Visit to Fukuoka
September started with a business trip to Kyushu. This is an appliance product promotion activity built by Fukuoka Prefecture’s solution partner and Stratus. We filmed an interview-style video explaining how Stratus’ ztC Edge and partner company’s manufacturing instruction application products can contribute to solving customer issues. After the shoot, we had lunch and exchanged information. In the midst of this, there was a consensus that investment trends in the manufacturing industry as a whole were firm. There are still issues in the supply chain of materials including semiconductors, but it seems that there is no doubt that there is an improvement trend. As an aside, the lunch box lunch delivered from a local restaurant was wonderful and delicious, and I was impressed with Kitakyushu.
On the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth
This week, news came in that Queen Elizabeth of England passed away. Her reign for 70 years is truly an amazing period. She is the 4th Queen of the Windsor dynasty, the monarch of the Commonwealth Kingdom and head of the Church of England. In addition to the monarchies (UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), more than 50 countries, including republics, are included in the Commonwealth of Nations, and as their head of state, he was also a symbol of solidarity. Her reign is reminiscent of many geopolitical disputes and issues related to her monarchy. Forty years after I became an adult, the Falklands War, the death of Princess Diana and restoration of honor, the referendum on the transition to a republic in Australia, the settlement with Ireland, the Scottish independence referendum, the withdrawal from the European Union (EU), etc. , there were many events. Politically, the prime minister and the parliament at the time play a leading role, but there is no doubt that members of the royal family have played many roles. On September 9, the new King Charles III ascended the throne and his eldest son William became the Prince of Wales.
Familiarity with Britain
I personally feel closer to the UK than to the US. The background to this is that the hobbies of rugby football and horse racing originated in England and are still popular today. When I was younger, I visited the city several times for work, but the visits during the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 Rugby World Cup are still fresh in my memory. It’s often fun just to stay in London while watching sports. Stroll through Hyde Park, visit the British Museum, see a musical on Regent Street, and more. There are many places in the city that were used as filming locations for the movie 007, and there are actually tours for tourists. Harry Potter fans also seem to have many places to enjoy, starting with Platform 9 3/4. Earlier, I mentioned that William became the Prince of Wales (Monarch of Wales/Crown Prince of England), but the custom of the next king of England becoming the Prince of Wales seems to have been around since the 14th century.
Fukuoka and Wales
In fact, Fukuoka Prefecture and Wales have something in common. Wales once produced abundant underground resources, represented by coal, and supported the industrial revolution in England. In Fukuoka Prefecture, assets related to the Miike Coal Mine and Yawata Steel Works are registered as World Heritage Sites as part of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” Both are regions that supported the industrial revolution of their respective countries. And both are very popular areas for rugby foball. The Wales national team is affectionately known as the “Red Dragons,” and was in the top four at the 2019 World Cup held in Japan. Rugby schools and high school rugby in Fukuoka Prefecture are among the top in Japan, producing many Japanese national team players in the past.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, the Fukuoka Prefecture Venture Business Support Council plays a central role in fostering venture businesses. Committee members from national universities such as Kyushu University and Kyushu Institute of Technology also participate, and it seems that they are promoting the development and support of venture companies that will lead the new era through industry-academia collaboration. We also support overseas expansion. I think it is very romantic that Fukuoka, which supported the industrial revolution in the Meiji era, will grow a new venture company that will fly to the world in the era of Reiwa. On my way home, I hope that Stratus’ technology will be adopted more and more by our current partners in Fukuoka, and that we can contribute to the growth and global expansion of venture companies.