Charleston | South Carolina | USA

Japan

Charleston | South Carolina | USA is home, workplace and inspiration to more than 830,000 voices, talents, passions and ideas. Three quarters of a million people who are globally connected through trade, technology and travel - and locally engaged to craft a legacy for the future.

Several different types of Japanese firms operate in the three-county Charleston region, including manufacturing, distribution centers, and chemicals. The region’s growing international community includes the following industry leaders:

Strategic Location

With the most productive and efficient seaport in North America, an integrated rail and highway system, and an international airport, Charleston provides seamless connections to the global marketplace. Our central location, roughly halfway between New York and Miami, offers prime access to the U.S. Southeast. Nonstop flights to Japan depart daily from easily reachable Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport.

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More than one-third of the U.S. population resides within
500 miles (800 km) of the Charleston region.

YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY HERE

14,000+

local residents have Japan ancestry

14,500+

workers in South Carolina are employed by Japan-based firms

$3.5+ billion

Japan is a Top 10 trading partner with SC

Charleston Center for Business Research

learn more

WHY JAPAN FIRMS

CHOOSE CHARLESTON

An international travel destination, Charleston is consistently voted the number one city in the U.S. and number two on the World's Best Cities list by top travel magazines. South Carolina offers a moderate climate year-round. It's geographically diverse, offering an easy drive from the ocean to the mountains in just 3 to 4 hours.

Charleston is renowned for beautiful architecture, award-winning restaurants, arts, culture, and independent shops and boutiques. The Charleston region welcomes thousands of new residents each year–bringing new ideas, diversity and passion to a thriving, international community. Professional soccer, hockey, and baseball teams, college and university teams, and an array of annual races, tennis, and golf tournaments satisfy even the most die-hard sports fans and athletes.

Residents enjoy a lifestyle that strikes the perfect balance between work and play – and a warm climate, culture, food, attractive cost of living, global sensibilities, miles of beaches, diverse housing options, and one of the best medical hubs in the Southeast U.S.A. Visit Living Here to learn more.

Robert Whitten

President & CEO
Showa Denko Carbon, Inc.

"Showa Denko Carbon has been operating in the Charleston region for more than three decades. After searching many parts of the world for a better location, we decided to expand our business by enlarging our existing plant. Charleston’s workforce is outstanding…smart, honest, reliable, hardworking and loyal. The business climate is exceptional from the state to local level. Our Japanese ownership has been very pleased with the aspects of operating a business here."

RESOURCES

Japanese Companies

Company EmployeesProduct
AHT Cooling Systems USA, Inc., a Daikin group member50 to 99North American headquarters; Custom refrigerated and frozen merchandising solutions (distribution, assembly, sales/marketing, repair/refurbishing & more)
Audio-Technica Southeast Distribution Center10 to 19Warehousing & distribution of audio equipment
Shimano North America Fishing Inc.100 to 249Distribution center for sporting goods products
Showa Denko Carbon, Inc.250 to 499Manufacture graphite electrodes for steel-making industry
TBC Corporation East Coast Distribution Center100 to 249Distribution center serving East Coast automotive replacement tire market
Source: Charleston Regional Development Alliance, 2022

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