After a less-than-successful stint as prime minister for exactly one year in September 2006, Shinzo Abe has surprised many people in his second stab at the job. He has been resolute, decisive and some of the policies he has introduced have been sweeping and long overdue.

The working holiday scheme between Hong Kong and Japan has turned out to be a great success, with the applications received for the first period of this year already exceeding the annual quota of 250.

The state of Japan's property market - particularly that of Tokyo - has long been considered a reliable barometer of the national economy. And, with the real estate sector awash with optimism at the moment, that positivity appears to be catching on elsewhere.

Healthier digestive, cardiovascular and immune systems are among the effects of eating mushrooms as part of a wholesome diet. As a quality mushroom manufacturer in Japan, Hokuto has cultivated its brand to represent the nutrition and tastiness that mushrooms add to Asian and Western cuisines.

Independent software developer Japan System Techniques (JAST) has adopted a two-pronged approach towards achieving sustained growth amid changing market conditions in the information technology (IT) industry.

Obsessed with inventing, improving and pursuing corporate social responsibility, Nitta has grown to become one of the leading manufacturers of premium soft-materials-based products worldwide. With a history spanning 129 years, the company started as a producer of power transmission leather belts. Nitta has since developed to supply a broad product range incorporating frontier technologies.

When EXEDY is not setting global standards for niche vehicle components, it is leading the world in corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Finding the right solutions for industries as diverse as oil and gas, medical and aviation across different markets around the world is all about keeping the customer process in focus. This ability to satisfy varying customer requirements, while adapting to local market needs, has catapulted Nikkiso into the top five global players in its highly specialised fields.

The overall sentiment for Japan's stock market remains positive especially after a strong rebound last year. Receiving a much-needed push from the government's aggressive monetary, fiscal and growth policy, Japanese stocks have regained the interest of domestic and international investors.

Technology has made the world smaller, breaking borders to connect people from one corner of the globe to the other. Leveraging its vast expertise in this area, JASTEC, one of Japan's oldest information technology services companies, looks outside its home market to gain a cosmopolitan perspective that will enable it to revolutionise the local software industry.

JSR Corporation breaks new ground in the life sciences and car industries with materials innovation that has proven indispensable to modern life.

Fire protection equipment and systems act as guards who are first on the scene during community emergencies. Committed to protecting the public and the environment, Nippon Dry-Chemical (NDC) is a comprehensive provider of fire detection devices, fire suppression equipment and fire engines.

Urban developers in Japan face the challenge of revitalising not just the country's ageing infrastructure but its economy, which took a massive hit from the global financial slowdown and the 2011 earthquake. The task may be challenging, but is embraced by Mori Trust, which has helped shape Tokyo for more than six decades.

Investment opportunities abound in Japan and the rest of Asia, but it takes a firm that is committed to quality and value creation for investors to discover them. Daiwa SB Investments is a leading Japanese investment powerhouse whose guidance for domestic and Asian clients makes it a major contributor to the country's economy.

Known as "doctor to the earth", OYO integrates geological, geotechnical and geophysical applications to provide superior value creation. Backed by years of expertise, it has the right fundamentals to pursue its goal of building a sustainable society.

Spawning advancements in manufacturing, Japanese technology has become almost synonymous with "state of the art". Applying this technological proficiency to cutting tools, Kanefusa has achieved extremely sharp blades, and even sharper customer profits.

Bringing technology to the people is the mission of speciality film manufacturer Kimoto. As the latest smartphones, tablets and other gadgets continue to make their debut, Kimoto evolves alongside trends as a technology specialist that sets quality and performance standards for consumer electronics.

Seafood travels from waters across the globe to a household's dining table as fresh as when it was caught, thanks to a streamlined, complex and constantly evolving distribution system. One key is efficiency; another is continuous logistics innovation, according to Yokohama-headquartered global intermodal distribution service provider Sankyo Corporation.

When Masahiro Shima started his glove-knitting machine factory in 1962, all he intended to do was to automate the production of safe, reliable and perfectly designed knitted gloves. Turning the glove bottom-up and connecting the three finger pockets in the middle, he realised the process can also be applied to produce knitted sweaters.

ISEKI, whose name has become synonymous with quality and innovation in agricultural machinery manufacturing, has remained steadfast with the high ideals that the company was founded on. ISEKI is unwavering in its pursuit of efficient and labour-saving advances in agriculture since its formation in 1926, being fully aware that its role is becoming more significant amid the global issues of rapid population growth and rising food demand.

The continuing development of Japan and its capital relies on the contribution of companies that prioritise the public good. Hulic is the fourth-largest Japanese real estate company that specialises in leasing medium-sized office buildings in Tokyo. By focusing on the needs of its tenants, Hulic has become a significant contributor to urban and national economic growth.

The tide is turning for Cikarang, the industrial capital of Bekasi Regency in Indonesia's West Java located about 30 kilometres east of Jakarta. Reflecting the country's robust industrial development fuelled by record-high foreign direct investments and rapid credit growth, the city is bustling with life, commerce and progress - and at the heart of it is Lippo Cikarang.

Indonesia and Lippo Cikarang reflect one another beyond sharing an upbeat outlook. A rich history and an aggressive growth strategy complement a vision to which their citizens and residents aspire: a better quality of life.

DKK-TOA Corporation has been a specialised manufacturer of diversified analytical instruments for laboratories, drinking water and wastewater treatment, environmental conservation and process control in various industries since it was founded in 1945.

Car navigation systems able to receive signals from multiple global navigation satellite systems, capacitive trackpads that distinguish five finger points and reject inputs from large objects such as a palm, wearable diagnostic systems and walk detection radar systems for the elderly that do not invade their privacy.

When Kagome founder Ichitaro Kanie grew Japan's first tomatoes in 1899, he reaped more than a new crop variety; he cultivated a healthy, flavourful and revolutionary food that provides nourishment and sustainable livelihood in Japan.

Achieving the perfect blend of products may be a long-term goal for most manufacturers, but for Japan's top solvent manufacturer Daishin Chemical, it is a daily affair.