According to financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 2014, 37 of 59 major companies in Kyushu (excluding banks) recorded increased sales and/or increased profits . This is more than double the number of companies reporting upticks last March, and 17 of the 37 firms recorded record high ordinary gains. The driving forces behind this positive upturn include the weak yen and increased public works under the Abenomics reforms as well as last minute shopping sprees before the sales tax increase in April. In the manufacturing sector, both TOTO and Yaskawa Denki recorded increased profits as the former company’s toilets are selling well overseas and the latter is taking advantage of the weak yen to boost sales in China. In the non-manufacturing sector, 23 of 39 companies, including Ochi Holdings and Sanix, recorded profit increases. Nishinippon Shimbun 5/17
