The Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association (JRMA) approached 107 member companies as part of an index survey that ran until this past June this year. Looking at the corporate management of these affiliated corporations, JRMA has tallied up the answers of 79 respondent companies. While there had been a run of five years with growth in revenue and profit, results from...
Interviews

Isaburo Yamada, Founder of Weather Balloon Manufacturing, Inducted into FAI Hall of Fame
Isaburo Yamada (1863-1913) has been inducted into the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) Hall of Fame during the Ballooning Commission’s annual meeting in March. Yamada was the founder of Weather Balloon Manufacturing, the first company to develop and successfully fly a Japanese-made airship. The commission hailed Yamada’s achievements as a pioneer of Japanese aviation. An induction ceremony was later held...

JGMA Chairman Discusses Glove Trends and Forecasts for Japan
Having last financial year celebrated its 50th anniversary, the Japan Glove Manufacturers Association (JGMA) now sets out to establish its path for the next 50 years. Kiyohiko Moko, president of Sanko Kagaku Co. Ltd. and chairman of JGMA, recently sat down with Japan Rubber Weekly to discuss the association’s current endeavors, as well as its selling situation and forecast in...

Retreaded Tires Need to Overcome Certain Challenges in Japanese Market, Says JRA Chairman
Japan Rubber Weekly recently spoke with Tatsuo Gomi, chairman of the Japan Retreaders Association (JRA). In addition to discussion of the market downturn of retreaded tires faced by Japan in 2015, Gomi delved into the market share of these tires and what the forecast is for them moving forward. At 5.143 million units, brand-new tires for trucks and buses fell...

JRA Chairman on Market Downturn of Retreaded Tires
Ever since the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) stopped gathering up-to-date manufacturing statistics on retreaded tires in 2009, the Japan Retreaders Association (JRA) has taken over the task of collecting this information from around the country. JRA Chairman Tatsuo Gomi sat down for an interview recently with Japan Rubber Weekly, discussing the downturn that the country’s retread market...

Nitta CEO Discusses Policy Areas Behind Mid–Long-term Business Plan
In a recent interview with Japan Rubber Weekly, Nitta Corp. (TYO:5186) President Motonobu Nitta expressed the company’s intent to continue working toward the goals set for the second year of Phase 2 in its mid–long-term business plan, “V2020.” On top of analyzing the company’s sales figures and performance breakdown, he discussed the state of its foreign subsidiaries and explained its...