On October 15, 2014, Professor Ryuzo Fukushi, from the Department of Business Administration and Economics at Aomori Public University, gave us a lecture entitled “Economics and Industry in Aomori”.

　Regional development will never be achieved without the development of companies. Especially, manufacturing industry play an important role in the region.

　When you look around you, most of the things you have aren’t made in Aomori. They are made in different prefectures or overseas. Aomori Prefecture is facing the following problems. How can we increase manufacturing companies? How can we invite them here? How can we add value to the things made in Aomori? It is important for us to develop the technique of the manufacturing which is Japanese are traditionally good at. Those problems are not only in Aomori but also in the whole of Japan.

　As examples of the companies in Aomori, Tefco Aomori Co., Ltd. (metallic products, Hirosaki City) make letters and numbers on the dial index of wristwatches, and the technique is used all over the world, including in Switzerland. In the field of the beauty industry, Image (Aomori City) has over 20 shops all over Japan, including in Ginza, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka.

　Professor Fukushi gave us this message: “Please learn with people, and learn from people.” He advised us, “As both companies and people are the same, the connection with the others is important. Please don’t study alone. Let's learn with friends around you.”

Professor Shunsuke Sasaki, Department of the Regional Frontier, Aomori Public University