Day 4: Exploring Tokyo

Today is really a "day off" for us and has been set aside for individual meetings that have been arranged by some of our delegates. E. Roy Budd of Energize-ECI and Dan Canan the Mayor of Muncie were about to schedule a number of meetings with Japanese executives that we have met on our mission. Their objective is to further explore possibilities between Japan and Indiana.

One important thing that did take place today was that Governor Mitch Daniels unveiled the "Premium Indiana Forest Products" logo to the Asian market in a news conference at the Gallery Mori no Kotoba, a furniture market in Tokyo. The logo identifies products made from Indiana hardwoods and is a global marketing campaign to promote the use of Hoosier forestry products.

Indiana hardwoods are of very high quality so very attractive to the Japanese. Hardwoods is a key part of the state's economic development strategy.

As I have had some time to spend in Tokyo it continues to show me the marked contrast between this city and some of our large cities in the United States. The city is so clean and orderly. The cars are clean, the streets are clean, and the people are impeccably dressed. Everyone is very fit. I have not noticed anyone overweight or out of shape. There is a tremendous amount of organization from the taxi cab lines to the umbrella stands in the hotels and major buildings. Even the parking attendant in a public garage I walked by was wearing white gloves and a tie. Something you would not likely see in a city in the United States.
When ordering in restaurants here all the waiters carry handheld computers. The order is not written on paper but entered into the computer and then transmitted to the kitchen. And as with everything else the service is amazing.

It has been nice to have a day to learn more about the lives of Japanese citizens to round out the image I am developing of Japanese business.