AT WORK FOR THE JAPANESE
From the modest, 15-person wholesale offices of Yanmar Diesel Engine in Anaheim, to the sleek, national manufacturing headquarters of Ricoh Electronics Inc. in Tustin, the presence of Japanese companies in Orange County is a substantial one.
According to a 1987 survey conducted by the Japan Business Assn. of Southern California*, 87,483 people in California worked for Japanese companies or their subsidiaries, making the Japanese bigger employers than the top five corporations in California.
Three-fourths of these jobs were located in Southern California, according to the JBA survey, with the preponderance in the transportation equipment (autos, motorcycles, etc.), electronics/electric and banking industries.
The following list, though not complete, shows the Japanese presence: more than 11,000 jobs and a cumulative annual payroll of nearly $200 million:
ANAHEIM Company: Amano America Manufacturing Type of Business: Manufacturing **Number of Employees: 100 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Emerald of Anaheim Type of Business: Hotel management **Number of Employees: 400 **Annual Payroll: $4,738,000 Company: American Fuji Seal Type of Business: Manufacturing **Number of Employees: 80 **Annual Payroll: 1,400,000 Company: Hitachi Consumer Products Type of Business: Consumer electronics **Number of Employees: 275 **Annual Payroll: 5,500,000 Company: U.S. Pizazz Inc. Type of Business: Gift packaging wholesaler **Number of Employees: 7 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Yanmar Diesel Engine Type of Business: Wholesaler **Number of Employees: 15 **Annual Payroll: 573,000 BREA Company: Hamada of America Inc. Type of Business: Machinery **Number of Employees: 30 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: American Suzuki Motor Corp. Type of Business: Auto industry **Number of Employees: 530 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: United Chemi-Con Inc. Type of Business: Chemicals **Number of Employees: 29 **Annual Payroll: 836,409 BUENA PARK Company: U.S. Amada Ltd. Type of Business: Machinery **Number of Employees: Refused **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Noritsu America Corp. Type of Business: Photo finishing **Number of Employees: 110 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: U.S. Sanshin-Uni Ltd. Type of Business: Service **Number of Employees: 4 **Annual Payroll: 150,000 Company: Yamaha Corp. of America Type of Business: Musical instruments, sporting goods marketing **Number of Employees: 450 **Annual Payroll: Refused COSTA MESA Company: Canon USA Inc. Type of Business: Imaging/business machines **Number of Employees: 200 **Annual Payroll: 5,000,000 Company: CISD International Inc. Type of Business: Computer software **Number of Employees: 43 **Annual Payroll: 180,000 Company: Kyowa America Corp. Type of Business: Plastics manufacturer **Number of Employees: 300 **Annual Payroll: 1,200,000 Company: Kyowa Hakko USA Inc. Type of Business: Pharmaceutical importer **Number of Employees: 2 **Annual Payroll: 150,000 Company: Mita Corp. Type of Business: Manufacturer **Number of Employees: 2 **Annual Payroll: 80,000 Company: Nikkiso-JCC Inc. Type of Business: Import consultants **Number of Employees: 2 **Annual Payroll: 70,000 CYPRESS Company: Elna America, Inc. Type of Business: Electronics **Number of Employees: 11 **Annual Payroll: 350,000 Company: Panasonic Co. Western Group Regional Office Type of Business: Consumer electronic sales **Number of Employees: 332 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mitsubishi Electric Sales Consumer/industrial Type of Business: electronics **Number of Employees: 957 **Annual Payroll: 34,000,000 Company: Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America Type of Business: Auto distributor **Number of Employees: 360 **Annual Payroll: 16,000,000 Company: Sony Corp. of America Type of Business: sales Electronic products **Number of Employees: 250 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Yamaha Motor Corp. Type of Business: Motorized products sales and distribution **Number of Employees: 615 **Annual Payroll: Refused FOUNTAIN VALLEYCompany: Duplo USA Corp. Type of Business: Machine distributor **Number of Employees: 8 **Annual Payroll: 220,000 Company: Kaga USA Inc. Type of Business: Manufacturing **Number of Employees: 21 **Annual Payroll: 360,000 FULLERTONCompany: Nissei America Inc. Type of Business: Plastic injection molding machine distributor **Number of Employees: 18 **Annual Payroll: 700,000 Company: Yokohama Tire Corp. Type of Business: Tire distribution and sales **Number of Employees: 120 **Annual Payroll: 3,500,000 GARDEN GROVECompany: Alps Electric (USA) Inc. Type of Business: Electronics manufacturer **Number of Employees: 600 **Annual Payroll: 18,000,000 Company: Daiwa Corp. Type of Business: Fishing equipment manufacturer **Number of Employees: 155 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: FABMET Corp. Type of Business: Industrial products importer **Number of Employees: 20 **Annual Payroll: 100,000 Company: Hitachi Power Tools USA Ltd. Type of Business: Power tool wholesaler/distributor **Number of Employees: 13 **Annual Payroll: 300,000 Company: International Holiday Tour & Travel Type of Business: Travel industry **Number of Employees: Refused **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Subaru Research & Design Inc. Type of Business: Auto research & design **Number of Employees: 13 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Yaskawa Electric America Type of Business: Electronics **Number of Employees: 26 **Annual Payroll: 1,250,000 HUNTINGTON BEACH Company: Fanuc USA Corp. Type of Business: Computer numerical controls servicing **Number of Employees: 90 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Hochiki America Corp. Type of Business: Manufacturing/distributor **Number of Employees: 50 **Annual Payroll: 744,000 Company: American Sun-Auto Inc. Type of Business: Auto parts manufacturer and distributor **Number of Employees: 3 **Annual Payroll: 72,000 Company: Toshiba Machine Co. America Type of Business: Machinery **Number of Employees: 8 **Annual Payroll: 420,000 IRVINE Company: Brother International Corp. Type of Business: Office/consumer products sales and distribution **Number of Employees: 141 **Annual Payroll: $3,800,000 Company: Calsonic Climate Control Inc. Type of Business: Auto air conditioning manufacturer **Number of Employees: 242 **Annual Payroll: 7,000,000 Company: Calsonic International Inc. Type of Business: Holding company **Number of Employees: 62 **Annual Payroll: 3,600,000 Company: DS America Inc. Type of Business: Precision industry **Number of Employees: 20 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Hino Diesel Trucks Inc. Type of Business: Truck distributor **Number of Employees: 9 **Annual Payroll: 400,000 Company: Horiba Instruments Inc. Type of Business: Emissions equipment **Number of Employees: 80 **Annual Payroll: 2,500,000 Company: C. Itoh Electronics Type of Business: Computer distributor **Number of Employees: 200 **Annual Payroll: 10,000,000 Company: Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA Type of Business: Motorcycle manufacturer national **Number of Employees: 300 **Annual Payroll: 11,000,000 Company: Kuron USA Inc. Type of Business: Electronics **Number of Employees: 14 **Annual Payroll: l85,000 Company: Maruchan Inc. Type of Business: Food manufacturer **Number of Employees: 300 **Annual Payroll: 5,000,000 Company: Mazda Motor of America Inc. Type of Business: Auto importers **Number of Employees: 325 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mazda North America Inc. Type of Business: Accessories development/sales **Number of Employees: 42 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mazda Research & Development Inc. Type of Business: Product research and development **Number of Employees: 60 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mazda Distributors-Pacific Region Type of Business: Accessories development/coordination **Number of Employees: 120 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mitsubishi Acceptance Type of Business: Finance company **Number of Employees: Refused **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: NGT Controls Inc. Type of Business: Electric parts assembly **Number of Employees: 10 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Nihon Kohden America Inc. Type of Business: Medical equipment distributor **Number of Employees: Refused **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Pascot Inc. Type of Business: Computer sales **Number of Employees: 6 **Annual Payroll: 200,000 Company: Pyramid Optical Corp. Type of Business: Optics manufacturer **Number of Employees: 70 **Annual Payroll: 1,200,000 Company: Sato Kogyo America Corp. Type of Business: Real estate development **Number of Employees: 3 **Annual Payroll: 140,000 Company: TDK Magnetic Tape Corp. Type of Business: Cassette manufacturer **Number of Employees: 500 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Toshiba America Inc. Type of Business: Electronics components **Number of Employees: 235 **Annual Payroll: 12,000,000 Company: Western Graphtec Inc. Type of Business: Electronic recording instruments manufacturer and distributor **Number of Employees: 65 **Annual Payroll: 2,000,000 LAGUNA HILLS Company: Sumitomo Realty & Development Calif. Inc. Type of Business: Real estate development **Number of Employees: 8 **Annual Payroll: Refused LAGUNA NIGUEL Company: Eiki International Inc. Type of Business: Audio visual equipment **Number of Employees: 25 **Annual Payroll: 750,000 LA PALMA Company: Komatsu Forklift Manufacturing Co. of USA Type of Business: Machinery **Number of Employees: Refused **Annual Payroll: Refused LOS ALAMITOS Company: Daihatsu America Inc. Type of Business: Automobile industry **Number of Employees: 100 **Annual Payroll: 3,885,000 Company: Toa Medical Electronics Type of Business: Blood analyzer manufacturer **Number of Employees: 19 **Annual Payroll: 800,000 NEWPORT BEACH Company: Calty Design Research Inc. Type of Business: Auto industry **Number of Employees: 34 **Annual Payroll: ***1-2 million Company: Mitsui Kensetsu (Calif.) Inc. Type of Business: Real estate investment/development **Number of Employees: 2 **Annual Payroll: 60,000 ORANGE Company: Shikoku International Corp. Type of Business: Chemicals **Number of Employees: 3 **Annual Payroll: 120,000 PLACENTIA Company: SMK Electronics Corp. Type of Business: Electronics **Number of Employees: 75 **Annual Payroll: Refused SANTA ANA Company: Asics Tiger Corp. Type of Business: Sporting apparel distributor and U.S. HQ **Number of Employees: 70 **Annual Payroll: 3,049,000 Company: DS Engineering Type of Business: Precision industry **Number of Employees: 26 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Kayaba Industry Co. Type of Business: Machinery **Number of Employees: 2 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mita Copystar America Inc. Type of Business: Copier sales/distributor **Number of Employees: 25 **Annual Payroll: Refused Company: Mitsubishi Consumer Electronics America Inc. Type of Business: Consumer electronics **Number of Employees: 469 **Annual Payroll: 12,300,000 Company: Shoshin USA Inc. Type of Business: Electronics **Number of Employees: 11 **Annual Payroll: 300,000 TUSTIN Company: Murata Erie N.A. Inc. Type of Business: Electronic components **Number of Employees: 4 **Annual Payroll: 125,000 Company: Ricoh Electronics Inc. Type of Business: Office products manufacturer **Number of Employees: 1,350 **Annual Payroll: 24,500,000 *Japan Business Assn. is a nonprofit organization promoting U.S.-Japan trade. All of the companies listed are Japan-based firms with offices in Orange County. ** Generally, companies provided approximate employee and payroll figures. *** Company would not provide a more specific payroll figure. Refused: Company refused to provide the information. Source: Japan Business Assn. of Southern California and individual companies
