Shizuoka Bank Leads Regional Revival in Japan

Shizuoka Bank is strengthening regional economies while expanding abroad, blending local trust with global ambition to support innovation, sustainability, and growth across Japan and Asia.

- Daniel de Bomford, Arthur Menkes and Bernard Thompson

Shizuoka Prefecture, which spreads out at the foot of Mt. Fuji—a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site—is blessed with a rich natural environment facing the Pacific Ocean and a mild climate, located almost in the center of Japan. Since ancient times, it has prospered as a key hub for east-west transportation, giving rise to diverse industries and technologies.

The spirit of craftsmanship, handed down through generations, is deeply rooted in the region. Even today, many local companies that support Japan—such as those in the precision machinery, automobile parts, and medical device industries—continue to grow. In addition, traditional industries like tea and wasabi have evolved into forms of sustainable agriculture and tourism, sharing a lifestyle that coexists with nature with the world.

This “coexistence of nature and industry” is Shizuoka’s strength. Supported by its rich natural environment, the spirit of challenge symbolized by the “Yaramaika spirit” continues to underpin and develop the corporate culture of the region.

However, like almost all of Japan’s regions, Shizuoka is facing the challenges of population decline and market contraction due to the aging population and the migration of young people to the Tokyo metropolitan area and other major cities.

Without an intervention, the diverse markets in Shizuoka face an existential threat. While the government is working on solutions, private-sector organizations are stepping up to safeguard the region’s future.

Rooted in Shizuoka, Reaching the World