Japanese companies leave due to security situation

September 25, 19:00 -- As a result of the terrorist attacks on the US, representatives of at least four Japanese companies have left the country, Japanese businessmen told The Jerusalem Post today.

Members of the local Japanese business community confirmed that executives of Mitsubishi, Itochu, Mitsui, and ITX have left and are conducting local activities from their Japanese offices.

"In my opinion many of the managers left believing Israel will be the next target of Osama bin Laden," said the locally based Japanese manager of Moriroku. The firm, which specializes in chemicals and biotechnology, has an office in Herzliya that continues is operating as usual.

Moriroku's representative said that he had just returned from Japan, where the company's management had requested him to remain in Japan. "I got into a
fight with the president and told him that the companyｹs reputation was at
stake," he said.

"I believe this is just a temporary move, and they will return once the situation is clearer," he noted.

One firm, Sumitomo, confirmed that its Japanese representative is overseas, but refused to say if his absence was due to the terrorist assault on New York and Washington.

According to sources familiar with the Japanese Foreign Ministry, businessmen were recently advised to avoid traveling in the Middle East. "These are similar to US travel advisories, but the Japanese take their government's recommendation in a much serious manner," the source said. In contrast, the Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv is fully operational, with diplomats and their families still here.

But local businessmen point to a large number of Japanese hi-tech representatives coming for short periods. "We are talking about technicians who do maintenance work for some of the large companies in Israel. These companies, which are waiting for machinery to be repaired, are the ones affected by the recent departure of Japanese citizens," the source said.

Japan is Israel's second largest trading partner in Asia, after Hong Kong. Last year, exports to Japan reached $838.7 million. Japanese imports totaled over $1.18 billion.