Purpose

The purpose of the Economic Census for Business Activity is to clarify the business activities of establishments and enterprises in Japan on both a national and regional level, by comprehensively capturing accounting items such as sales (revenue) and expenses across all industrial sectors at the same point in time.

Scope

• All establishments and enterprises are subject to the census. This includes factories, cafes, and private offices.
• In addition to basic items such as name, location, and management organization, the census surveys the business activities of enterprises, including a description of business, sales/expenses, and capital investment.
• The census results serve as reference materials for policymaking and business planning, and are utilized to improve the lives of all citizens.

What is an establishment?

In this census, an “establishment” refers to an entity that:

Operates under a single management agency (excluding group companies),
Occupies a fixed location (a specific plot of land),
Has workers and facilities, and
Continuously engages in business activities such as the production and sale of goods or the provision of services.

Examples of establishments include stores, inns, factories, warehouses, banks, schools, shrines/temples, hospitals, and cram schools that occupy a fixed location (a specific plot of land), have workers and facilities, and are engaged in business activities continuously. However, entities occupying the same location are treated as separate establishments if they have different management.

Head offices and branch offices

Single-unit establishment

• A single-unit establishment refers to a single enterprise or organization that consists of only one establishment and does not have a headquarters or branch shop, etc. under the same management agency in other locations.

Head office / headquarters / main branch

• A head office / headquarters / main branch refers to an establishment that has branch shops, etc. under the same management in other locations and supervises the entire management agency.
• There is only one head office / headquarters / main branch per enterprise. If headquarters functions are divided between two or more locations, the establishment where the representative is located is designated as the head office / headquarters / main branch, and the others are treated as branch offices / branch shops / branch houses.

Branch office / branch shop / branch house

• A branch office / branch shop / branch house refers to an establishment that is supervised by a head office / headquarters / main branch, etc.
• Even if an establishment’s name contains “Headquarters,” it is classified as a branch office / branch shop / branch house if it is under the supervision of another establishment.

Chain stores and similar establishments

• 

  Examples of establishments not under the same management agency (not considered a head office / branch office relationship)

  • Headquarters of a franchise or chain business and its member stores (separately managed)
  • Establishments of group companies, such as a parent company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, etc.
• 

  Examples of establishments under the same management agency (considered a head office / branch office relationship)

  • Headquarters of a franchise or chain business and its directly managed stores
  • All stores managed by a business owner (enterprise) who manages franchise or chain member stores

Differences from the Economic Census for Business Frame

The Economic Census for Business Frame conducted in 2024 is a survey aimed at capturing basic attribute information, such as the names and locations of establishments and enterprises, descriptions of main business activities, and the number of workers. On the other hand, the Economic Census for Business Activity focuses on capturing the actual state of enterprise business activities, including sales (revenue) amounts, expenses, and capital investment amounts.

Insights from survey results

In this way, by aggregating data by industrial classification and region, it is possible to grasp the status of business activities and elucidate fluctuations and trends in Japan’s overall economic activities.

Examples of utilization

Data obtained from the Economic Census for Business Activity is widely utilized as fundamental information supporting social and economic development. It informs the drafting of administrative policies by national and local governments and the formulation of business plans by private-sector companies.

• Urban development

  

  • Understanding regional industrial structures and analyzing employment status
  • Visualizing the distribution of establishments and applying that to urban development measures
  • Urban planning and transportation infrastructure development
  • Measures for regional economic revitalization
  • Incentive strategies for attracting enterprises

• Disaster prevention

  

  • Formulation of regional disaster prevention plans
  • Provision of support by identifying the distribution of logistics facilities
  • Estimation of economic damage in earthquake impact assessments
  • Improving the accuracy of disaster risk assessments

• Support for
  child-rearing

  

  • Mapping the distribution of childcare facilities and related services
  • Planning for the construction of new daycare centers
  • Measures to address the issue of children on childcare waiting lists
  • Support for balancing child-rearing and work

• Transport and infrastructure

  

  • Developing road infrastructure and designing public transport routes
  • Improving freight transport efficiency based on logistics industry distribution data
  • Formulation of regional transport plans, such as subway demand and the benefits of parking infrastructure improvement

• Business strategies

  

  • Understanding the distribution of establishments and workers by industry
  • Evaluation of strategies for new store openings
  • Analyzing regional employment status
  • Identifying changes in industrial structures
  • Exploring methods for utilizing regional resources

• Employment and labor policy

  

  • Understanding the number of workers and establishments by industry and region
  • Analysis of industrial clusters
  • Examination of vocational training and re-employment support
  • Formulation of strategies for attracting enterprises and regional revitalization

• Tourism

  

  • Mapping the distribution of accommodation and food services
  • Planning the development of transport access networks
  • Evaluating the economic ripple effects of tourism on the regional economy
  • Exploring regional revitalization through collaboration with other industries

• Education

  

  • Analysis of regional industrial structure
  • Examination of employment and career support
  • Reference material for supplementary social studies readers (textbooks) in elementary and junior high schools