KOFU-SHI, JAPAN--April 28, 2011--Researched by Industrial Info Resources East Asia (Kofu-shi, Japan)--Hydropower development in Japan is diverse; from small, kilowatt waterwheels in Yamanashi prefecture to major, gigawatt projects in Kanagawa prefecture. However Japan's geography is optimal for the employment of small to medium-scale hydropower plants and currently produces an average of 22 GW at approximately 1,800 sites. All of Japan's major utility companies, along with other firms, and government agencies, both national and local, have a hand in hydropower generation. Hitachi Limited (NYSE:HIT) (Tokyo), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TYO:6503) (Tokyo), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI) (TYO:7011) (Tokyo), all major players in turbine and generator engineering, are also planning to consolidate their respective hydropower businesses in order to aid in domestic development.