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Hokkaido welcomes Chinese investors, tourists amid disputes

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She's smart and she's doing the right thing regardless of the current situation. Hokkaido, and Japan for that matter, can't afford to turn down investment from the Chinese or anyone else.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

marcelito:."...How much real estate do Japanese companies own in other countries again?"

it's true that japan is still the world's top creditor nation (holding huge NET external assets worth trillions of dollars/euros), but i guess it's mostly bonds, stocks and production facilities rather than real estate.

paulinusa: "Japan for that matter, can't afford to turn down investment from the Chinese "

Huh? ??

2 ( +4 / -2 )

marcelito

How much real estate do Japanese companies own in other countries again?

The article is about Chinese investment. Japanese own nothing in China. In China, the state owns everything!

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Mary, my statement speaks for itself.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Be aware that Chinese investors will buy up water rights.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Be aware that Chinese investors will buy up water rights.

Be aware that the local government controls water rights and farmers are the majority. Nice scare-monging, though.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

A great attitude by the governor. Maybe the details might be disagreed and debated upon yet, but generally speaking she really has got her act together. Its great to see an attitude like hers. I dont know anything about her at all, but judging by this article she seems quite progressive and accommodating. Some other more well-known political leaders in Japan might well take a few lessons from her.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

can't afford to turn down investment from the Chinese or anyone else

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444712904578024590739979984.html

Obama Blocks Chinese Firm From Wind-Farm Projects

Japan, like America and all countries has the right to deny and can afford to deny foreign investment.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Nessie

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20120427a1.html

Municipalities scramble to guard water resources

There's reason to be scared.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

oldsannoOct. 21, 2012 - 09:30AM JST

Japan, like America and all countries has the right to deny and can afford to deny foreign investment

Agreed. oldsanno. As long as Chinese are buying high rise buildings, it is okay with us. But when buying up water rights and farmland here in US, it would be a different story.

Nessie

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20120427a1.html

Municipalities scramble to guard water resources

There's reason to be scared.

Water will be a precious commodity in future, and we should be very concerned about it. We are dealing with water supply disputes between state to state here in US, and it is nothing but mess. Japan should be proactive to avoid this dispute while you can. FYI

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hokkaido is known to be more progressive than the rest of Japan.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Hokkaido is known to be more progressive than the rest of Japan.

The governor of Hokkaido says the doors were open for Chinese tourists and investors, despite frictions that have seen Beijing’s warships skirting Tokyo’s waters.

This article and some comments suggest that Chinese tourist/investment aren't welcome in Japan. Japan didn't block tourists. Japan didn't burn and destroy Chinese properties in Japan which would discourage Chinese investment.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Both of China and Korea have much larger land in Russia and Australia as well as New zealand for farming something, so what? it's just a kind of business because of food is in shortage on earth today. Anyhow what they can do? especially in JP there're many US bases here to protect(or whatever?) JP! Honestly even JP local governments can't better control its land than those base generals!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hokkaido was hit especially hard by Japan's two decades of recessions. It needs all the foreign investment and tourists it can get, especially now that Tokyo no longer has the stomach to pour public money and concrete into that prefecture.

The global water shortage scare is a good one. I've been hearing about that canard since I was a kid, and guess, there has never been a global water shortage after all these years. Droughts, yes, but they've been around since the beginning of time. Singapore, an island with hardly any natural water resources, has tons of the stuff, which is cheap, clean and flows endlessly in fountains in public parks.

Hate to break it to the scaremongers, but water not a finite resource. We get plenty of it every time, um, it rains.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Mary MarylanderOct. 21, 2012 - 01:06PM JST yosun, you sound more like a typical republic of chinese (ROC mainlanders) than Taiwanese.

Taiwan is already a small place so we don't like outside people to separate us anymore.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japan has always been open to foreign tourists and investors. . . . . . It was China that soured the relationship with the riots and grandstanding and military manouevres on sea . . . . . .. . However, this will not change the fact that China Gov't has demonstrated incontrovertibly that IT CAN NOT BE TRUSTED ----------------so Chinese can come here - but J businesses are exiting China......CHINA"S LOSS.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Feel so relieved to read news like this..

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Hokkaido native are Ainu whose are poorer than Japanese counter part. Economically they are more dependent on Russia and China. Politics and business are absolutely different. In the business, there is no enemy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I notice they didn't put out any welcome messages to Russia!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Wrong move Takahashi. It will be problematic for your Immigration and Justice Department for hugh land owned by foreigners. What if North Koreans buy those land aside from the Chinese. And what If the owners decided to stay in Japan permanently to take care of their land and homes. What will be their status. Will Japanese Immigration give them permanent residence status? If the natives over there are very poor, as the Governor, why can't you ask the national government of Japan to help develop the areas and built infrastructures . housing, roads etc.. for big investors to come in, instead of selling your forest and agricultural land.

BAD MOVE Takahashi San.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Bravo for a business-minded Takahashi-san!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The global water shortage scare is a good one. I've been hearing about that canard since I was a kid, and guess, there has never been a global water shortage after all these years.

The view above is very misleading. Please read what China has been doing for water shortage. That's the reason Japan (Hokkaido) should be taking more proactive position to protect water rights.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/greggfisher/2011/12/12/water-a-precious-commodity-2/>

Essentially, the Chinese are meeting their water deficit through what is called the VIRTUAL WATER TRADE. they import water in the form of agricultural products from net virtual water exporters such as the U.S., Canada, Australia and Brazil

I would not be too skeptical.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@globalwatcher

That article is an advertorial, written by a salesman with a clear vested interest in scaremongering.

To whit, "From an investment standpoint, we at Gerstein Fisher are actively researching and preparing to boost our clients’ exposure to water-related sectors, both to hedge against potential imbalances that could impact the global economy as well as to capture the return potential of what is perhaps the oldest consumer asset sector in civilization."

Didn't Forbes warn us that the world was running out of oil....in the early 1970s?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What a stupid idea! Since foreigner can not purchase any Chinese property, how come Japan allowed Chinese to give them a right to purchase Japanese real estates? Diplomacy should be founded on mutual relations.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Shun FergusonOCT. 22, 2012 - 08:40AM JST

What a stupid idea!

It is a smart idea. Not only in Hokkaido, Mid-west of US are also chasing Chinese investment for Agriculture. China was very poor back in 1970s. Due to foreign investment and technology transfer, it has become second largest economy.

foreigner can not purchase any Chinese property,

My uncle is foreigner. He owns some properties there.

Diplomacy should be founded on mutual relations. It is not diplomacy. It is an economic co-operation. No nation can be isolated in globalized world. Normally Japan got army of tourists from PRC in October due to their long holidays. Due to the current tension, tourists attraction area are deserved like Ghost town.

It is also true for Japanese outbound tourists avoided China. However mathematically, Japan has more than 100 millions consumers. China has 1.3 billions. Japan needs Chinese market and money more instead of other way around.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@globalwatcher

That article is an advertorial, written by a salesman with a clear vested interest in scaremongering.

To whit, "From an investment standpoint, we at Gerstein Fisher are actively researching and preparing to boost our clients’ exposure to water-related sectors, both to hedge against potential imbalances that could impact the global economy as well as to capture the return potential of what is perhaps the oldest consumer asset sector in civilization."

I love this kind of feedback. Thanks. Hope we will never run out of anything for the next generations to survive. We need to continue doing our share of stewardship in preserving natural resources. .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

globalwatcherOct. 22, 2012 - 10:09AM JST

Hope we will never run out of anything for the next generations to survive. We need to continue doing our share of stewardship in preserving natural resources.

As far as there are more and more industrialization, natural resources will be less and less available. Preserving the natural resources means no fishing, no logging, no tourists sewage or waste and no polluted factories. Nature may looks very good. However human will starve and unemployment will be sky-rocketed.

Economic growth is a double edge sword. It is good for people not for nature.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There's reason to be scared.

Your link shows that there is no reason to be scared:. The locals are passing legislation to avoid any problems. The system is working.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Be aware that Chinese investors will buy up water rights.

If it can be taxed at a premium, why not?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NessieOct. 22, 2012 - 01:13PM JST

There's reason to be scared.

Your link shows that there is no reason to be scared:. The locals are passing legislation to avoid any problems. The system is working.

Good to know. Thanks. The Water Rights here in US is a mess especially this year.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Water Rights here in US is a mess especially this year.

Ever see Chinatown with Jack Nicholson?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NessieOct. 22, 2012 - 05:39PM JST

The Water Rights here in US is a mess especially this year.

Ever see Chinatown with Jack Nicholson?

No I have not. What's about?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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