Takafumi Kurosawa | Kyoto University (original) (raw)
Papers by Takafumi Kurosawa
Business History Review, 2013
Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is ... more Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is common not only in the Western nations but also among many developing countries, as Marshall might have anticipated. Similarly, in the development process of modern Japan, many industrial districts developed in various industries. Interestingly, they were much more organized and institutionalized than Marshall described. This article demonstrates that local trade associations had an important role in enhancing Marshallian externalities by facilitating joint actions for the supply of public goods, such as the creation of "local district brands" and provision of technological and market information. In this article, we consider the case of Kiryu, which was one of the oldest and best-known silk weaving districts in modern Japan.
Proceedings - Academy of Management, Aug 1, 2020
Springer eBooks, 2012
In this chapter we focus on the development of the “modern” Japanese paper industry, which was in... more In this chapter we focus on the development of the “modern” Japanese paper industry, which was introduced from the West to produce yoshi (Western machine-made paper) in the 1870s. Japan’s traditional papermaking (or washi) culture, introduced from the East, has a long history. In the beginning, the central government’s demand for paper supported the development of the modern paper industry, as it needed yoshi for the announcement and documentation of its modernization policy. Subsequently, the private sector promoted industrial development over the following 130 years, except during the wartime economy. The modern paper industry in Japan has always been characterized by rapid growth, low import dependency, and cartelization. The “Big Three” dominated the market after their merger in the 1930s, but the GHQ’s democratization policy welcomed new industry entrants after the Second World War. Various innovations, including the vertical integration of pulp and papermaking processes and the establishment of coastal manufacturing bases to utilize imported material, were the sources of growth after the Second World War. Japan became the second largest papermaking country in the world for almost three decades beginning in the 1970s, but globalization, the emergence of new developing countries, and the tide of M&A has transformed this industry.
Social Science Research Network, 2017
The historiography of business history is often recounted in linear terms, as evolving from a Cha... more The historiography of business history is often recounted in linear terms, as evolving from a Chandlerian era focused on big business to a post-Chandlerian period marked by the study of a wide variety of organizational forms and topics. Taking a longer and more global perspective, we offer a revisionist historiographical account that emphasizes the multiple paths through which business history has developed around the world. Tracing the development of business history to its antecedents in the nineteenth-century historical schools of economics, we find a high degree of diversity in when and how business history developed depending on the institutional context in which it did and its relationship to other disciplines. Over time and place, we find that business history has long been characterized by a diversity of topics, varying stances on theory and methods, and shifting inter-disciplinary relationships. These rich and diverse traditions, we argue, are an important intellectual resource in building a vibrant future for business history.
2 / 49 demand was established already in its infant period and still retains today marks a featur... more 2 / 49 demand was established already in its infant period and still retains today marks a feature of the paper industry of Japan. How was this fast-paced catch-up process, or formation of a new market through technology transfer to be exact, realized? Governmental protection is not a relevant answer; Japan lacked tariff autonomy between the mid 1880 to the eve of WWI, when its paper industry was at an infant stage, and private companies, with a direct governmental involvement limited to its very initial period, basically led its development. The rapid development of the modern paper industry should therefore be explained by other factors. Graph 1. Import and Export of Paper (all kind), and Production of Yoshi (Western paper) in Japan (1872-1936) The development of the Japanese paper industry in the 20 th century is also interesting in terms of both international comparison and comparison with other domestic industries. After WWI, the paper industry was the first sector to form an oligopoly, which lasted until its dissolution following Japan"s defeat in WWII The industry shrunk significantly during WWII, and made a restart with its production capacity halved due to Japan"s lost territories. The postwar period saw fast growth. The domestic manufacturers retained their competitive edge over the imports in the domestic market, but they never enjoyed a strong competitive advantage in the global market, unlike many other Japanese industries flourishing after the war, such as shipbuilding, steel, electric and electronics, and automobile.
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Jan 24, 2010
4 / 48 1. Historical background and general conditions 1.1 Japanese paper and western paper: Japa... more 4 / 48 1. Historical background and general conditions 1.1 Japanese paper and western paper: Japan's indigenous paper culture and the modern paper industry The modern machine papermaking of the paper product types introduced from the Western countries started out in the mid 1870s. However, considering washi, the traditional Japanese paper (whose characteristic shall be described below), papermaking dates far back in 7 th century. The handmade paper industry introduced from China through the Korean peninsula made a significant development long before modernization. Papermaking until the Medieval Age was closely connected to religion also in Japan, where major part of the paper demand was for the Buddhist scriptures, transcription of sutras, and political records. The sutras were printed in book form around the 12 th century onwards. Meanwhile, literature emerged around the end of 12 th century, and the use of paper encompassed sliding-screen paper, tissue paper and kaishi (pocketable folded paper for versatile use), and it further spread into the daily life as fixture and livingware in the 14 th century. 5 The Japanese economy showed a proto-industrial development and sustainable economic growth in the early modern period (from the end of 16 th century to the 1860s) where demand for paper went sky-high due to flourishing trade and manufacture, and increases in income and population. Under the shogunate system, many provinces promoted production of washi as a monopoly good. The result was a dramatic increase in amount and variety of paper and the popularization of the demand for paper. Paper was used not only for writing, books and wrapping, but also for fixtures like screen door and sliding door, and various other products such as umbrellas, paper lanterns, and raincoats. The use of paper in Japan was far wider than that in European countries, and due to this versatility, the Japanese paper industry had a relatively large market even before modernization and westernization. These paper products formerly made by hand before the early modern period are collectively called washi (Japanese paper). On the other hand, the machine-made paper products imported from the West and was soon manufactured in Japan are called yoshi (Western paper). The history of modern paper industry is equivalent to the process of introduction and development of yoshi papermaking, but its development cannot be explained without its relations with washi. Whereas in the West the difference between the product characteristics of handmade paper and machine-made one are relatively small and their modernization was centered on process innovation, the Japanese traditional washi and modern imported yoshi had 5 Miyamoto[1973], p.58
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Aug 1, 2011
Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is ... more Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is common not only in the Western nations but also among many developing countries, as Marshall might have anticipated. Similarly, in the development process of modern Japan, many industrial districts developed in various industries. Interestingly, they were much more organized and institutionalized than Marshall described. This article demonstrates that local trade associations had an important role in enhancing Marshallian externalities by facilitating joint actions for the supply of public goods, such as the creation of "local district brands" and provision of technological and market information. In this article, we consider the case of Kiryu, which was one of the oldest and best-known silk weaving districts in modern Japan.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Dec 10, 2021
The Routledge Companion to the Makers of Global Business, 2019
Routledge eBooks, 2018
Changes in the dynamics of economic activities since the last decades of the 20th century have yi... more Changes in the dynamics of economic activities since the last decades of the 20th century have yielded major changes in the composition of industries and the division of labor and production across different regions of the world. Despite these shifts in the global economy, some industries have remained competitive even without relocating their operations overseas. Industries and Global Competition examines how and why the specificities of certain industries and firms determined their choice of location and competitiveness. This volume identifies the major drivers of this process and explains why some firms and industries moved to other parts of world while others did not. Relocation was not the sole determinant of the success or failure of firms and industries. Indeed some were able to reinvent themselves at their original location and build new competitive advantages. The path that each industry or firm took varied. This book argues that the specific characteristics of each industry defined the conditions of competitiveness and provide a wide range of cases as illustrations. Aimed at scholars, researchers and acadmeics in the fields of business history, international business and related disciplines Industries and Global Competition exmaines the unique questions; How and why did the specificities of certain industries and firms determine their choice of location and competitiveness?
Taylor & Francis eBooks, 2017
Taylor & Francis eBooks, 2018
The history of cartel registration in Japan deserves special attention for several reasons. First... more The history of cartel registration in Japan deserves special attention for several reasons. First, the country had the world's most institutionalised and encompassing cartel registration system during the second half of the twentieth century. A systematic international comparison conducted by Corwin Edwards, a renowned trust-buster in US and founder of Japan's postwar antimonopoly law, showed that the scope of reporting requirements was the widest in Japan among the 11 nations compared (Wells 2002; Edwards 1967: 48). Second, Japan's system clearly exhibits the dual nature of the cartel register; namely, authorisation of cartels on the one hand, and containment of them on the other. The balance between these two factors changed over time, reflecting the industrial structure, the role of state intervention, and the international environment. Additionally, Japan is representative of how the practice of cartel registration flourished in the spheres between the general prohibition of cartel and economic liberalism, where laissez-faire meant the liberty of contract and relative freedom for cartels. Third, Japan's cartel registration system exhibits the uniqueness as well as the universality of the nation's experience. Its uniqueness lies in the dramatic volte-face in the competition policy following American occupation and policy transfer immediately after the Second World War. The huge leap from the promotion of cartels and a war economy to the other extreme of an idealistic and draconian postwar antitrust law was ordered and supervised by the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP). It was part of the 'greatest experiments in trust-busting' in the world, which was intended to transform the economic, social, and political structure of Japan (Hadley 1970: 6). This unprecedented policy shift was the reason why Japan developed its highly systematic cartel registration system after the end of the occupation. This case also demonstrates how the gap between the imported policy framework and the conditions of the local society was addressed. The postwar cartel registration in Japan can be interpreted as an outcome of 'Americanisation' and its subsequent 'Japanisation'. It is also true, however, that the longer trends in the rise and fall of cartel registration in twentieth-century Japan are remarkably similar to those of most other nations.
Industries and Global Competition, 2017
Business History Review, 2013
Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is ... more Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is common not only in the Western nations but also among many developing countries, as Marshall might have anticipated. Similarly, in the development process of modern Japan, many industrial districts developed in various industries. Interestingly, they were much more organized and institutionalized than Marshall described. This article demonstrates that local trade associations had an important role in enhancing Marshallian externalities by facilitating joint actions for the supply of public goods, such as the creation of "local district brands" and provision of technological and market information. In this article, we consider the case of Kiryu, which was one of the oldest and best-known silk weaving districts in modern Japan.
Proceedings - Academy of Management, Aug 1, 2020
Springer eBooks, 2012
In this chapter we focus on the development of the “modern” Japanese paper industry, which was in... more In this chapter we focus on the development of the “modern” Japanese paper industry, which was introduced from the West to produce yoshi (Western machine-made paper) in the 1870s. Japan’s traditional papermaking (or washi) culture, introduced from the East, has a long history. In the beginning, the central government’s demand for paper supported the development of the modern paper industry, as it needed yoshi for the announcement and documentation of its modernization policy. Subsequently, the private sector promoted industrial development over the following 130 years, except during the wartime economy. The modern paper industry in Japan has always been characterized by rapid growth, low import dependency, and cartelization. The “Big Three” dominated the market after their merger in the 1930s, but the GHQ’s democratization policy welcomed new industry entrants after the Second World War. Various innovations, including the vertical integration of pulp and papermaking processes and the establishment of coastal manufacturing bases to utilize imported material, were the sources of growth after the Second World War. Japan became the second largest papermaking country in the world for almost three decades beginning in the 1970s, but globalization, the emergence of new developing countries, and the tide of M&A has transformed this industry.
Social Science Research Network, 2017
The historiography of business history is often recounted in linear terms, as evolving from a Cha... more The historiography of business history is often recounted in linear terms, as evolving from a Chandlerian era focused on big business to a post-Chandlerian period marked by the study of a wide variety of organizational forms and topics. Taking a longer and more global perspective, we offer a revisionist historiographical account that emphasizes the multiple paths through which business history has developed around the world. Tracing the development of business history to its antecedents in the nineteenth-century historical schools of economics, we find a high degree of diversity in when and how business history developed depending on the institutional context in which it did and its relationship to other disciplines. Over time and place, we find that business history has long been characterized by a diversity of topics, varying stances on theory and methods, and shifting inter-disciplinary relationships. These rich and diverse traditions, we argue, are an important intellectual resource in building a vibrant future for business history.
2 / 49 demand was established already in its infant period and still retains today marks a featur... more 2 / 49 demand was established already in its infant period and still retains today marks a feature of the paper industry of Japan. How was this fast-paced catch-up process, or formation of a new market through technology transfer to be exact, realized? Governmental protection is not a relevant answer; Japan lacked tariff autonomy between the mid 1880 to the eve of WWI, when its paper industry was at an infant stage, and private companies, with a direct governmental involvement limited to its very initial period, basically led its development. The rapid development of the modern paper industry should therefore be explained by other factors. Graph 1. Import and Export of Paper (all kind), and Production of Yoshi (Western paper) in Japan (1872-1936) The development of the Japanese paper industry in the 20 th century is also interesting in terms of both international comparison and comparison with other domestic industries. After WWI, the paper industry was the first sector to form an oligopoly, which lasted until its dissolution following Japan"s defeat in WWII The industry shrunk significantly during WWII, and made a restart with its production capacity halved due to Japan"s lost territories. The postwar period saw fast growth. The domestic manufacturers retained their competitive edge over the imports in the domestic market, but they never enjoyed a strong competitive advantage in the global market, unlike many other Japanese industries flourishing after the war, such as shipbuilding, steel, electric and electronics, and automobile.
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Jan 24, 2010
4 / 48 1. Historical background and general conditions 1.1 Japanese paper and western paper: Japa... more 4 / 48 1. Historical background and general conditions 1.1 Japanese paper and western paper: Japan's indigenous paper culture and the modern paper industry The modern machine papermaking of the paper product types introduced from the Western countries started out in the mid 1870s. However, considering washi, the traditional Japanese paper (whose characteristic shall be described below), papermaking dates far back in 7 th century. The handmade paper industry introduced from China through the Korean peninsula made a significant development long before modernization. Papermaking until the Medieval Age was closely connected to religion also in Japan, where major part of the paper demand was for the Buddhist scriptures, transcription of sutras, and political records. The sutras were printed in book form around the 12 th century onwards. Meanwhile, literature emerged around the end of 12 th century, and the use of paper encompassed sliding-screen paper, tissue paper and kaishi (pocketable folded paper for versatile use), and it further spread into the daily life as fixture and livingware in the 14 th century. 5 The Japanese economy showed a proto-industrial development and sustainable economic growth in the early modern period (from the end of 16 th century to the 1860s) where demand for paper went sky-high due to flourishing trade and manufacture, and increases in income and population. Under the shogunate system, many provinces promoted production of washi as a monopoly good. The result was a dramatic increase in amount and variety of paper and the popularization of the demand for paper. Paper was used not only for writing, books and wrapping, but also for fixtures like screen door and sliding door, and various other products such as umbrellas, paper lanterns, and raincoats. The use of paper in Japan was far wider than that in European countries, and due to this versatility, the Japanese paper industry had a relatively large market even before modernization and westernization. These paper products formerly made by hand before the early modern period are collectively called washi (Japanese paper). On the other hand, the machine-made paper products imported from the West and was soon manufactured in Japan are called yoshi (Western paper). The history of modern paper industry is equivalent to the process of introduction and development of yoshi papermaking, but its development cannot be explained without its relations with washi. Whereas in the West the difference between the product characteristics of handmade paper and machine-made one are relatively small and their modernization was centered on process innovation, the Japanese traditional washi and modern imported yoshi had 5 Miyamoto[1973], p.58
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Aug 1, 2011
Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is ... more Recent studies have shown that economic development based on industrial districts or clusters is common not only in the Western nations but also among many developing countries, as Marshall might have anticipated. Similarly, in the development process of modern Japan, many industrial districts developed in various industries. Interestingly, they were much more organized and institutionalized than Marshall described. This article demonstrates that local trade associations had an important role in enhancing Marshallian externalities by facilitating joint actions for the supply of public goods, such as the creation of "local district brands" and provision of technological and market information. In this article, we consider the case of Kiryu, which was one of the oldest and best-known silk weaving districts in modern Japan.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Dec 10, 2021
The Routledge Companion to the Makers of Global Business, 2019
Routledge eBooks, 2018
Changes in the dynamics of economic activities since the last decades of the 20th century have yi... more Changes in the dynamics of economic activities since the last decades of the 20th century have yielded major changes in the composition of industries and the division of labor and production across different regions of the world. Despite these shifts in the global economy, some industries have remained competitive even without relocating their operations overseas. Industries and Global Competition examines how and why the specificities of certain industries and firms determined their choice of location and competitiveness. This volume identifies the major drivers of this process and explains why some firms and industries moved to other parts of world while others did not. Relocation was not the sole determinant of the success or failure of firms and industries. Indeed some were able to reinvent themselves at their original location and build new competitive advantages. The path that each industry or firm took varied. This book argues that the specific characteristics of each industry defined the conditions of competitiveness and provide a wide range of cases as illustrations. Aimed at scholars, researchers and acadmeics in the fields of business history, international business and related disciplines Industries and Global Competition exmaines the unique questions; How and why did the specificities of certain industries and firms determine their choice of location and competitiveness?
Taylor & Francis eBooks, 2017
Taylor & Francis eBooks, 2018
The history of cartel registration in Japan deserves special attention for several reasons. First... more The history of cartel registration in Japan deserves special attention for several reasons. First, the country had the world's most institutionalised and encompassing cartel registration system during the second half of the twentieth century. A systematic international comparison conducted by Corwin Edwards, a renowned trust-buster in US and founder of Japan's postwar antimonopoly law, showed that the scope of reporting requirements was the widest in Japan among the 11 nations compared (Wells 2002; Edwards 1967: 48). Second, Japan's system clearly exhibits the dual nature of the cartel register; namely, authorisation of cartels on the one hand, and containment of them on the other. The balance between these two factors changed over time, reflecting the industrial structure, the role of state intervention, and the international environment. Additionally, Japan is representative of how the practice of cartel registration flourished in the spheres between the general prohibition of cartel and economic liberalism, where laissez-faire meant the liberty of contract and relative freedom for cartels. Third, Japan's cartel registration system exhibits the uniqueness as well as the universality of the nation's experience. Its uniqueness lies in the dramatic volte-face in the competition policy following American occupation and policy transfer immediately after the Second World War. The huge leap from the promotion of cartels and a war economy to the other extreme of an idealistic and draconian postwar antitrust law was ordered and supervised by the General Headquarters of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ/SCAP). It was part of the 'greatest experiments in trust-busting' in the world, which was intended to transform the economic, social, and political structure of Japan (Hadley 1970: 6). This unprecedented policy shift was the reason why Japan developed its highly systematic cartel registration system after the end of the occupation. This case also demonstrates how the gap between the imported policy framework and the conditions of the local society was addressed. The postwar cartel registration in Japan can be interpreted as an outcome of 'Americanisation' and its subsequent 'Japanisation'. It is also true, however, that the longer trends in the rise and fall of cartel registration in twentieth-century Japan are remarkably similar to those of most other nations.
Industries and Global Competition, 2017
Changes in the dynamics of economic activities since the last decades of the 20th century have yi... more Changes in the dynamics of economic activities since the last decades of the 20th century have yielded major changes in the composition of industries and the division of labor and production across different regions of the world. Despite these shifts in the global economy, some industries have remained competitive even without relocating their operations overseas.
Industries and Global Competition examines how and why the specificities of certain industries and firms determined their choice of location and competitiveness. This volume identifies the major drivers of this process and explains why some firms and industries moved to other parts of world while others did not. Relocation was not the sole determinant of the success or failure of firms and industries. Indeed some were able to reinvent themselves at their original location and build new competitive advantages. The path that each industry or firm took varied. This book argues that the specific characteristics of each industry defined the conditions of competitiveness and provide a wide range of cases as illustrations.
Aimed at scholars, researchers and acadmeics in the fields of business history, international business and related disciplines Industries and Global Competition exmaines the unique questions; How and why did the specificities of certain industries and firms determine their choice of location and competitiveness?