by Kelly Hawes
Mayor Mike Fincher has what he hopes are realistic expectations for his approaching trip to Japan.
"It takes a while to build relationships," he said. "What we have right now is the start of that."
The mayor has a busy itinerary.
He’ll be having breakfast with the vice minister of foreign affairs, and he’ll be visiting Indiana’s sister state, where he hopes to make some progress in lining up a sister city relationship.
"If we get a sister city out of this, it would be a real plus," he said.
Fincher will be joined on the trip by Larry Ingram, the man who launched the state’s effort to lure Japanese investment more than two decades ago. Ingram now runs his own consulting firm, and he’s working with the Logansport Economic Development Foundation to line up prospects on the trip.
"Larry has been a very good resource," Fincher said. "He’s had a long history in Japan."
The two also plan to meet with the man who currently runs the state’s Tokyo office.
"We hope to make more contacts with different types of individuals," Fincher said. "We’re looking at everything and anything."
Fincher and Ingram have meetings scheduled with two people whose job is to select sites for Japanese manufacturing operations in the United States.
"If you get enough of those people thinking about Logansport, it can do nothing but help," he said.
Still, he says, folks in Logansport need to be realistic.
Fincher recalls that Logansport sent its first representative to Japan in 1984, the same year that Ingram and then-Gov. Robert D. Orr launched the state’s effort to lure Japanese investment to Indiana.
"Columbus sent its first representative that same year," Fincher said.
When the Logansport’s representative returned from that first trip, he recalled, the folks in Logansport asked him how many Japanese businesses he had brought back.
"He said he hadn’t brought any, that this was his first trip," Fincher recalled. "We said, ‘Well, we’re not going to spend that much money if you’re not going to bring back any businesses.’"
Logansport stopped making trips to Japan, but Columbus persisted. Columbus is now home to 18 Japanese companies.
"This has to continue," Fincher said. "No matter who the mayor is, we’re going to have to do this, and it’s not going to be cheap."
Fincher said he did not yet know the final price tag.
"I’ll let you know when I do," he said.
The economic development foundation is picking up the tab for the trip and for Ingram’s consulting fees. The trip will be slightly less expensive, Fincher said, because of frequent flier miles donated by Gordon "Bud" Duerr, president of Logansport Matsumoto.
"He’s done that for both trips we’ve taken," Fincher said. "He’s saving us a lot of money, and we appreciate his generosity."
Mayor’s itinerary
Sunday, Sept. 2
3:45 p.m.: Arrive at Tokyo Narita airport, take bus to hotel.
Monday, Sept. 3
Go to Tokyo station to get Japan rail pass and tickets for each day of trip
11 a.m.: Meeting at Tyson International Service Center Inc.
1:30 p.m.: Meeting at Kajima Corp.
3 p.m.: Meeting at Mitsui & Co. Ltd.
Tuesday, Sept. 4
8:30 a.m.: Breakfast with Vice Minister Mitoji Yabunaka of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11 a.m.: Meeting at Mizuho Bank
Noon-2 p.m.: American Chamber of Commerce in Japan Luncheon.
3 p.m.: Meeting at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
6 p.m.: Dinner meeting with Yasuki Katoh, president of Sundic Inc.
Wednesday, Sept. 5
9:15 a.m.: Depart hotel for trip to Tochigi Prefecture
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Luncheon meeting with representatives of International Affairs Division of the Tochigi Prefectural Government
2 p.m.: Meeting with Gov. Tomikazu Fukuda of Tochigi Prefecture
Thursday, Sept. 6
7:30 a.m.: Depart hotel for trip to Osaka.
Meetings scheduled at Nakatsuji Limited and Mory Industries Inc.
Friday, Sept. 7
7:45 a.m.: Depart hotel for trip to Kanazawa City
Meetings scheduled at Matsumoto Machine Co. Ltd. and visits scheduled at Ishikawa Iron Works and Electric Association and at Ishikawa Industrial Examination Hall.
Saturday, Sept. 8
Return to Tokyo for meeting with Gov. Mitch Daniels and members of a Hoosier delegation arriving for the Midwest U.S.-Japan Association conference
Sunday, Sept. 9
Attend Midwest U.S. Japan Association conference
Monday, Sept. 10
Attend Midwest U.S. Japan Association conference
Tuesday, Sept. 11
Attend Midwest U.S. Japan Association conference, which ends with a buffet luncheon
6 p.m.: Attend "Friends of Indiana" reception. Meet with representatives of Takenaka Corp.
Wednesday, Sept. 12
About 2 p.m.: Leave hotel for airport to catch return flight to Chicago
Kelly Hawes can be reached at (574) 722-5000, ext. 5155, or kelly.hawes@pharostribune.com
