The Showa Period covers the reign of Emperor Hirohito (1926-1989), encompassing war and destruction of the Japanese empire, the occupation, recovery from the ruins of war and Japan's emergence as an economic superpower. But what defines Showa historically? What sets Showa apart from the history of Meiji and Taisho Japan? Whereas historians have traditionally approached this question by splitting prewar and postwar the emphasis in this anthology is on long-term continuities which were decisive in shaping modern Japan. The readings address such crucial issues as the nature of the imperial...

These volumes represent a reassessment of the political, economic and social history of Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1911). The Meiji Restoration of 1868 was a pivotal event in Japanese history. Often seen as marking the break between pre-modern and modern Japan, the Restoration has dominated perceptions of Japan's history. This major collection includes both earlier work written along more traditional lines and later challenges to accepted arguments. The articles presented provide an up-to-date reading of Japanese history. Topics covered include: the collapse of the Bakufu and the...

Global interest in Japanese education and industrial training has grown steadily in the last 20 years. Japanese education and training is fundamental to the highly developed meritocratic system of employment, promotion and social status upon which Japan's economic success relies. Systems of education in Japan are intensive, highly competitive, and produce a generally superior level of educational achievement comparative to Japan's global competitors. This collection represents a cross-section of research and thought on key topics in the study of these systems, such as: the contribution of...

Banking in Japan offers a wide-ranging survey of the institutional structures, operating principles and regulatory frameworks of Japan's financial system from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to the mid-1990s. This collection is an invaluable resource for researchers and students of the Japanese economy and banking and finance worldwide.
Japan's financial system is the subject of intense debate. Immediately after the Second World War, Japan's financial order was derided by Western commentators as unsuited to modern industrial economy. By the 1970s derision had turned to respect as it...

This set of four volumes collects the major English language contributions to the theories of the structure and performance of the Japanese economy in the 20th century. It covers a wide range of topics: Volume I covers Japan before the Pacific War; Volume Two covers post-war growth; Volume Three covers trading with Japan; Volume Four explores the nature of the Japanese firm.

Japan's relations with Southeast Asia differ in quantity and quality from relations with its immediate neighbours in Northeast Asia. The region includes the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Since the opening of the country in the mid-19th century, Japan's interest in this area, which is both geographically and psychologically remote from itself, has varied over time. In the early years of the 20th century, Japan's interest was limited to trade and investment in some of the European colonies which could support its industry and export market. During the...

This collection offers a reference work to all those interested in the contemporary development of one of the world's largest and most influential economies. The set addresses key issues for the Japanese economy in the post-war decades, including: the relationship between capital market transformation and economic growth; labour markets and the increasing demands for structural change; current industrial policy, in the late 1990s, and it's relationship to governance; and macroeconomic conditions and their effect on microeconomic policies. The articles reprinted here explore many of Japan's...