Miami |
Trade
Japan is one of Florida’s top trading partners and
trade between the regions is steadily increasing. Top imported merchandise from Japan to
Florida includes vehicles and machinery while top exported merchandise
from Florida to Japan are fertilizers and citrus fruit. Japan is the
15th leading destination of Florida-origin
exports.
Florida’s Leading Trade Partners,
2008
(billions of dollars) |
| 1. |
Brazil |
15.5 |
| 2. |
Japan |
7.7 |
| 3. |
Venezuela |
7.1 |
| 4. |
China
(Mainland) |
6.5 |
| 5. |
Colombia |
6.4 |
Source: Enterprise Florida |
Florida's Trade with Japan (millions of dollars) |
|
Imports |
Exports |
| 2008 |
6,815 |
878 |
| 2007 |
6,795 |
623 |
| 2006 |
6,886 |
393 |
| 2005 |
5,735 |
279 |
| 2004 |
4,864 |
470 |
Source: Enterprise Florida |
Major Destinations of Florida-Origin Exports
2008 (millions of dollars) |
| Rank |
Destination |
Value |
| 1 |
Brazil |
4,925 |
| 2 |
Venezuela |
4,114 |
| 3 |
Canada |
3,793 |
| 4 |
Mexico |
2,498 |
| 5 |
Colombia |
2,448 |
| 6 |
India |
2,334 |
| 7 |
Switzerland |
1,657 |
| 8 |
Dominican
Republic |
1,579 |
| 9 |
Chile |
1,475 |
| 10 |
U.K. |
1,348 |
| 11 |
Peru |
1,338 |
| 12 |
Germany |
1,326 |
| 13 |
Paraguay |
1,292 |
| 14 |
Argentina |
1.257 |
| 15 |
Japan |
1,122 |
Source:
Enterprise Florida |
Japanese
Companies in Florida
Japanese companies play an important
part in
Florida
fs economy. According to the
U.S. Department of commerce, in 2006 there were over 176 Japanese companies
directly creating over 21,000 jobs in
Florida
. Japanese companies are
predominantly in industries of wholesale trade, manufacturing and services
including tourism. In addition,
Japan
fs brand products at wide-ranging fields, are transported, sold and repaired
extensively by hands of many Floridians engaged in various sectors, thus
contributing to expansion of job creation inside the huge consuming State of
Florida
.
Recently, Florida has witnessed an
increase of Japanese investments; among these new investments, we can cite,
among many others, a) the container terminal of Jacksonville by Mitsui-OSK, b)
the investment by Mitsubishi Heavy Industry America, Inc. and Sumitomo
Corporation for Miami International Airport APM System and MIA-Mover, c)
investment by Ito-En Mason Vitamin for supplements, d) Nitto Denko-Aveva for
pharmaceutical products, and e) Konica Minolta Business Solutions, in St.
Petersburg.
| Japanese
Investment in Florida
(billions of current dollars) |
| 2006 |
3.8 |
| 2005 |
3.0 |
| 2004 |
2.0 |
| 2003 |
2.0 |
| 2002 |
2.4 |
Source: Enterprise Florida |
@
| Japanese
Affiliated Employment in Florida |
| 2006 |
21.2 |
| 2005 |
18.5 |
| 2004 |
19.5 |
| 2003 |
18.4 |
| 2002 |
22.9 |
Source: Enterprise Florida |
Florida
Companies in Japan
With the easing of regulations,
many
Florida
companies are successfully doing business in
Japan. Florida
companies are finding opportunities in areas such as high technology,
food, hardware and other industries. The
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) can assist companies interested
in doing business in Japan
.
South East U.S.-Japan Joint
Meeting has been held every year alternating the meeting site between
Japan
and
Southeast
States
of
USA. During the 31st Joint
Meeting held in 2007 in Tokyo, the delegates from Florida, including
representatives of the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development
of State
of Florida, Enterprise Florida, Beacon Council, Metro Orlando
Economic Development commission, and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce,
participated also in the Florida Business Seminar organized by JETRO,
reinforcing the business relationship between Florida and Japan.
Select
Florida Companies in Japan |
| Citrix Systems |
| Sports
Authority |
| Burger King |
| Office Depot |
| Outback
Steakhouse |
| Red Lobster |
| Tony Romas |
| Tupperware |
|
Tourism
Many Japanese people enjoy Florida as a tourist
destination. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 66,000 Japanese tourists
visited Orlando in 2005.
Japanese Tourists to Florida |
| 2005 |
66,000 |
| 2004 |
82,000 |
| 2003 |
60,000 |
| 2002 |
65,000 |
Source: International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce |
Culture
There is a significant amount of cultural exchange between
Florida and Japan. In 2006, thirty-six young college graduates from Florida participated
in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program to teach English in Japanese schools.
There are five Japan Societies in Florida which promote mutual understanding in culture and business. There are also ten
sister-city
relationships and one sister-state relationship between Florida and Japan which promote friendship through exchange programs
and other activities. The
Morikami
Museum
and
Japanese
Gardens
has been a center for Japanese arts and culture in
Florida
, with rotating exhibitions in its galleries, tea ceremonies performed
monthly in its Seishin-an tea house, an educational outreach program with
local schools and organizations, and Japanese traditional festivals
celebrated for the public several times a year.
Japan
Societies in Florida |
| Japan-America Society of Florida |
| Japan-America Society of Florida/Orlando |
| Japan-America Society of North West Florida |
| Japan-America Society of South Florida
(operations temporarily suspended) |
| Japan Society of South Florida |
| Association of Florida
Teachers of Japanese (AFTJ) |
|
