The period since the 1960s has seen a spurt of overseas expansion from Japanese companies involved in the rubber industry. This expansion has followed through from moving into Korea and Southeast Asia, centering on Taiwan, in the 1970s to North America in the 1980s and, since 2000, through into China and the ASEAN region. Recently, momentum has been gaining also...
The latest Tokyo Motorcycle Show gathered 121 companies, exhibiting the latest production and custom models, parts and apparel. Japan’s largest motorcycle-related event, this year’s show is aimed at changing motorcycling from a sport for grownups to an activity parents and children can easily approach together. Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) showed off the tire maker’s premium BATTLAX brand concept, emphasizing its theme...
The settlement results for labor force wages and annual bonuses have started to come out from the “spring offensive” negotiations in Japan. The Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation is comprised of 58 member unions. Forty-eight of those put forth wage demands to the companies of the unions’ respective labor forces, from which 20 unions have reached conclusions. Regarding annual bonuses, 45...
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) and synthetic rubber manufacturer JSR Corp. (TYO:4185) have been selected as winners of the 2015 Nadeshiko Meigara award, which recognizes companies that excel in providing women with career opportunities. The prize program is organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In the Nadeshiko Meigara selection process, the review panel...
Despite forecasts indicating slow demand for construction machinery both in Japan and overseas and market conditions that have become more difficult since last year, Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108), which has introduced an in-house company system, is rolling out a plan to include its high-pressure hose business in its in-house global mining and agricultural machinery solutions company. Under this arrangement, the in-house...
The Japanese Rubber Workers Union Confederation (JRWUC) has largely completed its spring labor offensive, and unions have submitted wage demands at most large rubber manufacturers. According to the JRWUC, 45 out of 58 unions have submitted their wage demands, and despite discrepancies between sectors such as tires, automobile parts, and industrial goods, wage increase demands are trending downward from the...
