Nipponica

Locals say that beyond the cattle and tourism, Hokkaido has long lacked other industries. There's even a saying that those who go there do so only to leave.

But if the government succeeds in turning Hokkaido into Japan's answer to Silicon Valley - or "Hokkaido Valley", as some have begun to call it - the country could become a new contender in the $600bn (£458bn) race to supply the world's computer chips.

Expanding industry in Hokkaido is always welcome but they need the technical expertise to do so. Certain people in high office need to start pumping the brakes on the deportation train if they want this to succeed.