Economic Focus: Philadelphia and Japan's Expanding Relationship in Education and Healthcare

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (May 12, 2026) - With its excellence in academia and healthcare, Philadelphia, a global center for 'Eds & Meds' (Education & Medicine) in the United States, is gaining international attention for its expanding exchanges with Japan across economic, academic, and cultural spheres.

University of Pennsylvania ©PHLCVB

Philadelphia as a Hub for Education and Healthcare

Philadelphia boasts global appeal as a major hub for 'Eds & Meds,' where academic excellence and innovation converge. World-renowned educational institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, and Drexel University host over 100,000 students, serving as a training ground for highly skilled individuals who support international collaboration.

This foundation positions Philadelphia as a crucial gateway for Japan-US exchange, fostering strong, long-standing ties in economics, academia, and culture. Over 400 Japanese companies operate in Pennsylvania, with many concentrated in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. These companies drive global investment and partnerships across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, life sciences, advanced materials, and logistics. Notable examples include Subaru, Olympus, Ricoh, Eisai, Berlitz Japan, and Kintetsu Express.

Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector

The life sciences and healthcare sector, a core component of the regional economy, is a vital industry supporting over 500,000 jobs. Leading companies and institutions in this field, such as GSK, Penn Medicine, Independence Blue Cross, Spark Therapeutics, and Bayada Nursing, are headquartered in Philadelphia. This sector is also highly international, with approximately one in five healthcare professionals in Philadelphia being foreign-born. Talented individuals from diverse backgrounds contribute their expertise in areas such as medical devices, clinical research, and biotechnology, supporting the region's development.

Japanese multinational corporations also play a significant role in this expanding landscape. Tokio Marine Holdings, through its US subsidiary Philadelphia Insurance Companies, has established a strong presence in the insurance sector. The company is headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, a strategic commercial hub adjacent to the city center.

In the advanced materials and manufacturing sectors, companies like AGC Chemicals Americas (a subsidiary of AGC) maintain important operational bases in the region, embodying the Philadelphia metropolitan area's long-standing strengths in chemistry and high-performance materials.

The region is also deeply connected to Japanese pharmaceutical investment. Notably, Eisai expanded into the Philadelphia suburbs by acquiring MorphoSys, a biotechnology company based in Exton, thereby strengthening its collaboration with the regional life sciences ecosystem and fostering cross-border research and development cooperation.

Philadelphia Skyline ©PHLCVB

Collaboration with Educational Institutions

Beyond the business sector, collaborations with educational institutions further deepen the ties between Japan and Philadelphia. Temple University, which established a campus in Tokyo in 1982, is the oldest and largest US university campus in Japan. It welcomes thousands of students from Japan and abroad through degree programs taught in English, and is known as a successful example of a foreign university campus in Japan. Furthermore, its growth has continued to accelerate since a new satellite campus was opened in Kyoto last year.

Temple University ©Temple University

Saint Joseph's University has a direct exchange program with Sophia University in Tokyo, a fellow Jesuit institution, offering students the opportunity to study in Japan and pursue a wide range of academic disciplines, including liberal arts.

The 'Jefferson Japan Center' at Thomas Jefferson University, established in 2012, serves as a hub for Japan-US collaboration in the medical field. It promotes exchanges among healthcare professionals, joint research, and educational programs in partnership with major Japanese medical institutions.

Cultural and business exchanges also play a crucial role in strengthening Japan-US ties, supported by organizations such as the Greater Philadelphia Japan America Society. For over 30 years, the society has worked to promote mutual understanding through programs in arts, education, business, and public policy, creating opportunities for dialogue and cooperation across sectors and generations.

40th Anniversary of Sister City Partnership

In 2026, Philadelphia will celebrate its 40th anniversary of sister city partnership with Kobe.