IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

The following topics will be covered:
1.Arguments on business management in Japan by Japanese and foreign scholars,
2.Comparative analysis of business system between Japanese and U.S. companies,
3.Interfirm relationship in Japanese manufacturing industries and international comparative analysis of it,
4.The main bank system in Japan and international comparative analysis of it.

The objective of this course is to understand business management in Japan more deeply on the perspective of international comparisons and by case studies.

You will learn logical thinking and basic knowledge on business management in Japan and presentation skills by lectures, discussion, Q&A and presentation.

英語 / English

Every week class consists of lecture, discussion on business management in Japan, Q&A, and presentation of case of Japanese companies.

Class procedure:
1. The first half of every class will consist of lecture.
2. Presentation, discussion, and Q&A will be practiced in the second half of every class.

あり / Yes

なし / No

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1：Introduction

Overview of arguments on business management in Japan and fixing of presentation schedule

2：Misunderstanding on business management in Japan

Lecture and discussion on some topics of business management in Japan

3：Argument on business management in Japan by Japanese scholar(1)

Representative argument that stresses the specialty of business management in Japan by Japanese scholar

4：Argument on business management in Japan by Japanese scholar(2)

Representative argument that emphasizes the generality of business management in Japan by Japanese scholar

5：Argument on business management in Japan by foreign scholar(1)

Representative argument that stresses the specialty of business management in Japan by foreign scholar

6：Argument on business management in Japan by foreign scholar(2)

Representative argument that emphasizes the generality of business management in Japan by foreign scholar

7：Overview of business management in post-war Japan

Characteristics of Japanese business system in the firms and between the firms

8：Comparative analysis of business management between Japan and US (1)

Do “the three sacred treasures” of industrial relations exist only in Japan?

9：Comparative analysis of business management between Japan and US (2)

Commonalities between US and Japanese firms

10：Interfirm relationship in the Japanese automobile industry(1)

Its characteristics and the process of its formation and development

11：Interfirm relationships in the Japanese automobile industry(2)

Comparative analysis between US and Japan

12：Interfirm relationship in Japan's steel industry

The case of transactions in steel products for autos in Japan's high economic growth period

13：Interfirm relationship in Japanese semiconductor industry

The case of co-development between Japanese semiconductor companies and their customers

14：The main bank system in Japan

Its characteristics and change in recent times and comparison between Japan and Germany

Please submit discussion sheet or reaction sheet by two days before of every week class. At least, it will need two hours every week.

Please read previously assigned references before the class of every week. It will need two hours every week.

No prescribed textbooks.

Yongdo Kim(2015).The Dynamics of Inter-firm Relationships: Markets and Organization in Japan.Edward Elgar Publishing
James C. Abegglen (2006). 21st-century Japanese management: New systems, lasting values, Palgrave Macmillan
James C. Abegglen (1960). The Japanese factory, The Free Press.
Hiroshi Hazama (1997). The history of labour management in Japan, Macmilan
Kazuo Koike(1996). The economics of work in Japan,　LTCB International Library Foundation
William G. Ouchi (1981). Theory Z: how American business can meet the Japanese challenge, Addison-Wesley
William Lazonick(2009).Sustainable Prosperity in the New Economy, Upjohn Institute
Sanford M. Jacoby (1985). Employing bureaucracy: managers, unions, and the transformation of work in American industry, 1900-1945, Columbia University Press
Takao Shiba and Masahiro Shimotani, eds. (1997). Beyond the firm: business groups in international and historical perspective, Oxford University Press
Masahiko Aoki and Hugh Patrick, eds. (1995).The Japanese main bank system: its relevance for developing and transforming economies,Oxford University Press

Term paper(40%)
Presentation(30%)
Discussion Sheets and reaction sheets(30%)

Time of discussion will be increased.

None