Japan is San Diego County’s top source of foreign direct investment, accounting for approximately 12,000 local jobs across nearly 400 firms. Since Japan Airlines began its non-stop, daily service from San Diego Airport to Tokyo’s Narita Airport in 2012, both San Diego and Japan have strengthened economic connectivity, contributing to the prosperity of both regions. Anchored by largescale investments by multinationals like Kyocera and Takeda, San Diego’s ties to Japan have been deepened in recent years by the opening of Biocom and UC San Diego’s offices in Tokyo, Kyoto University’s establishment of a liaison office in San Diego, and new flows of capital, firms, and exports in high tech industries. Advancements in robotics, AI, biotech, and defense on both sides of the Pacific are creating new opportunities for partnerships between San Diego and one of its most important markets.
