This year marks the fifth anniversary of the opening of WA Go Online's branch office in Kobe, a major port city located in the Hyogo prefecture of central Japan. Strategically, Japan was the ideal location for WA Go Online to expand into the Asian region, not only because of its proximity to neighbouring Asian nations but also because in order to be successful in the Japanese market, products must be of extremely high quality and this is where WA Go Online prefers to compete. Of course, similar to Germany in Europe, the Japanese market is one of the most difficult to access and this is why WA Go Online is so proud to not only still be here but to have developed a reputation for quality and technological endeavour that has resulted in the formation of strong associations with like minded research and industry partners.

On September 3 and 4 2009 WA Go Online presented their latest pioneering products at the annual International Industrial Fair in Kobe. The fair aims to facilitate the development of international technology infrastructure and the exchange of ideas between technologically driven businesses, universities, enterprises and institutes.

WA Go Online enjoyed enormous success last year in the form of research opportunities and unique business contacts. Unfortunately this year, although there was a large number of exhibitors demonstrating their latest products or services with technological rigour, the number of visitors was lower than previous years. This was attributed to the world economic crisis and the toll it has taken on many businesses.