Japanese Companies in East Asia: History and Prospects

The aim of my first book in English, Historical Development of Japanese Companies: Corporate Governance and Foreign Investment Expanded and Revised and Second Edition (2009), was to examine the development of Japanese corporate governance and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Perspectives about Japanese corporate governance and FDI, which are based on misunderstanding and intentional distortion, are unexpectedly deep-rooted both at home and abroad. Using detailed data from financial information, this book illuminates the reality and the positive contributions of Japanese companies. Based on the above, this new second book discusses the position and role of Japanese companies in East Asia, investigating competition and alliances with Asian companies in the prewar and postwar periods. Part 1 examines examples of economic competition between Japanese and Chinese companies, and sheds light on the advantages of the Japanese company in the inter-war period. This part also further expands the possibility of collaboration between Japanese and Chinese companies. Part 2 considers the relationships between current Japan and Asia, especially China and Taiwan. The success of Asian export-oriented industrialization developed the Asian economy and forced Japanese companies to change. Japanese companies are moving to more technology-intensive industries and expanding their alliances with Asian companies in leading industries. Finally this new book emphasizes the importance of participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as the most realistic and effective economic integration in Asia. Through the TPP, Japan will make more foreign investment possible, revive its economy and transfer advanced industrial technology and market-centered corporate governance to Asia.