Prefecture flag

Main City: Otsu

Population: 1,413,000 people, ranking 26/47 prefecture (2015) [1]

Area:  4,017 km² [2]

Geographical / Landscape description

This is a landlocked prefecture. Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, is located in the central part and acts as a water supply for the Kansai region. Plains stretch to the eastern coast of Lake Biwa while mountains occupy the west, northeast and southeast areas. [2]

Climate

Shiga's climate sharply varies between north and south. Southern Shiga is usually warm, but northern Shiga is typically cold with high snowfall and is home to many skiing grounds. [2]

Recent history, culture

Shiga was formerly known as the Ohmi region. Ohmi merchants became very famous throughout Japan as they were hard workers who created commercial codes of conduct and business ethics that inspired the founders of today’s largest Japanese companies such as Panasonic, Honda and Sony.

Some of their precepts were:

• Sampo-yoshi: satisfaction among the three parties concerned in business. “Benefit to company, customer and society”
• Calculation and aptitude for business: be wise, do not speculate and avoid unfair competition, do not use political influence in business
• Be honest and hardworking
• Trade at low-margin, high turnover: look for the long term and not short term trades
• Contribute to society: use the money from trade to support the development of society  [3]

More chapters:

• Economic overview
• Infrastructure
• Living environment
• Major types of economic activities
• Opportunities for EU Investors / Exporters / Importers
• Setting up a business in the prefecture
• Other contacts