Yesterday Patently Apple reported that Apple's CEO was the first customer to use Apple Pay to ride Japan's famous Yamanote Transit Line and that Tim Cook met with Nintendo executives in Kyoto. To round off Cook's business trip this week, he enjoyed a great meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and shared with the nation's leader how important Japan is to the future of Apple. Back in 2014 PM Abe announced that Apple would be building a world class R&D center in Yokohama.

Abe's top spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press briefing held earlier today that Apple's CEO confirmed that Apple would complete its construction of a site in Yokohama, just outside of Tokyo, by December and that it would be used as a development facility.

Cook further stated that there were a number of manufacturers of all sizes here being keenly eyed by Apple as having great potential for working on future devices requiring components made in Japan.

Apple's R&D site was previously used by Japan's Panasonic Corp. and their new development plans are evidence the maker of the ubiquitous iPhone has plans connected to Japan that extend well beyond just end user sales, sources close to the matter said Friday.

Cook's visit to Japan comes on the heels of a visit to Shenzhen in China, where he announced Apple's plans to open a research and development facility there next year. Apple's CEO will leave Japan tomorrow.

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