Tokyo Japan

photo source: photobucket.com member t_b_c_66

Tokyo Japan is considered an alpha plus city, one of the most influential cities in the world.  With a population of 12,000,000 in the metropolitan area and existing as the core of an urbanized population center of around 40,000,000 people, Tokyo is a hub of worldwide corporate and cultural activity.  By all measures of importance; population, livability, economy, and average salary, the Tokyo metropolitan region is considered one of the top five cities on the planet.

Administratively Tokyo encompasses twenty six other cities, in much the same way that New York consists of five major bureaus.  These cities have essentially grown together to create the largest metro area, not just in Asia, but in the entire world.

Companies in Tokyo

The Tokyo stock exchange, where companies are listed for stock value, is the second largest exchange in the world on the basis of market capitalization.

Following in Japan’s tradition for leveraging extensive international trade relations and creating powerful corporate and manufacturing centers.  Tokyo is home to one out of every ten megacorporation in the world, where a megacorporation is defined as any of the business entities on the Global 500 list.

In 2009 just these 51 companies headquartered in the city of Tokyo had a combined net worth of 2.2 trillion dollars.  

The largest corporations in Tokyo

as reported by the Forbes Magazine Global 500.

Bridgestone
Canon
Cosmo Oil
Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance
East Japan Railway
Fujifilm Holdings
Fujitsu
Hitachi
Honda Motor
Idemitsu Kosan
Japan Airlines
Japan Post Holdings
Japan Tobacco
JFE Holdings
Kajima
KDDI
Kirin Holdings
Komatsu
Marubeni
Mediceo Paltac Holdings
Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings
Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Motors
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
Mitsui
Mitsui OSK Lines
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings
Mizuho Financial Group
NEC
Nippon Mining Holdings
Nippon Oil
Nippon Steel
Nippon Telegraph & Telephone
Nippon Yusen
Nissan Motor
Ricoh
Seven & I Holdings
Shimizu
Showa Shell Sekiyu
Softbank
Sony
Sumitomo
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
T&D Holdings
Tokio Marine Holdings
Tokyo Electric Power
Toshiba  


There are several financial industries, communications, transport manufacturers, insurance and asset management corporations on the list.   Consumer electronics is also a sign of Tokyo Japan’s industrial strength.

Tokyo Transportation

Transportation networks are extensive and among the most modern in the world.   High speed bullet trains and supporting rail and ground transportation are key to keeping the populace active in the workforce and the economy.  The commuter stations have a reputation for being highly crowded as they serve rail passengers going to almost any destination in the city and beyond.   

Bullet Train photo credit: photobucket member gaby4v

Air travel to Tokyo Japan, itself is handled primarily by Tokyo International airport which had over 60,000,000 passengers pass through its gates last year.   Transit statistics place the airport as the #5 busiest airport in the world, and #2 in the entire region of Asia, second only to Beijing.  Growth plans for the airport are expected to take its flight capacity to around 60,000 flights per year.

Trade Partners

The trade partners for Tokyo Japan which have been designated as sister cities, reflect well on the cultural, political and economic importance of the region.   
Tokyo Japan’s sister cities


Beijing China
Berlin Germany
Cairo Egypt
Jakarta, Indonesia
Moscow Russia
New South Wales Australia
New York City US
Paris France
Rome Italy
Sao Paulo Brazil 
Seoul South Korea 

Each of these cities is a key world city, whether for cultural, economic or political purposes.   The level of trade that fuels the 1.47 trillion dollar local economy is immense in terms of goods shipped and capital transacted.