The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Major Japanese manufacturers, including Toshiba Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd., are moving their headquarters functions away from central Tokyo as remote work reduces the need for large city offices and companies seek closer integration of research, manufacturing, and corporate planning.
Toshiba, which had been based in Tokyo’s Shibaura district for about 40 years, has transferred its executive office and corporate planning department to Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Its public relations team will complete the move by the end of the month. A company official said the relocation aims to break down vertical divisions and strengthen internal cooperation.
Fujitsu has also consolidated its head office and R&D bases in Kawasaki, where it was originally founded. Its main site has been renamed “Technology Park” and will be redeveloped into a hub for testing advanced technologies.
Other firms are making similar moves. Nikon Corp. last year relocated from a large office near Shinagawa Station to a smaller base in Tokyo’s Nishioi district, where it first established operations a century ago. The company has been engaging with the community, hosting microscope workshops for local students.
Meanwhile, Sharp Corp. is planning to bring its headquarters back to Osaka in 2026, a decade after shifting to Sakai City during a management crisis. The move is intended to help recruit top talent and strengthen ties with business partners in the Kansai region.