Call for Papers on ‘Japanese Approaches to CSR’The Journal of Corporate Citizenship is pleased to invite papers for a special issue of the JCC on‘Japanese Approaches to CSR.’
Guest Editor: Prof. Kanji Tanimoto, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

Overview of the theme
How is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
understood and managed in Japanese businessand how is it part of ‘good’ CorporateGovernance?
The debate on CSR has grown rapidly
and internationally over the last two decades, inboth business and academic communities. The
current CSR movement has been developed inEuropean and Anglo-American contexts basedon principles of the market, industrial, businessand social structures. However, CSR has takenroot in other countries and areas as well andincreasingly in Japan. The Japanese economic
system has been traditionally structured byrelational trading between firms, relationalbanking, and a long-term relationship with
employees for mutual consideration. It has
always been an advantage of the Japanese
economy. Now, however, we must explore
whether it is a strength or weakness for
globalization and in embedding CSR into
Japanese corporate society? There is muchdebate on how to incorporate the concept andphilosophy of CSR into the context of different
countries. Since the early 2000’s there have beena growing number of studies offering alternative
perspectives on CSR, deriving from Asia andother regions. We need to examine how CSR
management and practical wisdom inorganisations works in various countries/regions,rather than simply highlighting the differencesamongst regions.
This special issue of Journal ofCorporate Citizenship will focus on and analyse
the uniqueness of industrial and organizational
structures, as well as the social and culturalcontext, in Japan. Big Japanese companies findthat CSR is one of the crucial issues in their

daily management and global business strategies.
Since the CSR boom in early 2000’s in Japan,
CSR has been embedded in organizations
through the setting up of CSR departments andCSR executives, publishing CSR reports etc.
Japan has been ranked amongst the world’s top
in terms of environmental management systems
and CSR reporting over the last decades.
Japanese companies have come to understandthat it is important to meet the expectations andearn the trust of their stakeholders. Furthermore,facing increasing global competition, it has beennecessary for Japanese companies to advance inenvironmentally and socially responsible
business,contributing
tosustainable
development in local/global communities.
There are some crucial questions to beasked. Do Japanese CSR management systems
work well? How have Japanese companies
imported and understood the concept of CSR
and integrated it into management systems andstrategies? How have they incorporated CSR
into the governance system and engaged withthe stakeholders? How do Japanese companies
export CSR polices into subsidiaries abroad?
And what is the next strategic challenge forsustainable development for Japan?
This special issue of JCC will explore
how Japanese companies have responded to theCSR movement and to what extent Japanesecompanies embed CSR in management
processes. It will also analyze the challenges
they are facing in making CSR systems functionin organizations and in contributing to global
sustainable development. We are particularlyinterested in Japanese/global CSR issues and thechallenges posed to companies.

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Coverage
Proposals may address the subthemes listed below, in the context of Japan, but do not necessarily have tobe limited to these.
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Strategic sustainability management
Relationship between CSR and corporate governance
The future of CSR and/or corporate governance
Stakeholder engagement
Responsible management and integrated reporting
Responsible supply chain management
Gender issues
Responsible investment and financeLabour and human rights issues
Strategic philanthropy and social businessGreen/social innovation
Global standards versus local standards
Sustainability challenges and leadership

Schedule
Completed papers of between 4,000-6,000 words should be submitted via the JCC online author
submission form no later than March 31, 2014.
For more information see the JCC author guidelines at www.greenleaf-publishing.com/jcc. Initialexpressions of interest in the form of abstracts of approximately 300 words are also welcomed by theguest editor prior to full submission.
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Full paper submissions: March 31, 2014
Revised paper submissions: June 31, 2014
Publish: December 2014

The issue will publish as the Journal of Corporate Citizenship 56 (December 2014). JCC is published inprint and online formats. It is also included as part of the Sustainable Organization Library(www.gseresearch.com/sol).

Contact details
Guest Editor

Publisher

Prof. Kanji Tanimoto
School of Commerce, Waseda University
1-6-1, Nishi-Waseda, Shinjyuku-Ku,
169-8050, Tokyo, JAPANk.tanimoto@tanimoto-office.jp

Claire Jackson
Greenleaf Publishing
Aizlewood Mill, Nursery Street
Sheffield, S3 8GG, UK
claire.jackson@greenleaf-publishing.com

www.greenleaf-publishing.com