As a cosmopolitan port city that’s a short ferry ride from South Korea’s Busan, Fukuoka has long served as an Asian gateway to Japan. It’s been also one of the leading cities of southern Japan, and has recently emerged as a powerful startup hub that’s changing the Japanese economy.
“Fukuoka is very supportive in assisting foreigners who don't know any Japanese to apply for the Startup Visa,” adds Chen. “When the visa was issued in no time at all, we were able to have enough time to successfully go through all the pre-work such as establishing the company, opening a bank account and renting office space. That was the start of Golface in Japan.
“The startups are operating in a range of industries such as e-commerce and Internet of Things , and we’re now on the way to inviting overseas investors to back them,” says FGN official Akiyo Hamamoto. The Startup Café and FGN point out startups like Three Mouth Company, a food industry dispatch firm founded in 2015 that has created some 70 jobs a year, as an example of how new companies can stimulate employment.
One perspective is that entrepreneurs bring new ideas and technologies to the world but they face obstacles in getting them out, Takashima says, adding that Fukuoka can create a better environment for entrepreneurs with the Strategic Zone deregulation.Private-sector investment companies are also keen about Fukuoka’s prospects.
JapanGov He doesn't seem foolish.