Indiana's Trade Mission Trip To Japan – Part Three

Ice Miller Director of Agribusiness Strategies Beth Bechdol joined Governor Eric Holcomb as part of a state delegation to Japan. In a series of blog posts, Beth shares her experiences as part of the trade mission trip. To read parts one and two of the blog, click here and here.

The Indiana trade mission delegation traveled Wednesday, Sept. 13 with Governor Holcomb from Tokyo to Nagoya. The 90-minute train trip to Nagoya was on a bullet train that reached speeds of over 170 mph.

Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan with just over 2 million people. While perhaps a bit in the shadow of Tokyo, it is a major manufacturing center and is the birthplace of Toyota, which has a significant presence throughout the city.

Nagoya's rich history is fully on display in the heart of the city where the Nagoya Castle can be found. Built in 1612, it was completely destroyed by U.S. airstrikes in 1945. Nagoya was home to large Japanese munitions and military facilities and was a primary target of the Allied forces. The Castle is a longstanding cultural symbol of the city and was rebuilt in 1959.

Governor Holcomb and delegation members had a busy day of meetings and visited:

Toyota Bashoku, which manufactures parts for...