A1.+INDUSTRY+IN+OSAKA,+JAPAN

By Clint Okeyo **12)** **A. Why has industry grown so rapidly in Osaka-Kobe?** Industry has grown so rapidly in Osaka-Kobe for the following reasons: Osaka Bay The Japans compare their industrial organization to a pyramid. At the base are thousands of small, often family-ran firms (e.g. Mr. and Mrs. Yamasaki). Small firms, usually employing fewer than six people, account for 90 per cent of Japanese companies. Above them are medium-sized companies (e.g. The Kawasaki Brothers), which, together with small firms produce 60 per cent of Japans manufactured goods. At the top of the pyramid are large corporations, many of which, like Toyota, Nissan, Sharp, Panasonic and Mitsubishi have become major transnationals. Japan's INdustrial Pyramid
 * It is a natural harbor situated within Osaka Bay, an inlet of the Inland Sea. The Inland Sea itself is protected from the worst of the typhoon winds by the island of Shikoku (see page 73 of geography textbook)
 * Osaka imports many of the raw materials needed by Japan. Many of these raw materials are processed within the port area, e.g. oil, coal and iron ore. The port is also a major outlet for Japanese exports.
 * The land around Osaka Bay is one of the relatively few areas of lat land in a country 83 per cent to mountainous for development. Even so, Osaka-Kobe has spread outwards as far as the highland allows
 * Land in Osaka Bay has been reclaimed for port development, new industries and an international airport.
 * It has a population of over 9 million which provides a highly skilled dedicated workforce and a large, wealthy domestic market
 * High-tech industries have grown rapidly as a consequence of the inventiveness of the Japanese.
 * It is he centre of many banks and large Japanese companies.
 * It is the centre of many banks and large Japanese companies
 * B. I. What is meant by Japan’s ‘industrial Pyramid’?**

Panasonic is a transnational corporation. Panasonic assembles the component parts made by many small and medium-sized firms. Although the assembling is highly automated with robots doing many very technical jobs, Panasonic still employs several hundred workers. Mrs. Yamagami, who supervises eight robots, points out that she feels very much part of the company, despite its large size. Along with Japanese companies worldwide, Panasonic encourages close ties between management and Staff. Mrs. Yamagami, like other employees, is encouraged to suggest ways of improving both production and working conditions. The completed camcorders, along with other Panasonic products, which involve TVs and videos, are exported through the port at Osaka to 160 countries worldwide. From oil to camcodrs Sources: -The New Wider World "Second Edition"(Book By David Waugh) -Google Images
 * II. How does it work in the case of the Panasonic Corporation?**