Collaboration and expertise lead to maritime success
Industry Reports by Synergy Media Specialists
As an industrial export powerhouse, Japan has a reputation second to none. The country has manufactured every conceivable mode of transport, from green hybrid vehicles, groundbreaking Shinkansen trains, high-performance MotoGP motorcycles and even a significant portion of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
As the first country in Asia to develop its own shipbuilding industry, Japan is continuing to build on its reputation as a pioneer in the international shipping industry.
When the shipbuilding industry in Japan achieved international recognition in the 1970s, South Korea was one of the first nations to identify the industry as a driver for their own economic growth.
It took decades for the country to overtake Japan as the world's largest shipbuilding nation, which it finally accomplished in 2003. China began its own manufacturing of vessels in the 1990s and is expected to overtake South Korea in the next few years and become the largest shipbuilding nation by gross tonnage.
While the quality of new buildings in China has increased significantly, Japan's "quality first" credo and dedication to environmental technologies has enabled it to remain a significant player in the industry, despite increased international competition.
"Craftsmanship plays a very important role within Japanese culture and this is reflected in our shipbuilding industry. Japanese shipyards only hire the most highly trained expert craftsmen to work on their vessels," says Hiroaki Sakashita, deputy director-general of the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.