Abstract
The industrial structure of Fukui prefecture which used to be centered in the textile industry, has been changing drastically through the overall upheaval of the industrial structure of Japan. The textile industry is still in the first place in terms of the number of works but in terms of the annual shipment is the second to the electric machinery field which is now the central core industry of Fukui. Local governments used to try to develop industrial parks on a large scale and to invite companies widely. The aims were to increase employment, tax revenue and to activate the local community. The main purpose of the research is to clarify the satisfaction on both sides.
The survey in terms of interviews has been made in the fiscal year 1999 to the 22 works in the mechanical manufacturing of the Fukui prefecture with its headquarters outside. Questionnaire included style of management and scale of business, motivation of moving and the problems at the moment such as the waste management.
More than half of the surveyed works moved to Fukui at the 1970's and after, which period agreed with the high-growth of the whole Japanese industries. Main reasons of moving are the invitation of the local government and the persuasion through the human-network. The reasons based on the business management theory such as the price of land or business strategy are far less. The style of management is either a manufacturing works or an independent subsidiary corporation, but management headquarters in substance are not in the prefecture. The research and development capacities are not found in these works. The employment is mostly for blue-color workers and workers for design and development are recruited at the substantial headquarters. Some companies in the rural areas complain that they can not recruit white colors. The annual shipment is mostly based on the internal sales cost and is lower than the wholesale by 20-30%. The capital of independent subsidiary corporations is often too small compared to the annual turnover. In both cases, the local tax revenue is reduced to some extent. Formation of subcontractor groups after moving into the Fukui prefecture is not enough, then the companies keep the relation with the subcontractors at the old site. It is quite rare that the new culture originates through interaction of the companies with the local communities.
