Local News

On Aug. 8, the Fukuoka Branch of Tokyo Shoko Research released its ranking of companies from the Kyushu-Okinawa region with ¥10 billion in sales for 2012. The total number fell eight to 591 companies, marking the first decline in two years. Cumulative sales of the 591 companies fell 0.09% year-on-year to ¥22.97 trillion—the first decrease in three years. Fukuoka-based megastores Trial and Cosmos made the top 10 for the first time, and Kunisaki City (Oita)-based Oita Canon made the top 10 for the first time in 10 years on the back of brisk sales of smartphones equipped with high-performance cameras. Shipbuilding and other sectors affected by high yen performed poorly in 2012, while wholesalers and service industry companies performed well. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun Aug. 9