Apple to open advanced R&D center in Yokohama, Japan

Apple today announced that it will open a research facility in Yokohama, Japan. The announcement follows a campaign speech by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in which he noted that Apple planned to "conduct the most advanced research and development in Japan."

Abe linked Apple's planned investment to the success of his economic revival policy, commonly referred to as Abenomics. By weakening the Japanese yen, the country has become more attractive to foreign investors.

With typical political hyperbole, Abe described the proposed Apple facility as "among the largest in Asia," while Apple's statement noted that "We're excited to expand our operations in Japan with a new technical development center in Yokohama which will create dozens of new jobs."

Apple products are very popular in Japan, with the iPhone grabbing a 48 percent share of the country's smartphone market in October according to numbers from research firm Kantar Group.