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JAPAN DOING BUSINESS WITH...<br />
ECONOMY IN FOCUS<br />
Japan is one of the most<br />
significant and influential<br />
economies in Asia <strong>–</strong> similar<br />
to the UK in Europe, Japan<br />
punches well above its<br />
weight when you consider<br />
the geographical size of the<br />
country. Since the 1960’s, the<br />
country’s economy has been<br />
on a steady growth curve,<br />
though not without hurdles<br />
such as a stock exchange<br />
crash in the early 90’s. In<br />
recent decades, GDP growth<br />
in Japan has managed to<br />
outstrip Europe and the<br />
United States, which is no<br />
mean feat. The country is<br />
well known for its strong<br />
manufacturing sector, which<br />
has some serious clout in<br />
the automotive industry.<br />
Anything made in Japan<br />
is considered to be of high<br />
quality and many Japanesemade<br />
brands are household<br />
names around the world.<br />
Outside of manufacturing<br />
and Japan has a very<br />
strong fishing industry<br />
<strong>–</strong> consistently ranking in the<br />
top ten for tonnage of fish<br />
caught worldwide.<br />
Elsewhere and Japan’s<br />
finance and service<br />
industries are also very<br />
strong. The Tokyo stock<br />
exchange is the third<br />
largest in the world and<br />
the country was making a<br />
concerted effort to attract<br />
more tourism to its shores in<br />
the years leading up to the<br />
COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
WHO’S WHO<br />
The industry in Japan is pretty different to that in Europe or in the United States. The base vehicles are very<br />
different and, as such, the motorhome and campervan conversions are pretty different too. This makes it<br />
imperative that you take some time to familiarise yourself with the companies that occupy the industry in Japan.<br />
There are many unfamiliar names, but certainly no lack of enthusiasm, expertise or innovation.<br />
JAPAN RV ASSOCIATION<br />
The JRVA is a voluntary organisation set up to help look after the interests of the recreational<br />
vehicle industry in Japan. The organisation has many members across the entire country<br />
and works at a government level to help improve and boost the industry. It produces a<br />
regular magazine and also organises a large number of shows and exhibitions throughout<br />
the year. It also maintains statistics and facts about the camping industry.<br />
www.jrva.com<br />
VANTECH<br />
One of Japan’s forerunners in terms of campervan and motorhome building, Vantech was<br />
established back in 2010 in Tokorozawa City and has gone from strength to strength ever<br />
since. The company creates a wide range of models of motorhome, mostly based on Toyota<br />
vehicles and is an ever-present at the country’s various shows and events.<br />
www.vantech.jp<br />
SEKISOH BODY<br />
This famous company claims to have produced one of the first ever Toyota Hiace truck-based<br />
cab conversion motorhomes in Japan back in 1986. The company itself actually dates back<br />
to 1974 though and is now known as one of the most modern and stylish campervan and<br />
motorhome producers in the country. It actively works together with its customers on the<br />
development, manufacture and technological aspects of each camper.<br />
www.sekisohbody.com<br />
28 | www.campingtradeworld.com
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