What is the richest prefecture in Japan?
Jun 2nd, 2009 by Ad Blankestijn
Recently I bought a “map book” of Japan that also includes all sorts of interesting statistics and other data. One of them compares the GDP of Japanese prefectures (note we are not talking about tax income or prefectural budgets here, but about total wealth generated!).
It goes without saying that Tokyo (officially called to or metropolitan area rather than ken, prefecture) is the richest with a GDP of 92 cho 2694 oku yen (figures for 2005). I always find these figures mind boggling. Cho is a 1 with 12 zeros, so here we have 92,269,400,000,000 yen (if I am not mistaken!). This is the equivalent of US$ 968,224,731,085 or 685,436,924,578 euro.
Number two is Osaka with a GDP of 38,529,400,000,000 yen or US$ 404,258,194,535. Third is Aichi with 35,819,900,000,000 yen or US$ 375,826,084,663.
Kanagawa and Saitama have lots of industry, too, so these rank 4 and 5.
The GDP of Tokyo is smaller than that of Canada or Spain, but larger than that of South Korea, Australia or The Netherlands. It is however smaller than the GDP of New York. Hyogo, where I live, comes in at No. 8 with 18, 857,200,000,000 yen or US$ 197,825,984,286 – still larger than the GDP of such countries as the Czech Republic, Hungary or New Zeeland.
The poorest prefectures – all in the 2-cho yen area – are in descending order Saga, Tokushima, Shimane, Kochi and Tottori. Tottori has a GDP of 2,570,000,000,000 yen or US $ 26,970,540,432. This is still more than the budget of Iceland (but only half that of Luxembourg).
The GDP per head is also highest in Tokyo (4,778,000 yen or US$ 49,459), but Osaka now drops away for this is followed by Aichi and Shizuoka. The lowest GDP per head is in Okinawa (less than half that of Tokyo).
“The GDP per head is also highest in Tokyo (47,780,000 yen or US $501,592)”
Are you sure about this? The GDP per head of a typical rich world country is $40,000. Of course big cities generate a lot more wealth than other parts of the country but ten times more?
Although California is struggling now, it has the 7th or 8th largest GDP in the world. Larger then Italy and Canada.
David,
You are right and I have adjusted the figures! (it says 477.8 man but I overlooked the dot). Thanks for your correction!
Tornadoes28,
Indeed, California would come in at 7 worldwide as regards size of GDP, between Italy and Canada – its GDP is double that of Tokyo.
dear sir/maam
I will like to state that i’m planning to work on ‘comparing one of the poorest and richest prefecture in japan” and find out what is their main reason how they were poor and how they were rich. its it cause of politics, social, geographical etc. therefore please i would like to request you if you can send me a material through my mail so that i can work out some sort of problems for these region. i couldn’t find any material over here.
i will be very grateful to you
thanking you
yours
B.Khaimang Ngaihte
This is a great post and makes me think of where I can fit in. I do a little bit of everything mentioned here and I guess I have to find my competitive advantage.