Transformation of Japanese trading houses’ foreign economic activities

Abstract

The article defines the role of Japan’s trading houses (universal trading firms - “sogoshosha”) in the facilitation and development of its foreign trade and economic relations, in particular the largest of them - Itochu, Sumitomo, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Marubeni. The widely diversified nature of their activities, including international intermediary trade operations as well as between third countries, participation in the financing of large international projects, the provision of appropriate consulting and information services, is noted. New promising areas of growth in foreign economic relations of Japanese trading houses are emerging: digital technologies, bio- and nanotechnologies, environmental technologies, and funding for health research.