Correspondence to be addressed:
Secretariat of the Union of National Economic Associations in Japan,
c/o School of Commerce,
Waseda University,
Nishiwaseda 1-6-1,
Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 169-8050, Japane-mail: rengo@kurenai.waseda.jp

COPYRIGHT 2013
Printed in Japan.
ISSN 0289-8721

BY THE UNION OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC ASSOCIATIONS IN JAPANINTERNATIONAL BUSINESS INSTITUTE, CO., LTD. Tel. +81-3- 5273-0473

Editorial Committee
Yoshikazu SATO, Hosei University
Shoichi ITO, Kyushu University
Yuichiro YAMAMOTO, Meiji University
Kazuhiro KUMO, Hitotsubashi University
Seiichiro ITO, Ohtsuki City College
Hironao IWATA, Senshu University
Hiroaki ITAKURA, Kagawa University
Takeshi MORIGUCHI, Waseda University
Keisuke SASAKI, Toyo University
Takashi OGURI, Komazawa University
Directors of the Union

President

Kenichi ENATSU, Waseda University
Fumihiko HIRUMA, Waseda University
Tetsuji OKAZAKI, University of Tokyo
Hiroshi OTSUKI, Waseda University

Shujiro URATA, Waseda University
Mitsuhiko TSURUTA, Chuo University
Yasuhiro OGURA, Toyo University
Katsuaki ONISHI, Senshu University
Yoshiaki TAKAHASHI, Chuo University
Yoshiharu KUWANA, J. F. Oberlin University
Secretary General
Masataka OTA, Waseda University
AuditorYoshihiro TOKUGA, Kyoto University
Yoshimasa TOMOSUGI, Tokai Gakuen University
Emeritus
Takashi SHIRAISHI, Keio University
Osamu NISHIZAWA, Waseda University
Yasuo OKAMOTO, University of Tokyo

THE UNION OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC ASSOCIATIONSIN JAPAN
日本経済学会連合
The Union of National Economic Associations in Japan, established in 1950, celebrated its
60th anniversary in 2010, as the sole nationwide federation of associations of scholars and expertson economics, commerce, and business administration. In order to obtain membership an
association is subject to an examination of its academic work. As of 2013, the Union had amembership of 63 associations, as listed on pp. 80-100.
The aims and objectives of the Union are to support the scholarly activities of its member
associations and to promote academic exchanges both among members themselves, and between
Japanese and academic societies overseas. The main activities of the Union are: (1) the publicationand distribution of academic material concerning Japanese economics and papers presented bymember scholars, (2) the sending of members to overseas conferences, (3) the holding andsupporting of international conferences in Japan, (4) providing financial assistance to member
associations who invite foreign scholars to Japan, and (5) collecting information on activities ofmember associations and the issuing of a news bulletin.
The Union published in 1974 Keizaigaku No Doko (The Trend in Japanese Economics), basedon a survey of economic studies undertaken in postwar Japan. A supplementary volume covering
Japanese economic studies after 1974 was published in 1982.
The Union and the International Economic Association (IEA) jointly held the Fifth World
Congress of the IEA in Tokyo from August 29 to September 3, 1978. The Union joined theInternational Institute of Public Finance in holding the Institute’s 37th Congress at Tokyo in
September 1981. The Union dispatched 20 member scholars to the Eighth World Congress of IEA
held in India in 1986. Most recently the Union successfully sponsored the IEA Tokyo Round
Table Conference on “Institutions in a New Dynamic Society” held between 15 and 17 September
1987, and hosted the 1996 IEA Tokyo Round Table Conference between 16 and 19 December, on
the theme “The Institutional Foundation of Economic Development in East Asia.” To celebrate its
fiftieth anniversary, the Union held a special lecture meeting on May 25, 2000. Three lecturers wereinvited to speak on the theme, “The reforms that the 21st Century will bring to the world economy,
the Japanese economy, and Japanese management.”
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of this Association, a special lecture program was heldat the Waseda University Okuma Auditorium on October 12, 2010. Three lecturers were invited,each of whom spoke from his own perspective on how Japan’s economy and Japanese business, inthe midst of this once-in-a-century global recession, should solve their present plight and forge newroutes for the future.
The Union celebrated in 1980 the 30th anniversary of its founding by launching a variety ofactivities, including the publication of The Information Bulletin. Prof. Paul Snowden of Waseda
University acts as editorial adviser.
Address : Secretariat of the Union, c/o School of Commerce, Waseda University,
Nishiwaseda 1-6-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan.

CONTENTS

Page
AGURICULTURAL ECONOMICS SOCIETY OF JAPAN, THE…………………………………1
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATIN, JAPAN (JBCA) ………………………………8

COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC STUDIES, JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR (JACES)………………15
HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT, THE JAPANESE SOCIETY FOR THE ………………22
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING, THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF ………………………30
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR ……………………………………36
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION, JAPAN SOCIETY OF …………………………………42
POLITICAL ECONOMY, JAPAN SOCIETY OF …………………………………………………48
REGIONAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL,
THE JAPAN SECTION OF THE …………………………………59
SOCIAL SCIENCE OF ACCOUNTING, THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR …………………………69

LIST OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS…………………………………………………………80

THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS SOCIETY OF JAPAN
1. History and General Characteristics of the Society
The Agricultural Economics Society of Japan (the AESJ) was founded in 1924.
The AESJ is now made up of around 1,600 members under a president and four
vice-presidents with a board of managing directors.
Main activities of the AESJ are as follows:
A. Publishing the AESJ’s academic journals and other publications
B. Holding the Annual Conference of the society
C. Giving the AESJ’s academic awards to selected academic publications and papers
D. Academic exchange in cooperation with related domestic and foreign societies
A. Publishing the AESJ’s academic journals and other publications
The Society issues three publications. The main journal, the Journal of Rural
Economics, has been published quarterly since 1925, and it reached the 85th volume in
July 2013. The latest issue is not only subscribed by the members of the Sciety but also
sold at bookstores. Its contents consist of several articles, book reviews and otherinformation for members. Once a year, usually the second issue published in September
is exclusively composed to report the invited papers presented at the Annual
Conference.
Secondly, a Special issue: Journal of Rural Economics is published once a year. It
will reach the 18th volume in December 2013. It consists of more than 80 short articles,
which include the latest information and cutting-age methodologies. Based uponpresentations at the Annual Conference, the authors revise their manuscripts bythemselves incorporating the comments exchanged at the Conference and submit therevised manuscripts to the Journal. They are peer-reviewed and the only accepted
papers are published. Starting in 2014, the only Japanese articles are published in thisSpecial Issue.
Thirdly, the Japanese Journal of Rural Economics (JJRE) is an English language
journal. It has reached 15th volume in March 2013. Currently, it is published once a year.
Starting in 2014, the JJRE includes not only the ordinary articles, book reviews, etc. but
also those presented in English at the Annual Conference using the same procedure for
the Special Issue for the Japanese articles.

1B. Holding the Annual Conference of the society
The focal point of the Society’s activities is the Annual Conference held at the endof March every year. The conference lasts for two or three days. Usually, on the first day,a Symposium is held, while on the next day, oral presentations and poster sessions by
individual members are held.
Recently, in addition to these traditional two events, a Mini-Symposium and aninternational joint session with oversea societies such as the Agricultural Economics
Societies of Korea, China and Taiwan, are regularly held.
C. Giving the AESJ’s academic awards to selected academic publications and papers
There are three categories of awards granted by the society, that is, the Academic
Award, the Encouragement Award (for younger generations) and the Distinguished
Paper Award.
D. Academic exchange in cooperation with related domestic and foreign societies
Within these activities, exchanges with foreign societies are mainly carried out at
the Annual Conference as above mentioned.
2. Major topics discussed at recent Annual Symposiums and related sessions
2-1. 2008 Annual Conference
The Annual Conference was held at Utsunomiya University. The Symposium, withthe theme of “Rural societies under economic globalization: Searching for various ways
to their development” was chaired by Toyonobu SATO (Okayama University) andNobukazu TANIGUCHI (University of Tokyo). Selected speakers were Eiichi SHIGA(Hokkaido University), Mitsuyoshi ANDO (University of Tokyo), Susumu FUKUDA(Kyushu University) and Takeshi MIYAZAKI (Kyoto Prefectural University).
The first presentation given by SHIGA was entitled “Hokkaido Agriculture’s
response to the structural change and its problems toward globalization: Considering thepolicy program of single payments (farm unit base), integrating individual commodity
payments.” The second presentation made by ANDO was entitled “Re-organizing paddy
farming and farms operated by village communities: Focusing on the regional
diversity.” The third presentation given by FUKUDA was entitled “Influence of
globalization in the livestock production sector and forming new farming bodies:
Focusing on beef production in the Kyushu district.” The final presentation made by
MIYAZAKI was entitled “A direction of the development of agriculture in suburban areas2and the restoration of the value of rural societies.”
Selected commentators were Mitsuru AKIYAMA (Utsunomiya University) andKouichi IKEGAMI (Kinki University).
2-2. 2009 Annual Conference
The theme of the 2009 Symposium held at the University of Tsukuba was “Foodprice instability in the world food market and agriculture in Japan”. The symposium waschaired by Osamu KOYAMA (Japan International Research Center for Agricultural
Science) and Kiyohide MORITA (Nihon University). The theme was selected, considering
the situation of the world food market of the day, in which the prices of grains and otheragricultural materials were soaring because of the increase of the demand for bio-fuels.
The first speaker was Hiroyuki KAWASHIMA (University of Tokyo). The topic of his
presentation was “World food production and biomass energy.” The second speaker was
Kunio TSUBOTA (Kyushu University). The topic of his presentation was “Food demand in
newly developed countries and the direction of Japan's agriculture development.” The
third speaker was Yoshio YAGUCHI (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology).
The topic of his presentation was “The direction of Japan’s agriculture under the crisisof 2E (environment, energy) and 2F (food, finance).”
Selected commentators on the three presentations were Keijiro OTSUKA (Foundation
for Advanced Studies on International Development), Kimio YAMAGA (Development
Bank of Japan), Yoshiaki IIGUNI (Kouchi University) and Akihiko KUDOU (Tohoku
University).
In addition to the usual program with the symposium and concurrent sessions, theInternational Joint Symposium with the Agricultural Economics Society of Korea andthe Agricultural Economics Society of China was held, discussing the theme“Worldwide food price rises and food and rural society in East Asia.” Speakers were K.
KAKU (Jilin Institute of Agriculture) (China), T. KAN (Korai University) (Korea) andNobuhiro SUZUKI (University of Tokyo) (Japan). Selected commentators were K. CHIN
(Central Public Finance and Economic Commission) (China), R. SOU (Chungbuk
National University) (Korea) and Shouichi ITO (Kyushu University).
2-3. 2010 Annual Conference
The 2010 Annual Conference was held at Kyoto University. The Symposium wasentitled “Thorough discussions on farm policy reforms: Rice, its acreage reduction
programs and full-time farmers who lead the paddy farming sector”. It was chaired by
Masaaki ISHIDA (Mie University) and Fusao ITO (Tohoku University). It consisted of a3

Panel discussion argued by three panelists, Takeshi MURATA (Ehime University),
Kazunuki OIZUMI (Miyagi University) and Mototeru AKITSU (Kyoto University) andthree analytical reports addressed by Masaki UMEMOTO (National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization), Hitoshi AOYAGI (Niigata University) and Yasuhiro NAKAJIMA(University of Tokyo).
At first, three panelists clarified their stances towards the current policies on paddy
farming by short presentations. (MURATA; “Strengthening the foundation of food supply
and rice policies”, OIZUMI; “Conversion of rice policies and management growth of large
scale paddy mixed farming”, AKITSU; “Seeking a point of contact between the rice policy
and the policy for rural society: Beyond the discussion about conditions of institutional
realization”)
Then, three reporters presented the results of analytical studies: UMEMOTO,“Structure of leading farmers of the paddy production sector and their behaviors as amanager”; AOYAGI, “Meanings of marketing strategies adopted in main rice production
regions and its limitations: A case study on Niigata prefecture”; NAKAJIMA, “Problems of
newly started rice acreage reduction program and its prospects”.
Finally, panel discussion arose as to pros and cons of current paddy policies,
considering analytical reports and comments presented from members on floor.
From this year, a new scheme was introduced whereby a Mini-symposium (as wellas the Main Symposium) is held at the Annual Conference. The theme of this year wasentitled “Farm policy reform part 2: How to design direct payment programs: From aperspective of national consensus”. This Mini-symposium was chaired by Yoshiaki
IIGUNI, who made the kick-off presentation. Following this, four speakers gave
presentations: Yasushi MATSUKI, “Evaluation and discussion points for the direct
payment program on wheat, barley and soybeans”; Takuya HASHIGUCHI, “Evaluation andfuture views for the direct payments to hill and mountainous areas”; Midori SAKAKIDA,“Consumers’ recognition and evaluation of direct payments”; Keiichi ISHII, “What thedirect payment ought to be: From a viewpoint of EU policy”)
In addition to this, as a special event, an invited address was delivered by Naomi
SAEKI (professor emeritus, University of Tokyo).
2-4. 2011 Annual Conference
The 2011 Annual Conference was held at Waseda University. Initially, it wasscheduled for March, however, postponed to June because of the East Japan Earthquake
and Tsunami disaster. Considering these situations, the conference schedule wasshortened and individual members’ oral presentations were cancelled.
4

The Symposium was held as usual. The theme of the Symposium chaired by
Tokumi ODAGIRI (Meiji University) and Yasuhiro NAKAJIMA (University of Tokyo) was“The baselines of Japan’s present agriculture”.
The first speaker was Kimio NODA (Kyoto University). His presentation wasentitled “Examining agricultural structural reforms through classifying several groups”.
The second speaker was Hitoshi KUSAKARI (Kobe University). His presentation wasentitled “Current problems for food consumption: Finding out a possibility forcooperation between households and agriculture”. The third speaker was Mikitaro
SHOUBAYASHI (Gakushuin Women’s College). His presentation was entitled “Binding
factors and future view of the current farm policy system”. The final speaker was
Susumu FUKUDA (Kyushu University). His presentation was entitled “The points attainedin Japan’s agricultural structure improvements and their future view: Comparative study
on paddy farming, livestock production, and vegetable production”.
Selected commentators were Kazuhito YAMASHITA (Canon Institute for Global
Policy Studies), Ryuichi SHIGENO (University of Tsukuba) and Kan HIGASHIYAMA(Hokkaido University).
2-5. 2012 Annual Conference
The 2012 Annual Conference was held at Kyushu University. The Symposium wasentitled “Food risks and problems of Japan’s agriculture: Current baselines of Japan’s
agriculture”. It was chaired by Shunsuke YANAGIMURA (Hokkaido University) andTamotsu KAWAMURA (Miyagi University). Four speakers were Yoko NIIYANMA (Kyoto
University), Fumihiro KABUTA (Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries), Teruaki NANSEKI (Kyushu University) and Tsuyoshi MIYATA(Takasaki City University of Economics).
Four presentations were given as follows: “The concept of risk for food security
and the framework of the reduction of food-borne risks; Risk analysis and problems
between administration and science” (NIIYAMA); “Risks in food security from aquantitative viewpoint and its problems; Considering historical review of the concept of‘food security’ from a domestic view and international view” (KABUTA); “Food borne
risks and farm management in the next generation; Problems and visions” (NANSEKI) and“Risks in livestock farming; Focusing on the hog raising sector” (MIYATA).
Selected commentators were Tomoyoshi MATSUDA (Chiba University), Seiji
MITSUISHI (Miyagi University) and Naoki OKADA (Hokkaido Research Organization,
Konsen Agricultural Experiment Station).
In addition to the usual program with the symposium and concurrent sessions, An
5International Joint Symposium with the Agricultural Economics Society of Korea washeld, specifically, tied up with the (main) Symposium, focusing on food-borne risks. It
was entitled “Foot and Mouth disease and avian influenza: Crisis managements
experienced in Japan and Korea and their influence on rural society”, chaired by Hiroshi
FUKAGAWA (Kyushu University). Speakers were Y. SONG (Chungbuk National University),
Michitoshi YAMAGUCHI (Kyoto University), B. RI (Kangwon National University)(co-authors G. FUAN (Institute of Livestock Science) and Y. RI (Institute of Livestock
Science). Commentators were Naoyuki YAMAMOTO (Miyazaki University) and D. HUH(Korea Rural Economics Institute).
The theme of the Mini-symposium in this year was entitled “Problems withrestoration from the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster from the viewpoint of
academic societies related to agricultural economics”, chaired by Fusao ITO (Tohoku
University). Speakers were Kazuo MOROZUMI (Tohoku University), Tamotsu KAWAMURA(Miyagi University), Katsuhito FUYUGI (Tohoku University), Fusao ITO and Takashi
KAWAMOTO (University of Tokyo).
2-6. 2013 Annual Conference
The Annual Conference was held at Tokyo University of Agriculture. The
Symposium, with the theme of “Analytical Power of Agricultural Economics: How has
Agricultural Economics comprehended the market?” was chaired by Susumu FUKUDA(Kyushu University) and Takumi KONDOU (Hokkaido University).
The first speakers, Hiroshi ARIMOTO (Hitotsubashi University) and Shinsaku
NAKAJIMA (Meiji University) gave their presentation, entitled “Farm land integration andthe market of farm land”. The second speaker, Masahiro MORITAKA (Kyushu University),gave his presentation, entitled “Market of agricultural products from the viewpoint ofbuyers in food processing industries: Relationship between agriculture and foodindustry”. The third speaker, Katsuhiro SAITO (University of Tokyo), gave his
presentation, entitled “Regulations on trade and market functions: Changes taking placein the world market of agricultural products”.
Selected co-discussants were Kiyohide MORITA (Tohoku University) (to the firstpresentation), Kazunori SATO (Iwate University) (to the second presentation) and Kouji
MAEDA (Kyushu University) (to the third presentation).
A Mini Symposium was held, specifically focusing on one of the current
imperative subjects of food, that is, the problem of “Contamination of food byradio-active substances: A response by retailers and consumers”, chaired by Masayuki
HIRAO (Tokyo University of Agriculture) and Miyuki SHIMIZU (Nihon University).
6

Speakers and their topics were as follows: Masaya KIKUCHI (Tokyo University ofAgriculture), “The present situation of damage to agricultural products grown inFukushima estimated from data in wholesale markets”; Shigeru OHKI (Azabu
University), “A response of retailers toward foods contaminated by radio-active
substances”; Kiyokazu UJIIE (University of Tsukuba); “The transition of consumers’
response to agricultural products contaminated by radio-active substances” and Shiichi
HANGUI (Fukushima Agricultural College); “Information provision and consumers’
response concerning the contamination of food by radio-active substances”.
3. Appendix: President and Staff for 2012-2013
President: Yoko NIIYAMA (Kyoto University)
Vice Presidents: Yasuo OHE (Chiba University)
Susumu FUKUDA (Kyushu University)
Nobuhiro SUZUKI (University of Tokyo)
Hitoshi KUSAKARI (Kobe University)
Contact: http://www.aesjapan.or.jp
E-mail: aesj@aafs.or.jp(Katsumi ARAHATA, Gifu University)

7

JAPAN BUSINESS COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION (JBCA)
1. Profile of Japan Business Communication Association
The Japan Business Communication Association, renamed from the Japan
Business English Association in 2002, was founded in 1934. The JBCA is the fourth
oldest organization in the Union of National Economic Associations in Japan, regarding
the date of foundation. The original aim was to study Business English and its relatedareas and to promote both domestic and international academic exchanges. Specifically,
the Association’s members had worked in the field of Business English and tradepractice. However, since 2002, the main research field has been extended from Business
English and its related areas to Business Communication in international business
transactions and international management.
There were three reasons for the change of name of the Association and theobjectives of its research. First, a more fundamental reason was to activate research byclarifying the field of study. The Association used to emphasize the field in tradepractices within the field of study by defining the objective first as “research in
Business English and trade practices,” and then later as “research in Business English
and related areas.” The related areas could deal with any business activities and/ ortransactions, including international management. The secondary reason was to erase
the image of the technical aspect of studying commercial correspondence which isfrequently associated with the term “Business English.” Some members of the
Association have an academic interest in commercial correspondence in English forforeign trade. However, with the expansion of business in which English is used, it has
been recognized that the scope of research should be expanded beyond the area ofcommercial correspondence. It is necessary to consider the significance of any businessactivities in which English is used. The third reason was to emphasize the importance ofthe viewpoint of communication. English is just one way of communication in any
business activities. Although English is the most widely used language in business,other languages are also used as business tools. The change from “English” to“communication” further enlarges the extent of our research fields. By the
introduction of the concept of communication, research could cover non-verbal
communication. From the viewpoint of communication studies, other important fields
such as financial and legal issues can be research areas of the Association.
2. Current Research Trends
There are two main characteristics in the areas of presentations for the last 10 years.
8In particular, this feature is much clearer for the last 5 years. Reflecting the change ofthe name of the Association 2002, the areas of studies have shifted from the area ofTrade Policy and Practices to some diversification. From 1998 to 2002, approximately
30% of the presentations were in the area of Trade Policy and Practices. On the contrary,from 2003 to 2012, the number of presentations was one or two each year. Currently,
such presentations are very limited.
The second characteristic was the increase of the area of Business Communication
studies. Examples from the presentations are corporate communication, management
communication, interpersonal communication, digital communication, negotiation andpresentations. From 1998 to 2002, there were about 20% of the presentations in thoseareas. The presentations in those areas have increased since 2003 and recently morethan half of them have focused on those matters.
Some examples of presentations in JBCA national conferences in the area of
Business Communication for the last five years are chosen as follows.
(1) 2008 National Conference
In a study of “Business discourse analysis: a data driven multi-method approach tounderstanding business interaction”, Hiromasa TANAKA (Meisei University) provided thepractical factors to establish mutual understanding. He discussed the applicability ofbusiness discourse analysis to examining the situated use of English in business andorganizational interaction. He argued the need for a move to re-focus on the linguistic
peculiarities of human interaction in business and organizational contexts, by applying
discourse analysis methodology.
Nobumitsu TAKAHASHI (Osaka University) took up “The Teaching of Presentation in
Managerial Communication Courses ─ Nonverbal Communication”. He analyzed thethree-layered presentation structure, strategies and nonverbal delivery skills in theteaching of presentation in managerial communication courses. He suggested
integrating both theory and practice into presentation education when it is conducted atuniversity level.
(2) 2009 National Conference
In a study titled “An Analysis of Corporate Philosophy and CSR in Nikkei 225
Constituents’, Yukio HISASHIMA (Osaka Prefecture University) examined Websites fromthe perspective of Business Communication in CSR”. He examined expressions ofcorporate philosophy and CSR in the websites of constituents of the Nikkei 225 index,
Japan’s main listed companies. He identified the types of expressions of corporate
9philosophy and CSR, and analyzed how corporate philosophies are reflected in CSR
activities in websites.
Takashi MASUYAMA (Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation) evaluated thepossibility of miscommunication opportunities in “A Study on the Buyer-Seller
Communication in Emission Trading”. He clarified the basic characteristics of emission
trading from the perspective of international business communication.
(3) 2010 National Conference
Yasuo NAKATANI (Tokyo University of Science) reported on “Global BusinessCommunication Strategies of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: A Case Study of
Hacchando Vietnam”. A case study approach was used to investigate global strategies
for small and medium-sized enterprises such as Hacchando. The results indicated that
although Porter’s framework was useful for evaluating the generic strategies, anotherscheme should be introduced to analyze the implementation of strategies. It wassuggested that a modified framework of Dill’s organizational task environment could be
relevant to assess operations for the business strategies.
Jianfang HAN (Kansai Gaidai University) made an attempt to analyze the issue ofcross-cultural management communication of a Japanese company in China under astudy titled “A Study of Chinese-Japanese Communication in the Business
Environment”. Results indicated Japanese employees’ Chinese ability, understanding of
the different culture and the construction of mutual trust were important factors torealize effective communication.
(4) 2011 National Conference
In a presentation titled “A Study of Cross-Cultural Adaptation in International
Business Negotiations”, Yuichiro YAMAMOTO (Meiji University) attempted to give an
insight into international business negotiations from the viewpoint of cross-cultural
adaptation. To examine the importance of adaptation, several examples of adaptations
were discussed and how factors impact international business negotiations was
explained. There may be situations in which adaptation is inappropriate andunproductive. The study provided an overview of the proper role of adaptation ininternational business negotiations and suggested that adaptation does occur, which isbeneficial under the relevant circumstances.
Momotaro TAKAMORI (Doshisha University Graduate School) presented a study
titled “Perspectives Required for Globish Usage in Global Business Communication”.
Globish was proposed by a former IBM executive Jean Nerrier and has gained attention10

in Japan. He pointed out the perspectives where the current trend to Globish in Japan islacking, and presented important factors for successful Business English as a Lingua
Franca discourse. The purpose of this study was to address Globish in relation to global
business communication. Some people viewed Globish as a “cure” and believed thatmastering it will make them better business communicators.
Toshihiro SHIMIZU (Ritsumeikan University) presented research titled “Dots orFlows? ─ A Field of Metaphors in Business” and discussed the roles of conceptual
metaphors in business executive speeches. It employed the mental distance analysis thatyields metaphors and attempted to investigate facts hidden behind the peaks and troughsin the field of metaphor research.
(5) 2012 National Conference
Takao NORISADA (Kwansei Gakuin University) analyzed the importance of language
usage in a study of “Strategy of Framing in Disney”. He introduced the example ofspecific words for people working in Disney. They use Cast instead of Employee,
Costume (Uniform), Role (Job), Onstage (Guest Area), Backstage (Behind the scenes),
Audition (Interview), Audience (Crowd) and so on. Disney has its own communicationstyle, approach, code of conduct, slogan, storytelling and so on. At the same time, they
are using words contributing to the establishment of their corporate culture and way ofbusiness for entertainment. The creation of their own words is important andmeaningful for Disney to enhance the minds of employees.
3. Publication activities
The 70th Annual National Conference was held at Kwansei Gakuin University in2010. To commemorate the 70th anniversary the book entitled International BusinessCommunication from the new viewpoints of analysis of International Business was
published that year. Takao NORISADA (Kwansei Gakuin University) originated thispublication with Koji TSUBAKI (Waseda University) and Naoki KAMEDA (Doshisha
University). Three key themes are presented by these three members respectively under
the titles of “International Business from the viewpoint of Communication”,“International Management from the viewpoint of Communication” and “International
Transactions from the viewpoint of Communication” in accordance with the objectivesof the JBCA.
Takao NORISADA addressed the Conference as follows. Through communication,business can be done by a person who sometimes behaves in an irrational way that
economics does not assume. Communication in business surroundings is called11

international business communication if the communication is through a businessperson of a different language and/or culture. To achieve better results in international
business it is required to enhance a good command of communication, culture, language
and establishing trust with the counterparties. Especially English used as aninternational language has become a common language, in other words, a lingua franca.
At the same time, some English words reflecting not only the culture of certain
countries but also the culture of a particular country may become widespread as a defacto standard.
Naoki KAMEDA stated in his address that multinational corporations should be able
to function as multicultural corporations. One reason is that international business must
be considered beyond national boundaries. More importantly, business people inmultinational corporations should be able to establish some strategies about the sales of
products, provision of services, marketing and allocation of human resources inconsideration of culture beyond the national boundaries. Global managers in
multinational corporations are required to be communicators between head office andlocal offices, and also their relationships with their suppliers and customers areimportant. In addition to being good managers in business, they must have sufficientabilities to handle human aspects of global networks involved.
Koji TSUBAKI examined international transactions from a communication
perspective. International transaction starts with effective communication between theparties involved. They state their own positions and reach agreement through someadjustment of necessary terms and conditions, and then draw up a contract and add theirsignature depending upon their commercial interests. People may come across the
problems of different language and culture. They may think that they have much incommon when they negotiate. However, they may notice that they have a different
attitude behind the negotiation and agreement. The use of a foreign language inagreement has a different meaning in some cases. For example, the use of force majeure
can be written in some ambiguous words without specific examples in Japaneseagreements. On the other hand, in English agreements those are written specifically with
sufficient examples. This is just a part of the difference between Japan and the West interms of thinking and expression caused by cross-cultural differences.
In addition to those three main themes, other JBCA members wrote specifically on
their own themes as follows:“Discourse in Business”, Hiromasa TANAKA (Meisei University),“Intercultural Business Discourse in a conference of Non-Japanese companies”, Misa
FUJIO (Toyo University),
12

“Communication Problems in Non-Japanese Employees”, Kashii FUKAYA (Suzuka
International University),“CSR in websites in Japanese companies and Non-Japanese companies”, Yukio
HISASHIMA (Osaka Prefecture University),“Crisis Communication in Japan”, Takehisa KOBAYASHI (Wako University),“Negotiation in Quality Control with the US head office of Intel”, Yasuo NAKATANI(Tokyo University of Science),“Verification of Japanese Style Negotiation”, Kazue AKUTSU (Kanagawa University),“Comparison of Loan agreements of Japanese Banks and Foreign Banks”, Yuichiro
YAMAMOTO (Meiji University),“Terms used in Trade documents”, Naoshi TAGUCHI (Waseda University),“Transport Documents as a means of Communication”, Ken NAGAMURA (Doshisha
University),“Communication in Electronic Commerce”, Kimihiro KOHNO (Gifu Shotoku Gakuen)
4. Relationship between JBCA and ABC
The JBCA has enjoyed academic exchanges with the Association for BusinessCommunication (hereafter ABC) in many ways. The present president, Hiromitsu
HAYASHIDA (Chuo University) became the president of ABC in 2012.
Many JBCA members attended the 11th Asia-Pacific Conference of ABC held at
Kyung Hee University in Seoul on March 29-31, 2012. Almost 40 Presentations were
given at the Conference, of which one-third of presentations was by JBCA members.
The program covered various areas, similar to the JBCA, including:a. Cross-Cultural Communicationb. Internal Stakeholder Communicationc. Industry-Specific Communication
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.

Teaching Business Communication
Communication in Global Business
External Stakeholder Communication
Trust in Communication
Information Technology in Communication
Communication and Rhetoric
Issues in Business Communication
Empathic Communication
Social Media in Communication
In 2013, the 12th Asia-Pacific Conference of ABC was held at Doshisha
13University in Kyoto on March 13-15. About 30% of presentations were made by JBCA
members. The programs mainly covered the following themes, including, but notlimited to:a. The art of business communication:
Simple, clear and focused forms of communication much like the practice of Zen
b. Globalization and intercultural communicationc. Business stakeholder communicationd. Perspectives from the business world: Case studies from various industries
e. Rhetoric: Traditional approaches of business communication
f. The role of business schools and academic institutions(Yuichiro YAMAMOTO, Meiji University, Yasuo NAKATANI, Hosei University)

14

THE JAPAN ASSOCIATIONFOR COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC STUDIES
Brief history of the JACES
The predecessor of the Japan Association for Comparative Economic Studies(JACES), “the Socialist Economy Study Group” was established in November 1963 as a
subdivision of the Japan Society of Political Economy. The “Group” was renamed “TheSociety of Socialist Economy” in November 1966. After the dissolution of the former
Soviet Union and the collapse of the socialist bloc, the Society was renamed “The Japan
Association for Comparative Economic Studies” in May 1993. Accordingly, the missionof the association changed from the study of socialist economies to the study of
economic systems. JACES had a membership of 100 in 1970, 200 in 1980, andcurrently 272.
During the early days of JACES, when it was named the Socialist Economy Study
Group, the studies conducted by its members centered around theoretical issues ofsocialist economies. The theme of the first conference of the “Group” held in 1963 wasUnderstanding of the Law of Socialist Economies. JACES, however, was eager to grasp
the realities of the socialist economies from its early stage. The theme of the seventh
annual conference held in 1967 was Distribution According to Labor and Material
Incentives. JACES has also been quick to pick up the new issues related to economic
reform of the socialist economies. The theme of the 22nd annual conference held in 1984
was Small Production and Business Units in Socialist Economies. The dissolution of theformer Soviet Union and the collapse of socialist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe
posed new challenges to the scholars of socialist economies. JACES quickly responded
to this challenge. The theme of the 32nd annual conference held in 1993 was The
Collapse of Socialism in Soviet Union and Eastern Europe – Its Roots, Current
Situation, and Prospects. Since being renamed JACES, the Association has redefined its
scope of study and added new fields of study to its mission, which is reflected in thethemes of the 51st and 52nd annual conferences, Varieties of Emerging Economies andExperiences of Socialism and Transition: Lessons for the Future, respectively.
Conferences in The Last Ten Years (2003-2012)
Since 2002, JACES holds conferences twice a year. A two-day conference is heldin June and a one-day conference is held in late October or early November. The venue
and the main topics discussed at the conferences during the past ten years are as follows.
The 43rd Annual Conference was held at the University of Tokyo during June15

6th-7th, 2003. The main session was entitled Transitional Economies from a Historical
Perspective, which invited three historians specializing in Russia, China, and Hungary.
Other sessions included “Small Business in the Transition Period,” “Social Security
Systems in Transitional Economies,” “The Global Environmental Problem andEconomic Systems,” “Regional Development and Regional Linkages in Transitional
Economies,” “Creating a Northeastern Asian Economic Region,” and “Comparative
Quantitative Economic Analysis of Environmental Problems,” each having three
speakers.
The Second Autumn Conference was held at Osaka City University on November
1 , 2003, with five speakers. One of the presentations was entitled “An Accounting
Approach to the Russian Economy.”
The 44th Annual Conference was held at Osaka University of Economics during
June 4th-5th, 2004. The sessions included “Eastern Enlargement of the European Union,”“The Current Situation of the North Korean Economy,” “The Reform, Development,
and Environment of Central Asia,” “The Current Status of the Northeastern AsianRegion,” each having two to three speakers.
The Third Autumn Conference was held at Chuo University on November 27th,st

2004. There were sixteen presentations at the conference, including “Hungary’s
Transformation and its Labor Market.”
The 45th Annual Conference was held at J.F. Oberlin University during June 4th-5th,
2005. Its main theme was Various Types of Market Economy – Developing Economies
and Transitional Economies, which gathered twelve presentations focusing on the issuesof economic development in Russia, Belarus, Hungary, Romania, Egypt, China, Laos,
Thailand, and Brazil.
The Fourth Autumn Conference was held at Meiji University on October 29th, 2005.
There were twelve presentations, including “Identifying the Structural Changes ofChina’s Spatial Production Linkages Using a Qualitative Input-Output Analysis.”
The 46th Annual Conference was held at Hitotsubashi University during June
10th-11th, 2006. The main theme was New Horizons of Comparative Economic Studies –Theoretical and Empirical Studies, which gathered three presentations regarding themethod of comparative economic system research, and two presentations regarding theregional disparities of China and Russia.
The Fifth Autumn Conference was held at Kobe University on October 28th, 2006.
There were ten presentations, including “Regional Migration in Russia.”
The 47th Annual Conference was held at Toyama University during June 2nd-3rd,
2007. The main session was entitled Development and Environment in East Asia, which16had three presentations. A special session entitled “Rethinking the 90th Anniversary of
the Russian Revolution – in Retrospect of the Forty Years of JACES” was organized,
which invited six senior scholars who actively participated in the activities of JACES
during its early days.
The Sixth Autumn Conference was held at Hosei University on October 27th, 2007.
The main session was entitled Has the Transition to Market Economy Ended? which
had three speakers focusing on Russia, China, and Romania, respectively. Also worth
noting is that a joint research workshop with the European Association of Comparative
Economic Studies (EACES) entitled “Exploring Russian Corporations: New Empirical
Evidence of Firm Organization and Corporate Governance” was organized, with two
speakers from Russia and one from Japan.
The 48th Annual conference was held at Takasaki City University of Economics
during May 31st-June 1st, 2008. The main sessions included “Various Approaches toComparative Study of Systems” and “Growth and Employment.” The former session
involved four speakers, and another session invited three reports.
The Seventh Autumn Conference was held at Yokohama National University on
October 18th, 2008. The first main session was entitled Brus and Kornai in the Topics ofSocialist Economic Systems: Retrospective Study and Evaluation, which had threepapers by senior scholars. The second main session was organized on the theme
Household and Poverty Economics in Transitional Economies, which also invited threereports by younger generation scholars.
The 49th Annual Conference was held at Kokugakuin University during June 6-7th,
2009. The main session was titled Economic Analysis on Dictatorship, which had four
reports, and studies on the Soviet Union under Stalin, North Korea, Communist China
under the Mao Zedong regime and Myanmar. Other than individual reports, a panel on
corporate governance in Russia was organized by three young scholars.
The Eighth Autumn Conference was held at Ritsumeikan University on October
24 . The main session was entitled Comparative Economic Analysis on World Financial
Crisis One-Year After: What Should Comparative Economic Studies Do?, which invitedfour speakers.
The 50th Annual Conference was held at Osaka City University during June 5-6th,
2010. The main session was titled Emerging Economies in the World, which had six
reports on the United States, the World Trade Organization, the International Money
Fund, China, Brazil and Russia. Other than individual reports, a panel on the Hungarian
economy was organized by three scholars.
The Ninth Autumn Conference was held at Sophia University on October 16th,th

17

2010. There were eight reports including an invited speech by Christopher Davis fromthe University of Oxford.
The 51st Annual Conference was held at Kobe University during June 4-5th, 2011.
The main session was titled Varieties of Emerging Economies: Typology ofLess-Developed Economies, which involved six speakers on Russia, Hungary, China,
Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Kenya. Three panels were organized on the following
issues: “Comparative Analysis on Environmental Loading Reduction”, “Changes in
Corporate Governance and Labor Management in Russian Firms” and “Frontiers ofFormer Soviet Economies based on Household Survey Data”.
The Tenth Autumn Conference was held at Hitotsubashi University on October 8th,
2011. This conference was organized with the European Association for Comparative
Economic Studies (EACES) and the Association for Comparative Economic Studies(ACES, United States). The main session was entitled Bubbles, Crisis, and Transition
Economies, and three reports were invited. Reports were presented by M. Signorelli(University of Perugia, EACES President) on “The Labor Market Impact of the
Financial Crises: A Comparative Approach”, J. C. Brada (Arizona State University,
ACES Executive Secretary) on “Transition in the Bubble Economy” and Masaaki
KUBONIWA (Hitotsubashi University, JACES President) on “The Impact of Oil Prices on
Transition”. Individual reports were made in parallel sessions with an EACES Asian
Workshop.
Most Recent Conferences
To show the recent interests of JACES members, the details of the most recent
conferences are described here.
1. The Pacific-Rim Conference
Conference on “Economic and Financial System Development in the Pacific-Rim
Region” organized by the Association for Comparative Economic Studies (the UnitedStates) and the Japanese Association for Comparative Economic Systems was held in
Honolulu, Hawaii during May 16-19, 2012. Reports involved and presented by Japanese
economists were: “Comparison of Russia, China and India in Terms of International
Reserve Accumulation” by Shinichiro TABATA (Hokkaido University); “Executive
Board: The Russian Experience” by Ichiro IWASAKI (Hitotsubashi University);“Evolutionary Perspective of International Production Networks in the Asia-PacificRegion” by Satoshi INOMATA (Institute of Developing Economies); “A Comparative
Analysis of the Impact of Oil Prices on Oil-Rich Emerging Economies in the Pacific18

Rim” by Masaaki KUBONIWA (Hitotsubashi University); “Development in Global
Economy: Middle Term Analysis of China, India, and Russia” by Akira UEGAKI (Seinan
Gakuin University) ; “Comparison of Trade Liberalizations in Russia, China and India”
by Yugo KONNO (Mizuho Research Institute); “What Develops Trade Credit? The Caseof Provinces in China” by Go YANO (Kyoto University) and Maho SHIRAISHI (Kitakyushu
University); “Mortality Trends in Russia Revisited: A Systematic Survey” by Kazuhiro
KUMO (Hitotsubashi University); “Emerging European Markets: Japan’s Viewpoint” by
Masahiro TOKUNAGA (Kansai University).
2. The 52nd Annual Conference
The 52nd Annual Conference was held during June 2-3, 2012, at Teikyo University.
In the main session devoted to the topic Experiences of Socialism and Transition:
Lessons for the Future three reports were presented as follows: “What Did The Study ofTransition Economies Contribute to Mainstream Economics?” by M. ELLMAN(University of Amsterdam, read by Akira UEGAKI in place of the author); “Economic
Transitions in Central and Eastern Europe: Any Lessons for the Arab Spring?” by P.
HAVLIK (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies); “The ‘Chinese
Model’ Reconsidered: Is It a New Development Model?” by Katsuji NAKAGANE(University of Tokyo). Following the reports a roundtable was organized, and Akira
UEGAKI (Seinan Gakuin University) and Manabu SUHARA (Nihon University) offeredcomments. A special panel was organized on “Comparative Economic Studies on
Nuclear Power Stations”. In this panel Shuji SHIMIZU (Fukushima University) andMasafumi YOKEMOTO (Osaka City University) reported. In the free split sessions, reports
were read as follows: “Population and Industrial Concentration, and Regional Disparity
in Russia, China and India” by Makoto HOSHINO (Hokkaido University); Coal in China
and India” by Nobuhiro HORII (Kyushu University); “Comparison on Free Trade Policy
in Russia, China and India” by Yugo KONNO (Mizuho Research Institute); “Shortage andthe Second Economy: Comparative Analysis on Soviet Union Republics” by Yoshisada
SHIDA (Hitotsubashi University); “Economic Reform by Deng Xiao Ping: Viewed from
Russia” by Ayako ASAKAWA (Hitotsubashi University); “Money Flows in the Soviet
Union, 1955-1962” by Yasushi NAKAMURA (Yokohama National University); “Effects ofFinancial/Monetary Policy in Russia” by Shigeki OHNO (Asahikawa University); “Rural
Finance in Central-West China” by Un NIN (J.F. Oberlin University); “Fiscal Investment
and Regional Development in Russia” by A. BELOV (University of Fukui Prefecture;“Competitiveness of Russia’s Manufacturing Industry” by Riichi TABATA (Osaka City
University); “Textile Industry in Russia under Transition: Viewed as a Process of Soviet
19Economic Systems’ Collapse” by Katsumi FUJIWARA (Osaka University).
The Eleventh Autumn Conference
The 11th Autumn Conference was held on October 20th, 2012 at Osaka University.
In the main session devoted to the topic Micro-Econometric Analysis on the Chinese
Economy two reports were presented as follows: “Income and Health Disparity in
Urban China: Empirical Analysis using Individual Data from CHIP2008” by MA Xinxin(Kyoto University); “Efficiency of Trade Credit Finance in China: An Empirical Study
Using Firm-Level Panel Data from Coastal Areas” by Maho SHIRAISHI (Kitakyushu
University) and Go YANO (Kyoto University). Yuka TAKEDA (Hitotsubashi University)and Shiroh HIOKI (Tohoku University) offered comments. A special panel on “50 yearsof the Society’s Journal: History and Prospects” was organized. In the panel former
managing editors, Sei FUJITA (Osaka City University), Shohzaburo SAKAI (Chuo
University), Yasushi NAKAMURA (Yokohama National University) and Ichiro IWASAKI(Hitotsubashi University) presented. In the free split sessions, reports were read as
follows: “Labor Market Reform and Its Impact in Germany in 2000s” by Mihoko
SATOGAMI (Kyoto University); “Fundamental Problems in Supporting Industries’
Development In Vietnam” by Hong DO MANH (J.F. Oberlin University); “A Snapshot of
the Rural Life in Late 1930s Soviet Union” by Takeo HIDAI (Saitama Gakuen
University); “Factors of Growth in Russia’s Grain Exports and Future Tasks” by Kenji
NAGATOMO (Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries).
The Japanese Journal of Comparative Economics
JACES publishes The Japanese Journal of Comparative Economics twice a year,
which was renamed from the former Bulletin of the Japanese Association for
Comparative Economic Studies. The articles and research notes contained in the Journal
are reviewed by two anonymous referees. The first volume of the Journal was
published after the first conference of the Socialist Economy Study Group in 1963.
From the first issue until recently, the Journal’s main purpose was to publish the papers
presented at the annual conference. Since 2001, the Journal accepts submissions fromall members, not only those who made presentations at the conference, and all
submissions are subject to the examination by anonymous referees.
The most recent issues are volume 49 and volume 50, which contain the following
articles:201. Volume 49, Number 1, issued in January 2012, contains a number of articles:“Economic Growth of China and a Decentralized System of Economic
Development” by Kai KAJITANI (Kobe University); “The Current Stage of theVietnamese Economy: An Assessment from the Perspective of Development
and Transition” by Van Tho TRAN (Kobe University); “State-owned Enterprise
Restructuring and New Firm Formation in a Transition Economy: The Case of
Uzbekistan” by Viktoriya KAN (Teikyo University); “Household Money
Income and Expenditure in the Soviet Republics: Re-estimation, 1960-1989”
by Yoshisada SHIDA (Hitotsubashi University).
2. Volume 49, Number 2, issued in June 2012, contains the following papers:“Kenya's Fragmental Economic Regime with Dissociation: Political Economy
of Oligarchy and ‘Tribalism’” by Motoki TAKAHASHI (Kobe University); “Saudi
Arabia: A Study of Rentier State Capitalism” by Takeru HOSOI (Kokugakuin
University); “The New Model Charter of Kolkhoz and Soviet Peasants from1935 to 1937: State Certifications and Arrangements of Land Use in the Urals”
by Takeo HIDAI (Saitama Gakuen University).
3. Volume 50, Number 1, issued in January 2013, contains the articles listed
below: “What Did the Study of Transition Economies Contribute to
Mainstream Economics?” by M. ELLMAN (University of Amsterdam);“Economic Transitions in Central and Eastern Europe: Any Lessons for the
Arab Spring?” by P. HAVLIK (Vienna Institute for International Economic
Studies); “The China Model Revisited: Is it a New Development/Transition
Model?” by Katsuji NAKAGANE (University of Tokyo).
(Kazuhiro KUMO, Hitotsubashi University)

21

THE JAPANESE SOCIETY FOR THE HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHTThe Japanese Society for the History of Economic Thought (JSHET) wasestablished in 1950 with 113 members for the purpose of promoting research in thehistory of social and economic thought and communication with the domestic andinternational academic circles in those fields. JSHET has 653 members as of May 2013.
In the following I show the recent activities of JSHET since the last report whichappeared in the bulletin for 2007 (no. 27).
1. Regular activities(1) Annual conferences
Table 1 presents the numbers of the papers which have been read at the annual
conferences in the last twelve years, classified according to the century on which thepapers are written. Firstly, in general, through twelve years, with some exceptions, thenumber of the papers on the 20th century and after is the greatest, the 19th century
comes next, and then the 18th century and before is the lowest. Comparing the former
six years and the latter, you can see that fewer papers on the 20th century and the 19th
century and more on the 18th century were read in the recent six years. Particularly inthe latest three years, the 19th century seems not so popular as before, though it is too
hasty to say that it is part of a long-term trend.
Table 1: Number of presentations classified by periods which they discuss
66th

67th

68th

69th

70th

71st

(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)

5

3

2

11

5

6

33

8

8

7

12

8

12

55

10

16

18

15

13

16

88

subtotal

total

39

72

subtotal-18
century
19
century
20
century-

72nd

73rd

74th

75th

76th

77th

(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)

5

8

5

9

3

9

-18
century

22

19
10

10

11

2

6

5

44

99

15

8

11

17

18

10

79

167

century
20
century-

Source: The programs and proceedings of JSHET conferences.
Note: When the period on issue extends over two centuries, the century which is the
major stage of the paper is counted.
Besides, it is noticeable that in the period of 2008 to 2013, eight papers on
methodology were read, while there were only four in the forerunning six years.
However, given that these four papers were all for the 2007 session, entitled ‘The
development of methodology in British political economy’, methodology became apopular subject only after 2007.
Table 2: Names in the titles of conference programs from 2002 to 2013
A. SMITH

15 (15)

D. HUME

4 (3)L. C. ROBBINS

2 (1)R. G. HAWTREY

1 (2)R. MALTHUS

10 (4)

J. TURGOT

4 (0)S. and B. WEBB

2 (1)J. LOCKE

1 (2)A. C. PIGOU

9 (5)F. A. von HAYEK

4 (4)P. PREVOST

2 (0)O. BAUER

0 (3)D. RICARDO

7 (5)J. STEUART

3 (2)R. CANTILLON

2 (0)J. A. HOBSON

0 (3)J. M. KEYNES

6 (11)

L. WALRAS

3 (2)R. HILFERDING

2 (0)F. Y. EDGEWORTH0 (2)K. MARX

6 (6)

W. H.

2(2)

A. V. KNEESE

2 (0)N. KALDOR

0 (2)BEVERIDGE 2
A. MARSHALL

5 (7)P. SRAFFA

2 (2)N. KOBAYASHI

2 (0)R. E. LUCAS

0 (2)J. S. MILL

5 (6)K. G. MYRDAL

2 (1)J. R. COMMONS

1 (3)A. SEN0 (2)J. H. von

5 (1)K. POLANYI

2 (1)T. B. VEBLEN

1 (3)H. SIDGWICK

0 (2)THUENEN

Source: The programs and proceedings of JSHET conferences.
Note: Numbers in brackets are for 2002 to 2007 and numbers without brackets for 2008
to 2013. Book titles in the titles of articles are counted as their authors.
Table 2 lists the names of economic thinkers which appear on the programs of theannual conferences, accompanied with their frequency in 2008-2013 and 2002-2007(the latter in brackets). It shows that Adam SMITH has kept his absolute popularity all thetime. Besides, MALTHUS, PIGOU, RICARDO, KEYNES, MARX, MARSHALL and J. S. MILL are thenames which can be regularly found through both periods. However, while thefrequency of MALTHUS and PIGOU almost doubled, KEYNES was reduced by half. In the23case of PIGOU, the increase of the number of papers on him is due to his popularity
among young members of JSHET. But, concerning the case of KEYNES, we must be
careful when understanding the reason for his decreasing popularity. In recent years
more conferences and seminars focusing on specific subjects, such as RICARDO, KEYNES
and economic thought with relations to them, have been held than before. The RicardoSociety and The Japanese Society for Post Keynesian Economics, in fact, have beenquite active and the Keynes Society Japan was established during these years.1 Itmeans that there have been increasing opportunities outside JSHET for the researchers
to make presentations on those subjects.
Table 3: Number of foreign participants in JSHET conferences
Year

of

conference

Number of the presentations by participants from abroad(venue)2007 (Fukuoka)

3 (U.S.A., Brazil, Germany)

2008 (Matsuyama)

2 (Brazil, Netherlands)

2009 (Tokyo)

1 (Italy)2010 (Toyama)

2 (Canada, Turkey)

2011 (Kyoto)

3 (Taiwan, Canada, Philippines)

2012 (Otaru)

02013 (Osaka)

0

Source: The programs and proceedings of JSHET conferences.
Note: The listed countries are the locations of the organizations to which the foreign
participants belong.
Since the acceptance of applicants from abroad in 2007, a few foreign speakers
have regularly participated and read papers at the annual conferences, as shown in table
3. However, in 2012 and 2013 there were no foreign participants. It may be because of
the general worry about earthquakes and, above all, the confusion inside JSHET overdealing with the situations after the earthquake in 2011, which we will see in the next
section.
Lastly, the JSHET conference organizes biennially a special session. Their themes
were “The economic thought of poverty and welfare” in 2008, “The formation of thehistory of economic thought” in 2010, and “How economic thought has dealt with1

See http://www.ricardosociety.com/ (The Ricardo Society) andhttp://www.kisc.meiji.ac.jp/~pk/pk.htm (The Japanese Society for Post Keynesian Economics),
http://keynes-society.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2013-01-05 (Keynes Society Japan).
24

liberalism” in 2012.
(2) Fukushima issue
The great earthquake of 2011 in East Japan threw its shadow on JSHET activities
after that. The annual conference of 2011 had been, coincidentally, planned to be held at
Fukushima University in May, which is two months after the earthquake. But thesituation of the Fukushima area was getting worse, so that it was unavoidable toreconsider the place of the conference. Within March, the general council, based on
deliberation by e-mail, decided to postpone the annual conference at Fukushima and in
April, again after deliberation by the general council by e-mail, it was announced thatthe annual conference of 2011 would be held at Kyoto University in November and thatthe next conference would be held at Fukushima University in May 2012. But, as thecircumstances around Fukushima stayed uncertain or seemed even to be getting worse,
the executive board proposed that the annual conference of 2012 should be changed
from Fukushima University to Otaru University of Commerce, and this was approvedby the general council by e-mail in early October.
Soon after this decision was announced on the mailing list of JSHET, however,opinions against it were expressed there. In the regular meeting of the general council in
November, it was proposed to reconsider the place of the annual conference for 2012.
Nevertheless, both at this meeting and at the general assembly next day the change ofthe place from Fukushima to Otaru was approved.
However, after these decisions, particularly on the mailing list, heated, sometimes
emotional discussions continued. In early December of 2012 four JSHET members,
including two council members, made a statement of protest against the president andthe executive board members of JSHET. Eight members including these four announced
their withdrawals from JSHET and the names of twelve members intending to remain in
JSHET were listed on that statement as their supporters. On 11th March 2012 an
extraordinary meeting of the general council was held and it decided to start a working
group for investigating these series of “Fukushima affairs”. At a regular meeting of thecouncil in May five members were named as the members of the working group. Theygave the report to the regular meeting of the general council in November. The report
points out some problems of JSHET which caused the confusion, such as thedecision-making process of the president and the executive board and the managementof the mailing list.
(3) The History of Economic Thought
25

JSHET publishes its official journal, The History of Economic Thought, twice ayear. In table 4, which lists the names of economic thinkers being found in the titles of
the articles, D. RICARDO appears four times, A. SMITH three; both of whom are also
popular figures in the annual conferences. However, MALTHUS never appears and PIGOU
just once, though they often appear as the subjects of the conferences. It may be because
the researchers on MALTHUS have The Malthus Society and its official journal, The
Annual Bulletin of the Malthus Society, while The Ricardo Society does not have its
own journal.
In these six years, there were four projected series of articles. The first of them is aseries on “The history of economic thought in transitional countries”. It picks up thetrends in economic thoughts of recent decades in Russia (50 (1)), Poland (51 (2)), andBulgaria (52 (2)). The second series includes three papers on “Economic thought onmarket economy and welfare” with issues such as “Ricardo on poverty” (50 (2)),“Economic thought in early modern Japan” (52 (1)), and “the French political economy
from the 1780s to the 1830s” (52 (1)). The subject of the third series is “Economic
thought of the ‘Chicago School’”. This series features four economists: F. KNIGHT (53(1)), F. A. von HAYEK (53 (2)), M. FRIEDMAN (54 (1)), and R. E. LUCAS (54 (2)). The
fourth is on Japanese historians of economic thought. The articles on N. KOBAYASHI (54(1)) and S. SUGIHARA (54 (2)) have already been published so far and more will follow.
In addition to those above, though they were not parts of the series, there were threearticles introducing the recent trends of the researches on Adam SMITH in threeconsecutive numbers. They focus on the three aspects: SMITH’s rhetoric and linguistics(52 (1)), the making of The Wealth of Nations (53 (1)), and SMITH’s realism (53 (2)).
Table 4: Names in the titles of HET.
Number (year)

Names of economic thinkers on the titles of articles

49-1 (2007)

C. JUGLAR, J. SCHUMPETER, MONTESQUIEU, R. TORRENS, J. S. MILL,
F. Y. EDGEWORTH, R. HILFERDING, R. F. HARROD, K. G. MYRDAL

49-2 (2007)

J. STEUART, T. B. VEBLEN, N. D. KONDRATIEV, S. de WOLFF

50-1 (2008)

S. and B. WEBB, J. A. HOBSON, T. KANDA

50-2 (2009)

D. RICARDO, W. KAPP, J. R. COMMONS, J. B. ANDREWS, I. M. RUBINOW, A. C. PIGOU

51-1 (2009)

L. WALRAS, T. TOOKE, F. LAVINGTON, K. G. MYRDAL

51-2 (2010)

K. POLANYI, A. MARSHALL

52-1(2010)

S. DAZAI, K. MENGER, W. KAPP, A. SMITH

52-2(2011)

D. RICARDO, K. MARX, L. WALRAS, W. ROEPKE, D. DEFOE, J. S. MILL

53-1(2011)

D. RICARDO, F. KNIGHT, D. DEFOE, J. PRIESTLEY, D. STEWART, A. SMITH
26

53-2(2012)

A.SMITH, W. S. JEVONS, F. A. von HAYEK

54-1(2012)

N. KOBAYASHI, M. FRIEDMAN, W. KAPP, J. E. CAIRNES, R. CANTILLON

54-2(2013)

S. SUGIHARA, H. KAWAKAMI, R. E. LUCAS, J. A. HOBSON, L. T. HOBHOUSE,
D. RICARDO

Source: The History of Economic Thought, vol. 49 (1) – vol. 54 (2).
2. Publication of books in English
JSHET has supported two publications of the books in English in these six years.
One of them is The dissemination of economic ideas, edited by H. D. KURZ, T. NISHIZAWA,
and K. TRIBE (2011). Another is Subjectivism and objectivism in the history of economics,edited by K. YAGI and Y. IKEDA (2013). The former was a by-product of the
ESHET-JSHET joint conference in 2009 at Tokyo and Kyoto. The book consists of thechapters written by eleven foreign and five Japanese authors, most of which was basedon the papers read at that conference. It illustrates the dissemination process of
economic ideas chronologically ─ mercantilist era to today, and geographically ─Europe, America, and Japan. The latter was, as the title describes, a book on the tensions
between subjectivism and objectivism in the history of economics, written by teninternationally quite active Japanese scholars.
3. Joint meetings of JSHET and ESHET
After the first joint meeting of JSHET and ESHET (European Society for theHistory of Economic Thought) at the University of Nice in 2006, the second meeting
was held from 21 to 22 March in 2009 at Hitotsubashi University and on 24 at Kyoto
University under the general theme, Dissemination of Economic Ideas. 23 papers wereread by foreign participants (three of which were joint-papers with Japanese) and 11 by
JSHET members. As above mentioned, later a book based on the papers of thisconference was edited and published.
On 13 to 15 September 2012 the third joint conference was held at the Universityof Corsica. The theme was Crises and Space in the History of Economic Thought. There
were 13 and 20 speakers from the Japanese and European side respectively.
4. Supports for young scholars
In recent years JSHET has worked on projects to bring up young scholars. The
JSHET Award for Encouragement of Research and the Young Scholar Seminars are two
major ones.
The awards given since 2008 are the following (all of which are written in
27

Japanese)2:
2008 Ryou HONGOU, Pigou’s ideas and economics in the intellectual atmosphere ofCambridge, The University of Nagoya Press, 2007.
2008 Jou ISHII, “Unemployment in John Barton’s machinery theory”, The Historyof Economic Thought, vol. 48 (2), 2006.
2009 Takayuki NAKAMURA, Harrod’s ideas and dynamic economics, Nippon Hyoron
Sha, 2008.
2009 Taku ERIGUCHI, “The Webbs on ‘National Efficiency’: free trade, national
minimum, and the LSE”, The History of Economic Thought, vol. 50 (1), 2008.
2010 Daisuke NAKAI, Utilitarianism and economics: the range of Sidgwick’s
practical philosophy, Kouyou-shobou, 2009.
2010 Takuji YAMANE, “William Kapp’s theory of science integration and substantive
rationality: reconstruction of the “social cost theory” from a human sciences
perspective”, The History of Economic Thought, vol. 50 (2), 2009.
2011 Nanako FUJITA, Myrdal’s economics: from welfare state to welfare world, NTT
Publishing, 2010.
2011 Naoto MORI, Justice and government in Hume: ambivalence of civilizedsociety, Sobunsha, 2010.
2012 Tomoyuki ARAI, “Dugald Stewart on poor relief: on the question of poverty
after Adam Smith”, The History of Economic Thought, vol. 53(1), 2011.
2013 Midori WAKAMORI, Karl Polanyi: market society, democracy, and liberty ofman, NTT Publishing, 2011.
Following the launch of the project in 2006, nine Young Scholars Seminars were
held. Topics and methods the seminars offered were various, such as practices ofpresentation in Japanese and English, preparations for contributing papers to English
journals, skills and methods to deal with literatures and other sources, and the trends ofcontemporary economics.
5. Summary
In general, during the period we have seen here, while JSHET continued its regular
activities as before, it has expanded the projects of encouraging young scholars andwidening and deepening its international relationship. On the other hand, it is a fact that
JSHET has faced unexpected difficulties such as the “Fukushima affairs”, which more
2

English of the titles of books are translations of mine.
28

or less divided the society, and a gradual decrease in the number of members, as table 5shows. JSHET has certainly taken appropriate measures against these situations but
seems to still be required to find true ways to improve the quality of the research of thehistory of economic thought.
Table 5: Number of JSHET members
Date

Member

2007

2007

2007

2008

2008

2009

2009

2010

2010

2011

2011

2012

2012

Nov

Jun

Dec

May

Nov

Jun

Nov

May

Nov

Jun

Nov

Jun

Nov

758

746

751

734

740

724

722

712

715

697

702

685

685

Source: The Society for the History of Economic Thought Newsletter, vols. 29-40,
2007-2012.
(Seiichiro ITO, Ohtsuki City College)

29

THE JAPANESE ASSOCIATION OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING (JAMA)
1. General Description of the Society
The Japanese Association of Management Accounting (JAMA), founded in 1991,
is the premier academic organization devoted to the study and promotion of knowledge
about management accounting. The Association is a voluntary organization ofindividuals interested in management accounting research and education. The
approximately 750 of JAMA’s members are categorized as follows:(a) Full Member(1) Persons engaged in research and education of management accounting or a
related field in a university, junior college, or a vocational school.
(2) Specialists, such as certified public accountants and licensed tax
accountants, and(3) Individuals with business management experience in a company.
(b) Student Member
Graduate students with a major in management accounting or a related fieldcurrently enrolled in accredited institutions.
(c) Supporting Member
Individuals or corporations in agreement with the purpose of the Association
who wish to support the Association.
As an academic organization of management accounting, JAMA, through its
Executive Committee, is well positioned to provide a unique set of services to its
members and to promote the validity, visibility, and diversity of the discipline. Working
at the national and international levels, the Association aims to articulate policy, andimplement programs likely to have the broadest possible impact for management
accounting now and in the future.
2. Annual Conferences
The annual conference is the biggest event of JAMA. The conference usually takes
three days and consists of round table discussions and free-theme sessions. The unified
theme and the host institutions where annual conferences have been held since 2008 are
as follows:(1) 2008 Annual Conference
The 2008 Annual Conference was held on August 29-31, 2008 at Konan University
under the unified theme of Intangibles and Management Accounting, chaired by Noboru
30

HARADA (Tokyo University of Science). 39 papers were presented in free-theme
sessions.
(2) 2009 Annual Conference
The 2009 Annual Conference was held on August 28-30, 2009 at Asia University
under the unified theme of Intangibles and Management Accounting, chaired by
Takayuki ASADA (Osaka University). 23 papers were also presented in free-theme
sessions.
(3) 2010 Annual Conference
The 2010 Annual Conference was held on September 3-5, 2010 at Waseda
University under the unified theme of Management Accounting as a Control Function,
chaired by Noboru HARADA (Tokyo University of Science). 44 papers were alsopresented in free-theme sessions.
(4) 2011 Annual Conference
The 2011 Annual Conference was held on October 7-9, 2011 at Kansai University
under the unified theme of Management Accounting Research: Current Status andFuture Issues, chaired by Noboru OGURA (Aoyama Gakuin University). 49 papers werealso presented in free-theme sessions.
(5) 2012 Annual Conference
The 2012 Annual Conference was held on August 24-26, 2012 at Kokushikan
University under the unified theme of Management Accounting Research and its
Methodology, chaired by Tatsushi YAMAMOTO (Osaka University). 40 papers were alsopresented in free-theme sessions.
(6) 2013 Annual Conference
2013 Annual Conference was held on September 13-15, 2013 at Ritsumeikan
University under the unified theme of Industry-Academia Collaboration in Management
Accounting and Action Research, chaired by Norio SAWABE (Kyoto University). 33
papers were presented in free-theme sessions. A special lecture was also provided by K.
LUKKA (Turku School of Economics), titled “There and Back Again: Interventionist
Research in Management Accounting.”
3. Publication
31

JAMA publishes its official journal, The Journal of Management Accounting,Japan, semiannually in Japanese. The present Editor-in-Chief is Hiromitsu SATO,
Waseda University. The Journal of Management Accounting, Japan has various sections,such as articles, invited articles, research notes, case studies, and book reviews. Articles
in the Journal are selected through a double-blind referee system. The scope of
acceptable articles embraces all subjects related to management accounting andmanagement practices as long as the articles meet the criteria established for publicationin the journal. Manuscripts apart from articles are also selected through a review by asingle referee according to the policy set by the editorial board. The recent contents of
the Journal of Management Accounting, Japan are as follows:
Volume 20, No.1, 2012
ArticlesKenji YASUTAKA (Kinki University) and Isamu OGATA (Yamagata University), “Earnings
Management under Pressure to Attain an Earnings Benchmark: Do Managers Cut
R&D Expenditure to Achieve an Earnings Benchmark during an Accounting
Period?”Norio OGOSHI (Waseda University and Samantha Thavasa Japan Limited), “Corporate
Governance of the Firms Adopting Takeover Defense Measures and its Evaluationby the Stock Market.”
Kazunori FUKUSHIMA (Seinan Gakuin University), “The Effects of Management Control
Systems on Product Innovation: An Exploratory Study.”
Naoto WATANABE (Tokyo Metropolitan University), “The Effect of Control Systems
using Balanced Scorecard on Financial Consciousness and Nonfinancial
Consciousness.”
Study Note
Masahiko FUKUDA (University of Tsukuba), “Research of Japanese Companies’
Understanding on Brand Management.”
Volume 20, No.2, 2012
ArticlesYoko KINUGASA (Shiga University), “The Function of Management Accounting in
Hospital Management: Hospital Budget and Management Control System.”Akihiro YAMADA (Nagoya City University), “Tax Costs, Book-Tax Difference, andEarnings Management: Empirical Evidence from Japan.”Michitoshi YAMADA (Asia University) and Toyohiko HACHIYA (Hitotsubashi University),32

“Conglomerate Investment and Internal Capital Market Efficiency.”
Koji UMEDA (Nagoya City University), “Research on International Transfer Pricing
Practices in Japanese Multinational Enterprises.”
Study Note
Masanobu FUKUSHIMA (Kobe University), “Examining the Concept of Control Package.”
Invited Articles
Nobuo OGURA (Aoyama Gakuin University), “Recent Management Accounting
Researches and Current Issues.”
Kazunori ITO (Senshu University), “Management of Intangibles based on Balanced
Scorecard.”
Youichi KUBOTA (Osaka Prefecture University), “Inter Organizational Cost Managementin Supply Chains: A Review and Agenda for Future Research.”
Masafumi FUJINO (Nihon University), “Public Management Reform and New
Perspective on Management Accounting Research.”
Volume 21, No.1, 2013
Invited Articles
Tatsushi YAMAMOTO (Osaka University), “Management Accounting Research and Its
Methodology.”
Fumiyoshi WATANABE (Tokyo Keizai University), “Aim and Contribution of Analytical
Management.”
Fumihiko KIMURA (Tohoku University), “The Empirical Research Framework inManagement Accounting.”
Satoshi TAGUCHI (Doshisha University), “A Study on an Experimental Research inManagerial Accounting.”
Shogo KIMURA (Nagoya University), “The Significance of Qualitative Research forManagement Accounting Research.”
Volume 21, No.2, 2013
ArticlesMasanobu FUKUSHIMA (Kobe University), Hiromi YONEMITSU (ESPEC Corp.), Kohei ARAI
(Gunma University), and Takehisa KAJIWARA (Kobe University), “The Effect ofManagement Plans on Firm Performance.”
Kenichi NAGASAWA (Tsukuba University) and Akitoshi ITO (Hitotsubashi University),“The Effect of Intangible Investment on Earnings Management in Japanese Firms:
An Analysis Focused on Research and Development Investment.”33

Hirofumi ASADA (Osaka University of Economics), Kohji YOSHIKAWA (Kumamoto
Gakuen University), and Yasuyuki KAZUSA (Kyoto University), “Management
Accounting Change in Nidec Corporation.”
Nobuo KITAO (Kansai Gaidai University College of Foreign Studies), “The Option Value
Evaluation Behavior of Japanese Firms in Investment Decision-Marking.”
4. International Journal
JAMA publishes an international journal as a supplement to The Journal ofManagement Accounting, Japan. It contains research papers that address significant
issues in the field of accounting and management. To provide a balanced presentation ofarticles, the journal solicits contributions from the fields of financial accounting andreporting, management accounting, auditing, taxation, management information systems,
financial management and interdisciplinary studies. Research papers should betheoretical based and/or empirical based. Interdisciplinary studies and/or comparative
studies of practices among countries are encouraged.
The idea of publishing a supplement as an international journal of management
accounting in Japan was the brainchild of the third president, Takao T ANAKA. He held
research seminars at Aoyama Gakuin University and encouraged speakers to author
their papers in English. In November 2004 he organized the International Forum of
Accounting at Aoyama Gakuin University, and welcomed Professor J. A. OHLSON of
Arizona State University as the main speaker. Professor OHLSON’s invited article for the
first supplement issue is based on his presentation at the Forum. In it he introduces his
novel concept of mathematical models for valuing equities and it was indeed an honor
to be able to publish it in the first issue.
Takao TANAKA’s idea for an international journal was adopted by the fourthpresident, Masayasu TANAKA, and the directors of the board in April 2005. The five otherarticles in this issue were selected through the same double-blind referee system used by
The Journal of Management Accounting, Japan. Masao TSUJI, former Editor-in-Chief,
wrote in its editorial as follows:“I am confident that all the articles in this issue conform to the primary goal of
widely disseminating leading-edge research on accounting and promoting
communication among researchers both inside and outside Japan.
The Supplement series, of which this is the first, will be open to researchers in allareas of accounting with contributions encompassing theory, empirics and experiments.
My principal goal as Editor-in-Chief will be to offer articles of high quality for aprofessional audience. I hope that articles of the Supplement series will not only open
34

new horizons and bring new insights but also deepen our understanding of the field of
accounting. Everyone connected with publication of the series is committed tomaintaining the highest standards of excellence.”
The authors and their research papers in the first supplement issue were as
follows:
1. James A. OHLSON, “Accounting Based Valuation Formulae.”
2. Masao OKUHARA, Masayasu TANAKA and Hiroo HIROSE, “A New Evaluation
Method of Interaction Effects Using Compound Added Functions and theAnalysis on its Relationship to the Attributes of Potential Customers.”
3. Toyohiko HACHIYA and Pablo Gonzalo RAMIREZ, “Integrated Management
Control System for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.”
4. Isamu OGATA and Yoshihiko TSUKUDA, “Effects of Advertising and R&D on
the Intangible Assets for the Japanese Manufacturing Firms: A Panel Data
Analysis.”
5. Gilles HILARY and Tomoki OSHIKA, “Shareholder Activism with Weak
Corporate Governance: Social Pressure, Private Cost and Organized
Crime.”
6. Chien-min Kevin PAN, “Operating Performance of Japanese Firms with
Large Cash Holdings during the Bubble Economy.”
JAMA also plans to publish a second international journal by the end of the year
2013 for the 20th anniversary of JAMA’s establishment.
(Atsushi SHIIBA, Osaka University)

35

JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
1. General Description
The Japan Association for Management Systems (Nihon Keiei Shisutemu Gakkai:
JAMS) was founded in 1981 as an interdisciplinary association organized by university
professors and academic theoretical and empirical researchers from public and privateorganizations. The founding spirit and objectives of JAMS are to contribute to humansociety and management systems and to propose new models of logical thinking
covering a wide range of cross-disciplines between the social and natural sciences in thefield of management systems.
Currently, the subject of integration of various management resources in a
corporation is becoming more and more important. A sound establishment ofmanagement ideas in the areas of integration, investigation of human nature, innovation
inside an organization, the global environment and its contribution to the world are
indispensable subjects in the development of strategic management. In addition, productdevelopment and market capability also play a significant role, together with theinnovation of business processes by Information and Communication Technology (ICT),in advancing the construction of new business models.
Through its continuing efforts to promote Science and Technology development,
JAMS identifies and solves various corporation management problems with aforward-looking commitment “to design management by an integration of engineering,
information and social science”. JAMS is a research group that has a global vision in
addressing real world issues with realistic and effective thinking and through thedevelopment of new techniques to contribute to the field of management systems. In
addition, research findings have found practical application to the economy and society,and certain progress has been made in system reforms such as the improvement ofsystems to cultivate young researchers.
2. Organization and Current Activities
JAMS consists of several sections. The head office manages the main work formembers and acts in conjunction with the board of directors, the board of editorial
members which publishes JAMS journals, and the board of information members whichorganizes JAMS news releases and conferences, for example.
The Kansai Branch Office, the Chubu Branch Office and the Chugoku-Shikoku
Branch Office manage regional activities such as organizing presentation meetings,
hosting the Kansai, the Chubu and the Chugoku-Shikoku regional research meetings,
36

providing support at conferences, and so on. As of March 2013, the Association has 521
individual members and 125 student members.
Table 1. JAMS MEMBERS

3. Semiannual National Conferences
The semiannual national conference of JAMS is usually held for two days each inspring and fall. A unified theme, currently considered to be a meaningful andappropriate topic for lively discussion, is set up by the host university and the executive
committee at each conference. The semiannual conference usually consists of four
sessions: unified theme papers, a keynote speech, special lectures and free theme papers.
These sessions provide a venue where research topics in social and natural science
disciplines can be presented and discussed by panels composed of management andorganization theorists, economists, sociologists, political scientists and management
engineers.
Each presentation session, including discussions and questions, takes 30 minutes,
while student presentation sessions, which are open to undergraduate and graduate
students, take 20 minutes. The programs of the semiannual conferences are edited by
the program committee and the executive committee.
4. Publications
JAMS publishes a bulletin titled the Journal of the Japan Association for
37

Management Systems. It is published three times a year. Technical papers, research
papers, case studies and commentaries are edited by the Association’s Editorial
Committee. The Committee selects two referees and requests them to review thesubmitted papers. After review and acceptance, the paper is carried in the Journal.
JAMS also publishes international journals once a year. The International Journalof the Japan Association for Management Systems (IJAMS) was first issued in 2009 as aresult of the international conference (JAMS/JAIMS ICBI2008) which was held in 2008.
The review system of IJAMS is the same as that of the Journal of the Japan Association
for Management Systems: Technical papers, research papers, case studies andcommentaries are edited by the IJAMS Association’s Editorial Committee. The
Committee selects two referees and requests them to review the submitted papers. After
review and acceptance, the paper is carried in the IJAMS. The association has justcalled for papers to publish the 5th issue in 2013.
Finally, the Association publishes a newsletter titled JAMS News, which is editedby the Association's Information Committee. It is published four times a year. JAMS
News announces the dates of study meetings and calls for paper submissions for theannual national conferences. It is a necessary and useful means of effective
communication for members.
5. Recent Research Activities of JAMS
Recently, with the advancement of information the worldwide competition among
companies has become increasingly severe. Study can no longer focus on only one fieldof knowledge, but must be broadened in terms of field knowledge and perspective. The
integration, fusion and optimization of management resources in a company are now
regarded as very important factors for a company to solve social, economic, andmanagement problems. The current situation in management study emphasizes thefusion of application of methodologies in both natural science and social science.
Studies and research in management fields are required to be developed and deepened.
In particular, innovation in management systems and the systemization of businessadministration have become strategically essential subjects. Recent research activities of
JAMS have studied and proposed new models and logical thinking theories as well as
applications to solve new problems in the information era. Some scholars andresearchers study and explore the possibilities of applying new theories to solve
management problems and focus on key business areas such as strategy, information
systems, human resources, marketing, and accounting. Currently, management quality,
global supply chain management, environmental management, sustainable development,
38

green productivity, discrimination in the workplace, industry analysis, competitive
advantage and corporate governance are the topics most explored in recent research
activities of JAMS.
6. Latest semiannual Conferences
The locations and unified themes of semiannual conferences held from 2006 to2013 are as follows:
The 36th at Tokai University Junior College Division in May 2006 with theunified theme: Environment Change and Risk Management.
A keynote speech, a commemorative lecture, a unified theme paper and 69 freetheme papers were presented.
The 37th at Osaka Institute of Technology in December 2006 with the unified
theme: Education of Management and Its Systems.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, six unified theme papers and 82 free theme
papers were presented.
The 38th at Nihon University in May 2007 with the unified theme: Innovation andManagement Systems – change to deal with.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, two unified theme papers and 56 free theme
papers were presented.
The 39th at Nakamura Gakuen University in December 2007 with the unified
theme: Globalization and Japanese Management.
A keynote speech, a special lecture and 64 free theme papers were presented.
The 40th at Nagaoka University of Technology in June 2008 with the unified
theme: Management Systems for Innovative Opportunities.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, two unified theme papers and 62 free theme
papers were presented.
The 41st at Ritsumeikan University in December 2008 with the unified theme:
Technology Management and Management Systems.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, three unified theme papers and 59 free theme
papers were presented.
39

The 42nd at Niigata University of International and Information Studies in May
2009 with the unified theme: Community Design-Lessons Learned in Niigata-.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, there unified theme papers and 54 free theme
papers were presented.
The 43rd at Kyushu Sangyo University in November 2009 with the unified theme:
Management Systems to Survive the Economic Depression.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, two unified theme papers and 70 free theme
papers were presented.
The 44th at Tokai University in June 2010 with the unified theme: Quality ofManagement on Management Systems.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, eleven unified theme papers, and 64 freetheme papers were presented.
The 45th at Kagawa University in November 2010 with the unified theme:
Management Systems to Produce Regional Potential.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, nine unified theme papers and 79 free theme
papers were presented.
The 46th at Meiji University in May 2011 with the unified theme: Management
Systems and Quality of Management.
The 30th Anniversary Symposium, two unified theme papers, a special session
and 34 free theme papers were presented.
The 47th at Yamanashi Gakuin University in December 2011 with the unified
theme: Invigoration of Rural Areas and Management Systems.
Two unified theme papers and 88 free theme papers were presented.
The 48th at Waseda University in June 2012 with the unified theme: Management
Systems in the Network Age.
A keynote speech, a special lecture, six unified theme papers and 58 free theme
papers were presented.
The 49th at Kwansei Gakuin University in December 2012 with the unified
40

theme: Management Systems to Explore a New Age.
A keynote speech, two special lectures, two unified theme papers and 83 freetheme papers were presented.
The 50th at Toyo University in June 2013 with the unified theme: Development ofManagement Systems and Training ICT Professionals.
A keynote speech, two special lectures, four unified theme papers and 56 freetheme papers were presented.
The 51st at Hiroshima University of Economics in December 2013 and the 52ndat Hosei University in spring 2014 are also planned to be held.
(Hiroaki ITAKURA, Kagawa University)

41

JAPAN SOCIETY OF MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
1. Organization and Brief History
The Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution (JSMD) is the biggest
organization of scholars and researchers in the field of marketing and distribution in
Japan. It was founded in 1950, and since then has executed leading research activities inthis field for over 63 years. The members of JSMS, numbering over 1,090 in 2013,
belong to universities or research institutions and are active in their research activities.
Because distribution and marketing has an important function for industry
reconstruction and growth, it can be said that the members of JSDM are executing amajor role in developing of Japan.
JSMD consists of five regional divisions, Hokkaido, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, andKyushu, which were established to stimulate and coordinate member activities at theregional level.
All JSMD members belong to a division of their own choice. Each division holds
four to nine divisional research meetings a year, and JSMD itself holds an annual
national conference in twice per a year.
JSMD is headed by a president (Kyoichi IKEO, Keio University) and supported by
two vice-presidents and the board of directors representing each regional division. The
headquarters, which consists of the president, vice-presidents, and the board of directors,
operates JSMD. It also has several standing committees such as the Journal Committee,
International Exchange Committee, Society Awards Committee, and Information
Provider Committee. In addition, each regional division of JSMD is independently
operated by its own executive board, which consists of the chief director, directors, andmanagers. On the other hand, the highest legislative organ is the General Meetings,
which are held at the annual national conferences and open to all members. The
democratic atmosphere facilitates the members’ academic activities in JSMD.
2. Research Activities and publications
Most JSMD members have research interests in the field of distribution andmarketing. The theory of marketing has been originally imported from US schools of
business since the Second World War, but the theory of distribution mainly developed
based on Japanese own customs and distribution systems having a relatively long
research history.
Traditionally, research of marketing and distribution has been characterized by its
interdisciplinary approach: economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and so on.
42Recently, JSMD has discontinued defining the field of its members’ academic
activities, because recent complex phenomena in the marketing and distribution sceneincreasingly need the mix of other various disciplines. Our extensive prospect is
promoting research interactions with researchers from other academic societies anddisciplines.
JSMD publishes its conference proceedings as well as the refereed journal, Ryutsu
Kenkyu (Journal of Marketing and Distribution). Through monthly/seasonal divisional
research meetings, the annual national conference, or proceedings and the journal,
members actively interact beyond their differences in specialties and age groups. The
Journal has been published since March 1998 and is published three times a year topromote research activities of members. The area editors decided by members, allsubmitted papers are reviewed by at least two reviewers, and qualified papers are
accepted and published. This journal has become generally known as the mostauthoritative journal in the research field of marketing and distribution in Japan. Most
libraries in Japanese universities own copies of this journal and the impact rates of the
published papers in it are very high. As part of its effort to improve the quality standardsof research, the Society grants awards every year to honor its members for theiroutstanding scholastic books and excellent articles published in its journal.
3. International activities
In particular, the International Exchange Committee actively promotes global
activities with other scholastic associations over the world. For example, theinternational conference named “2012 Global marketing conference” was held in Seoulfrom 19 to 22 July, 2012 and Ikuo TAKAHASHI (Keio University), the president of JSMD,
was appointed by Korean Scholars of Marketing Science and attended as the conference
Co-Chair.
Moreover, the two sessions constructed by members of JSMD were held, bothsharing the title. “Japanese perspectives on value creation in marketing and consumer
behavior”. In the first session, Sho YUKI (Chuo University) presented “Determinants ofchannel expansion by Japanese Manufacturers”, and Eunji SEO (Fukuyama Heisei
University) and Katsuyoshi TAKASHIMA (Kobe University) introduced “Cross-functional
communication behaviors in a Japanese industrial company: The moderating role of
Alternatives”. Additionally, Lu GAO, Akinori ONO, Takahiro CHIBA, Yunjung PARK, Mai
KIKUMORI (All of Keio University) talked on “A customer acceptance model for online
stores focused on consumers’ shopping hesitation”. Finally, “The influences of internet
privacy concerns and ubiquity on mobile coupon behavior” was presented by Morikazu
43

HIROSE (Tokyo Fuji University) and Keiya TABE (Waseda University).
In the second session, four groups introduced leading Japanese research
perspectives. The first presenter, Takashi TERAMOTO (Meisei University) introduced his
paper named “Reaction of information leaders to promotion when switching to a new
product” and Kyon Tae LEE (Toyo University) and Richard LEE (University of South
Australia) presented “The effects of animosity and social norm on Japanese consumers’
response towards Chinese products”. In addition, the session continued with thepresentation of Chizuru NISHIO (University of Tsukuba), Minoru ISHIDA (Ark Engine
Corporation) and Toshie TAKEUCHI (Hosei University), whose title was “Characteristicsof LOHAS-oriented values and how they are changing”. Finally, “Profiling consumers
who are often followed” was presented by Kaichi SAITO (Meiji Gakuin University).
Through these two sessions, JSMD could get a chance to introduce and emphasize what
are the leading research interests in Japan.
4. Annual National Conferences (from 2010 to 2013)(1) 2010 Annual Conference
The 60th JSMD Annual National Conference was held at Toyo University (Tokyo)
on 28-30 May, 2010. The conference was organized under the theme, The Phenomenon
and Prospect of Marketing and Distribution Theory. In the preliminary first session,
Masanori TAMURA (Kobe university) made a presentation titled “Strategic project on
future distribution research” and the presentation of Takemasa ISHIHARA (Kwansei
Gakuin University), was titled “One more task of distribution theory”.
In the second session, Mitsuo WADA (Kwansei Gakuin University) presented about“What marketing has achieved and attempted in reality”. The next presenter was
Katsuyoshi TAKASHIMA (Kobe university), who gave a presentation titled “Researchquestions on the theory of marketing in future”. After two briefings were held, a panel
discussion started.
(2) 2011 Annual Conference
The 61st JSMD Annual National Conference was held at Kumamoto Gakuen
University (Kumamoto) on 27-29 May, 2011. Its unified theme was What the Theory ofDistribution and Marketing Can Do for Industry Reproduction.
In the preliminary session, after a speech made by the JSMD president, three
special symposiums were held, and the title of the first symposium was “Manufacture
reproduction and the theory of marketing”. The first presenter was Naoto ONZO (Waseda
University), whose title was “Manufacture reproduction on the commodity market”. The
next presenter was Yukihiro AOKI (Gakushuin University), who spoke about the44

implication of the theory of brand and consumer behavior for manufacture reproduction.
Finally, Akihiro INOUE (Keio University) spoke about the approach of profitable productdesign and value control. After that, under the chairmanship of Katsuyoshi TAKASHIMA(Kobe university), Naoto ONZO (Waseda University), Yukihiro AOKI (Gakushuin
University), and Akihiro INOUE (Keio University) attended panel discussion.
In the second symposium, three presenters also discussed manufacture
reproduction and theory of marketing. The first presenter, Munehiko ITO (Kobe
University) talked about the issue of service innovation in manufacturing industry.
Yoshihiro OOISHI (Meiji University) was the second presenter, and he explained about
constructing of a global brand for manufacture reproduction. Finally, Lin HUANG (Kobe
university) presented about the strategic power of Japanese companies on global market.
In the final symposium, presentations about local business and distribution theory
were continued. Specifically, the following discussions took place: “The directions ofspecificity and reproduction of commerce based on community” (Satoshi KATOH, Osaka
ichiritu University), “The direction of local commerce institutes and reproduction”, and“A new perspective about proactive local commerce”. This symposium proceeded under
the chairmanship of Takemasa ISHIHARA (University of Marketing and Distribution
Sciences).
(3) 2012 Annual Conference
The 62nd JSMD Annual National Conference was held at Hokkai School ofCommerce (Hokkaido) on 25-27 May 2012. Its unified theme was Value Co-creation inDistribution and Marketing.
In the preliminary session, Eunju KO (Yonsei University, Korea) as an invited
speaker spoke about “Globalization of Korean scholars of marketing science”.
The fist briefing session was held under the chairmanship of Ikuo TAKAHASHI (Keio
University) and there were two presenters. Chieko MINAMI (Kobe University) was thefirst presenter and made a presentation titled “The creation of value co-creation andcustomer values: The case of IKEA and BEISIA”. The second presentation was madeby Junichi MATSUURA (Hiroshima University) and was titled “The value of co-creating
and marketing research; the problems and limitations of S-D logic”.
The theme of the next briefing session was “The value of co-creation for
distribution”, and it was held under the chairmanship of Hiroshi HORIKOSHI (Keio
University). Kimihiko KONDO (Otaru University of Commerce) was the first presenterand he told about the theme which is titled “The perspective of value co-creation for
distribution”. The next presenter was Yumiko MIURA (Aoyama Gakuin University): thetitle of her presentation was “The changing role of middle distribution and local
45

implications”.
From the 62nd JSMD Annual National Conference a session conducted entirely inEnglish was included. It was held under the chairmanship of Carolus L. C. PRAET (Otaru
University of Commerce). Allam ABU FARHA, Phd student at the Graduate School ofBusiness Administration, Kobe University presented “A configuration approach of
marketing practice: evidence from Palestine”. The next presenter was Towako SAKUMA(Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University), and she presented“Customer satisfaction, loyalty, and switching costs in business-to-business marketing”.
GAO Lu (Graduate School of Commerce, Keio University) presented about “Online
shopping environment and the adoption of online shopping: an extension of thetechnology acceptance model”. Finally, Satoko SUZUKI (Graduate School ofManagement, Kyoto University) presented “Social dynamics in diffusion of new
consumption practices: concurrence of actions by firms and media”.
(4) 2013 Annual National Conference
The 63rd JSMD Annual National Conference was held at Ritsumeikan University(Shiga) on 24-26 May, 2013. Its unified theme was Innovation of Distribution andMarketing.
In the preliminary session, after a speech made by JSMD president, Kyoichi IKEO
(Keio University), a special symposium was held, titled “How understand innovation onretail industry”, and three presenters spoke on that basis. The first presenter was
Toshiyuki YAHAGI (Hosei University), and his presentation was titled “Retail industry
and innovation”. Next, Takemasa ISHIHARA (University of Marketing and Distribution
Science) gave a presentation titled “Issues of theory of retail business condition andinnovation research”. Finally, Lin HUANG (Kobe University) presented under the title,“The global development of retail innovation”.
In the next preliminary session, “The future of marketing and innovation” was theunified theme. Three specific themes were segmented. The fist theme was “Future
directions in innovation research”, Tomoko KAWAKAMI (Kansai University) and Gloria
BARCZAK (Professor of Marketing, Co-Director, Institute for Global Innovation
Management, D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University, Editor of
the Journal of Product Innovation Management) discussed and presented. The second
theme was “Tracing and perspectives of product innovation in Japanese marketing
research”, and Yasunaga WAKABAYASHI (Kyoto University) and Tomoko KAWAKAMI(Kansai University) discussed.
Finally, the presentation titled “Innovation of customer perspective and otherpeople experiments: the comparative experiment of promotional and social context” was46

introduced by Satoru SHIBUYA (Tohoku University) and discussed with Shizue KISHI(Tokyo Keizai University).
In the English Session, competitive paper proposals relevant to any aspect ofmarketing and distribution (theoretical, methodological, empirical, or philosophical) forpresentation were introduced. For example, Taro KOYAMA (Chubu University) presented
a paper titled “Brand typology from a psychoanalytic perspective”, and Kuninori SUZUKI(Nihon University) introduced “A consideration on an effective reserve logistics systemfor discarded tires”. In addition, WANG Liyong (Otaru University of Commerce) spokeon “The informativeness of Chinese television advertising for automobiles”; finally
Naoki TAMURA (Kansai Gaidai University) reported on “Monopolistic competitivenessand consumer behavior on subway users: a case study of Kotochika-Shijo in Kyoto
City”.
(5) 2014 Annual national conference
The 64th JSMD Annual national conference will be held at Hitotsubashi University(Tokyo) on 30 May- June 1, 2014 under the unified theme, Considering Globalization
Now.
(Eunji SEO, Fukuyama Heisei University)

47

JAPAN SOCIETY OF POLITICAL ECONOMY (JSPE)
The last 5 years have been a very fruitful period for the JSPE. We created the JSPE
Prize for Younger Members in 2009 and have awarded 5 JSPE PYMs up to now. We
started to publish collected papers in English regularly, the first volume of which was
published in December 2012. We created a board of overseas academic advisers to play
more active role in promoting Marxian and heterodox economics internationally. We
committed actively in the discussion of the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and thenuclear disaster.
1. Outline of the JSPE and its aim
The JSPE was founded in 1959. Its purpose has been promotion of academic
research on the basic theories together with concrete analyses in the area of political
economy, by facilitating cooperation and communication among its members. The
membership is about 900. Activities of the JSPE are steered by a board ofrepresentatives, who are elected by members’ vote in every third year. The present chief
representative of the board is Kiichiro YAGI (Setsunan University).
The JSPE has worked to pursue its purpose mainly in three forms of activities.
Firstly, it holds an annual conference once a year. Usually the conference consistsof two plenary sessions one in Japanese and one in English, parallel sessions, amembers’ general meeting, and a social party. It serves as a great opportunity formembers to meet and communicate with each other on a national scale. In addition to
the annual conference, meetings are also held based on the local organizations.
Secondly, the JSPE has published The Political Economy Quarterly since 2004,
following The Bulletin of the Japan Society of Political Economy which was publishedannually from 1961 to 2003. The Political Economy Quarterly includes several
reviewed papers which are submitted by members and selected by the editorial board
after referees’ judgment, and a few invited papers. The papers are mainly in Japanesewith English summary. The editorial board is organized by the board of representatives
and appoints suitable referees from members of the JSPE. Every year the first issue of
The Political Economy Quarterly contains the papers and a summary of discussions in
the plenary sessions of the annual conference.
Thirdly, the JSPE promotes international academic cooperation with political
economists all over the world. Beginning in October 2001, the JSPE began inviting a
distinguished non-Japanese guest for the annual conference to deliver a keynote
presentation and engage in debates. Since then we have invited 11 distinguished48

scholars, including Robert BOYER (CEPREMAP), Gary DYMSKI (University of California
Riverside), Ronald DORE (London School of Economics), Enfu CHENG (Chinese
Academy of Social Sciences), Gerard DUMENIL (CNRS), Saskia SASSEN (Columbia
University), Costas LAPAVITSAS (SOAS, University of London), James HEINTZ (PERI,
University of Massachusetts), Alain LIPIETZ (CNRS), Robert POLLIN (PERI, University of
Massachusetts), and Robert ROWTHORN (Cambridge University). We have also organizedabout 40 parallel sessions in English. We introduced a special category of member,
Overseas Academic Advisor in 2011 to play a more active role in promoting political
economy and heterodox economics internationally. We invited the above mentioned 11
distinguished economists and Andrew BARSHAY (University of California Berkeley), allof whom have accepted our invitation. We plan to publish a volume of collected papers
in English regularly. The first English publication of collected papers from the annual
meetings was published by Routledge in 2012. We are now preparing the second
volume.
Our main research concerns consist in basic theories and analyses of capitalist
economies with their historical contradictory characters. Historical development andfunctions of socio-economic institutions, systems and structures including the roles ofStates to form capitalist economies in our age, as well as various models andexperiments of socialist economies which intend to overcome the historical limitationsof capitalism are common research concerns among members of the JSPE. Such
research concerns are largely based on inquiry into the economic law of motion ofcapitalist economy by Karl MARX, and linked with the growth of Marxian and otherpolitical economy in the world. Keynesian and post-Keynesian economics among others
also form important aspects of our research concerns in cooperation with reviving
political economy in the world. The historical meaning of the recent economic
situations with changes in economic policies, and increasing problems in the economic
life of working people in the world and in Japan are necessarily central to our researchinterest.
2. The JSPE English Publication
The first volume of the JSPE collected papers, Crises of Global Economies and the
Future of Capitalism: Reviving Marxian Crisis Theory was edited by Kiichiro YAGI,
Nobuharu YOKOKAWA (Musashi University), Shinjiro HAGIWARA (Yokohama National
University), and Gary DYMSKI was published by Routledge in December 2012. This
book represents an encounter between Japanese and non-Japanese scholars, on thecommon problem of how to understand the current economic situation. The contributors
49

represented here have all participated in the JSPE annual meeting.
The first part of the book considers the mechanisms of the crisis of 2008 and theirconsequences. Six papers discuss that understanding of Marx’s crisis theory canpowerfully serve as a useful framework in the analysis of such a contemporary
sub-prime world crisis. Financialization is the common concept of the six papers.
Makoto ITOH (University of Tokyo, Chapter 1) discusses that understanding of
MARX’s monetary and crisis theory in the Japanese Uno-school can powerfully serve asa framework in the analysis of the contemporary sub-prime world crisis. He focuses on
financial exploitation of workers, which he calls the financialization of labor-power, as abasic cause of the sub-prime crisis. The US sub-prime crisis spread to the world since
the global financial market was mobilized to pour idle money into the US’s speculative
housing loans. He argues that the Japanese economy was deeply shaken by the subprime
loan crisis, since the Japanese economic recovery in 2002-07 mostly depended on theincrease in exports, which was strongly damaged by the crisis. The great earthquake, theresultant giant tsunami, and nuclear disaster deepened the structural crises in theJapanese economy. He analyzes them in view of fundamental problems in a capitalist
market economy together with their contemporary features.
Tetsuji KAWAMURA (Hosei University, Chapter 2) argues that the postwar corporate
structure of the United States revealed its own limits in the late 1960s and that its
restructuring and transformation created a new nexus of capital accumulation system.
The emergence of this nexus represents an integrated consequence of the globalizationof American corporate activity, finance and information and of the neo-liberaltransformation of government functions touched off by Reaganomics. He examines
American economic cycles in terms of the emergence of this new nexus of a capital
accumulation system. He examines the collapse of the institutionally flawedmechanisms that linked the U.S. and global financial systems, and argues that thefinancial engineering that created securitization gave way to casinoization and has
revealed the transitional nature of the current U.S.-centered global regime.
Costas LAPAVITSAS (Chapter 3) focuses on some of the structural dimensions offinancialization as key causes of the crisis of 2007-09. He points out three main featuresof financialization. First, less reliance of large corporations on banks; second, banks
shifting their activities toward mediating in open markets and transacting withindividuals; third, increasing implication of individuals in the operations of finance. He
argues that financialization represents a transformation of capitalist production andfinance which is systemic, and that these structural factors ultimately account for thecrisis of 2007-9.
50

Masayoshi TATEBE (Chuo University, Chapter 4) defines surplus capital as money
capital not used for productive investment because of the low expected profit rate andwonder about the financial market pursuing financial gain. He argues that surplus
capital has been generated since the 1990s and developed to “casino typed financial
capital”, which has controlled the destiny of the real economy and led to a crisis.
Shinjiro HAGIWARA (Chapter 5) argues that Keynesian economic policies in the
postwar period contained financial crises and stabilized the capitalist economy. He
points out following the breakdown of the Keynesian regime the political and economic
power of “the great financiers and stock market jobbers” is increasing. He argues
Marxian approaches to financial crisis can explain the increasing crises experienced as
the neoliberal period dawned, since these conditions are similar to those discussed in
MARX’s Capital.
Akira MATSUMOTO (Ritsumeikan University, Chapter 6) investigates why the 2008
crisis looked like a classical economic crisis under the gold standard system with rapid
contractions of their economies, falling prices, increasing unemployment, decreasing
production, and a slowdown of consumption, although the managed currency system
had been adopted. He argues the excessive money capital, born from deficits in the U.S.
balance of payments, became a condition for credit creation, producing bubble economy.
Price hikes over products’ parity values in a bubble economy are adjusted forcibly
during the financial-market collapse, leading to the bankruptcy of many financial
institutions.
The second part of the book considers regimes of capitalism. Five papers
investigate the historical development of capitalism to define neoliberalism as a specificphase of capitalism. They share the concept of structural crisis which destroys theexisting capital accumulation regime and gives rise to a new regime.
Nobuharu YOKOKAWA (Chapter 7) attempts to build a new framework for thepolitical economy of capitalism which consists of the basic theory of capitalism, theintermediate theory of specific types of capitalist world systems, and empirical analysis,
integrating Kozo Uno’s three-level analysis of capitalism, Keynesian economics andhistorical and institutional economics. He introduces a dynamic theory of comparativeadvantage in order to analyse the historical development of leading industry and theevolution of a capitalist world system. He distinguishes a cyclical crisis that reinforces
the self-regulating character of capital accumulation in the established stage of acapitalist world system, a structural crisis that changes leading industries and the capital
accumulation regime, and a systemic crisis that changes the hegemony of the capitalist
world system. He investigates the postwar capitalist world system and concludes the51

2008 crisis is a systemic crisis.
Robert BOYER’s analysis (Chapter 8) uses the methodology and concepts ofrégulation theory in order to characterize the crisis opened in 2008 as systemic (thefailure of a financial organization), structural (the end of the complementarity between
the five institutional forms at the origin of the American finance-led accumulation
regime), and global (the consequence of large and long lasting external trade and capitalflow imbalances). He emphasizes the unprecedented consumer credit-led accumulation
regime in the unfolding dynamics. Within this regime, the true extent of financial riskhas been more and more masked; so the breakdown of this system has led to thefreezing of credit, not the restoration of normal cyclical behavior. Consequently the
global system has been thrown into a major structural crisis whose outcome is radicallyuncertain.
Toshio YAMADA (Nagoya University, Chapter 9) explains the crisis in the context of
the Régulation approach; the 2008 crisis is ‘a structural crisis of the finance-led growth
regime’. He argues that to situate properly the 2008 crisis in the historical context, wehave to investigate the history of capitalist economy in the last two hundred years byusing several concepts of the régulation theory: growth regime, régulation mode, andespecially structural crisis. He argues that structural crises are not at all exceptional for
capitalism, and that capitalism has transformed itself through those great structural
crises, giving rise to new configurations in time and space.
Gérard Duménil and Dominique Lévy (Chapter 10) address the overall
periodization of capitalism, in which neoliberalism defines a specific phase. They argue
that the roots of the crisis must be sought in the features of the new phase of capitalismthat arose in the early 1980s, that is, neoliberal globalization. The disequilibria of the
U.S. economy and the unwieldy financial-global structure of the neoliberal years
ultimately have led to a crisis that will end in the decline of U.S. hegemony. In thediscussion of scenarios for the future, they pay particular attention to emerging
countries, especally China.
Thomas SEKINE (formerly York University, Chapter 11), building on ideas expositedby Kozo UNO, argues that the global capitalist system has been shifting systematicallyaway from purely capitalist principles since the early 20th century to a post-capitalist
economic order. He argues that although Uno was not in a position to spell out thenature of this transitional phase, he quite clearly indicated that a “managed currency
system” marked a departure from the regime of capitalism. SEKINE rehabilitates thisUno’s insight, tracing the main features of the post-1914 evolution of the world
economy. He concludes that to pump fiat money into circulation to overcome a52

deflationary spiral and debt deflation after the 2008 crisis, may well be the first decisive
step in transition towards “another historical society”.
The third part of the book considers global reconfiguration of capitalism. Five
papers emphasize that global imbalance such as macroeconomic imbalance and power
imbalance have changed both international and domestic economic structure. They pay
special attention to the labor exploitation and the impact of East Asian industrializationon the world economy.
Gary DYMSKI (Chapter 12) shows how Kalecki and Minsky present complementaryideas about the twin problems of labor extraction and financial fragility that have arisen
and worsened as the neoliberal era has lengthened. He shows that their ideas about how
US business cycles have evolved are accurate for the postwar period up until the 1980s.
He argues that beyond that, their ideas about macroeconomic dynamics, which
implicitly focus on a national economy perspective, must be adjusted to take into
account the impact of two sustained global imbalances: a global macroeconomic
imbalance, and global power imbalance. This global imbalance was the root cause of
the change in the character and timing of US cyclical fluctuations. When confidence inthe “safe harbour” character of US financial and asset markets was shaken by the 2008
crisis, a new period of US macroeconomic stagnation started.
Kang-Kook LEE (Ritsumeikan University, Chapter 13) investigates the role ofglobal imbalances in the buildup to the crisis, and the transformation of these
imbalances after the crisis. He investigates neoliberalism in both the US and East Asia
as an underlying cause that worsened global imbalances. He emphasizes the importanceof concerted efforts in the US and East Asia to bring about a rebalancing of the global
economy, and to change the growth strategy in East Asia as well as in the US.
Hitoshi HIRAKAWA (Nagoya University, Chapter 14) examines the shifting role of
the East Asian industrialization and its impact on the world economy. He distinguishes
three stages of economic development. Traditionally the laborers of developing regions
move to advanced regions in search of employment. In the second stage firms move todeveloping regions in search of low-cost labor and export produced goods to advanced
countries. In the third stage firms move toward developing regions in search of markets
such as BRICs, which he named “potentially bigger market economies”.
James HEINTZ (Chapter 15) examines how processes of financialization andglobalization in capitalist economies affect the structure of employment, using Japanand the U.S. as specific examples. A central thesis of the paper is that common factors
emerging during the neoliberal era of globalization have affected labour demand andlabour supply and the structure of employment in a range of countries. There are
53numerous outcomes of these interactions, including higher levels of open
unemployment, growth of informal employment, downward pressure on the returns tolabour, and a redistribution of risk from capital to labour; but specific employmentoutcomes are dependent on domestic institutions and structural realities.
Aki ANEHA (Komazawa University, Chapter 16) examines the root of the sub-prime
problem from the perspective of household budget and consumer spending. She shows
the habit of spending beyond one’s means is due more to stagnant wages, employment
instability, and inadequate social support under neoliberalism, rather than toextravagance. She argues that the root of the sub-prime problem lies in overproduction
and that consumption-boosting measures based on expanding credit were indispensable
in increasing demand and deferring crisis and depression. She emphasizes that the US
dollar seigniorage has permitted to defer depression and overcome limitations such as
falling real wages.
These essays do not reach one conclusion, but instead provide different angles ofvision regarding the global crisis. As such, this volume provides a unique immersion indifferent approaches to political economy and to the crisis. We hope this bookcontributes to the resurgence of radical analyses of the political economy, free from themarket optimism of main-stream economics.
3. Reports on Annual Conferences of the JSPE from 2008 to 2012
The 56th annual conference of the JSPE was held at Kyushu University on 25-26
October 2008. There were two plenary sessions one in Japanese and one in English. The
title of the plenary session in Japanese was “Sub-prime Shock and the Future of Global
Capitalism.” Updated papers by Tetsuji KAWAMURA, Masayoshi TATEBE and Aki ANEHA
are included in the above mentioned JSPE book Chapter 2, Chapter 4, and Chapter 16
respectively. The title of the plenary session in English was “The Sub-prime Crisis in
Historical Perspective: A Regulationist Approach”. Robert BOYER’s updated paper is
included in the above JSPE volume Chapter 8. There were 18 parallel sessions (1 inEnglish) with 55 papers. The topics of parallel sessions include: “Contemporary
Possibility of MARX’s Capital”, “Post Keynesian Structural Macroeconomics”,“Technology and Information”, “Economic Growth and Economic Systems”,“International Economy and International Division of Labour”, “Mathematical Marxian
Economics”, “Wages and Inequality”, “Labour and Welfare in Contemporary European
Countries”, “Theoretical and Empirical Analyses of Business Cycle”, “Sub-prime Shockand the Future of Global Capitalism”, “Problems of Shareholder Capitalism”,“ Gender” , and “Asian Economy”.
54

The 57th annual conference of the JSPE was held at the University of Tokyo on
22-23 November 2009. The JSPE had celebrated its 50th anniversary on 21 November
at Hosei University. The Society organized a round table on “Agenda of Political
Economy in the Era of Transformation” with Kazuo SHIBAGAKI (University of Tokyo),
Koji MORIOKA (Kansai University), Yoshihiko MOTOYAMA (Kyoto University), Tateshi
MORI (Teikyo University), Yoshiko KUBA (Tokyo Gakugei University), and Kiichiro
YAGI. The title of the plenary session in Japanese was “The World Crisis of 2008 and the
Future of Capitalism”. Updated papers by Makoto ITOH and Akira MATSUMOTO are
included in the JSPE volume Chapter 1 and Chapter 6 respectively. Tadao KAWAKAMI(Hosei University) argued on “Crisis that comes only once in a hundred years as a
catastrophe”. The title of the plenary session in English was “Financialization: What it
is and how to analysite”. Costas Lapavitsas’s updated paper is included in the JSPE
volume Chapter 3. There were 27 parallel sessions (2 in English) with 76 papers. The
topics of parallel sessions include: “Gender and Family”, “Theory of Economic Crisis”,“Mathematical Marxian Economics”, “Theory of Reproduction and Business Cycle”,“History of Economic Theory”, “Institutional Approach”, “World Economy”, “Diversity
Approach”, “Gender and Labour”, “Theory of Commodity Circulation”, “Regulationist
Analysis of Contemporary Japanese Capitalism”, “Theory of Labour”, “On Marx’s
Capital”, “Theory of Value”, “Theory of Reproduction and Employment”, “Japanese
Economy”, “Labour and Welfare”, “Credit Uncertainty”, and “East Asian Economy”.
The 58th annual conference of the JSPE was held at Kansai University, Osaka on
23-24 October 2009. The title of the plenary session in Japanese was “TheTransformation of the Social Economic System and the Challenges of Political
Economy: Can Japan Change?” Seiichi NAGASHIMA (Tokyo Keizai University) argued on“The contradictions of the global accumulation of capital and the ecological socialism”.
Michiaki OBATA (University of Tokyo) argued on “Fundamental problems in Marxist
economic theory under the rise of the emerging capitalism”. Masashi MORIOKA(Ritsumeikan University) argued on “Past and future of socialism: science, struggle andnorm”. The title of the plenary session in English was “The Structure of Employment,
Globalization, and Economic Crises: Rethinking Employment Policy for the Current
Era”. James HEINTZ’s updated paper is included in the JSPE volume Chapter 15. There
were 20 parallel sessions (2 in English) with 50 papers. The topics of parallel sessions
include: “The Transformation of the Social Economic System”, “Crisis and Cycle”,“Financial System and American Economy, “Theory of Value and Price”, “Gender”,“Growth and Crisis”, “Corporate Governance”, “Socialism”, “Mathematical Marxian
economy”, “Political Economy of Environment”, “Financial Policy”, “Labour Process”,
55and “Employment and Labour”.
The 59th annual conference of the JSPE was held at Rikkyo University, Tokyo on
17-18 September 2011. The title of the first plenary session in Japanese was “The Great
East Japan Earthquake and the Nuclear Disaster”. Yasuo GOTO (Fukushima University),
Koji MORIOKA and Kiichiro YAGI organized the session. The title of the second plenary
session in Japanese was “The Global Economic Crisis and State: Alternative
Approaches for Monetary and Fiscal Policies.” Tokutaro SHIBATA (University of Tokyo)
argued on “Dollar liquidity crisis and future of a key currency system”. Koetsu AIZAWA(Saitama University) argued on “Formation and collapse of successive financial bubbles
in the globalization era”. Takehiko IKEGAMI (Rikkyo University) argued on “Publicfinance in economic, social and political crises”. The title of the plenary session in
English was “Fears and Hope: the Crisis of the Liberal-Productive Model and its Green
Alternative”. Alain LIPIETZ argued on “The crisis of the liberal-productivist model and its
green alternative”. There were 21 parallel sessions (4 in English) with 59 papers. The
topics of parallel sessions include: “The Great East Japan Earthquake and the Nuclear
Disaster”, “Marx’s Capital”, “Finance and Security”, “Asian Economy”, “Socialism andLabour”, “Accumulation of Capital and Income”, “Credit Theory and Financial
Instability”, “Global Crisis and Future of Capitalism”, “Global Crisis and Developing
Economies”, “Growth and Distribution”, “Service”, “Mathematical Marxian Economy”,“Postwar World and Japanese Capitalism”, “Gender”, and “Political Economy ofEnvironment”.
The 60th annual conference of the JSPE was held on 6-7 October 2012 at Ehime
University, Matsuyama. The title of the plenary session in Japanese was “The Great
East Japan Earthquake and the Nuclear Disaster, and a Research Agenda for Political
Economy”. Kenichi MIYAMOTO (Osaka City University) argued on “The theory ofdisaster: lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake”. Fumikazu YOSHIDA (Hokkaido
University) argued on “The political economy of the Fukushima nuclear disaster”.
Yasuo GOTO argued on “The global occupy movement of 2011: a new beginning of thegreat transition stage from capitalism to communism in the age of the internet”. The titleof the plenary session in English was “Building a green new deal”. Bob POLLIN delivered
a lecture titled “Building the green new deal: The U.S.case” by video. There were 22
parallel sessions (3 in English) with 61 papers. The topics of parallel sessions include:“The Great East Japan Earthquake and the Nuclear Disaster”, “Labour andExploitation”, “Mathematical Marxian Economy”, “Money and Finance”, “Asian
Economies in Transition”, “Gender”, “The Global Economic Crisis”, “Commodity,
Reproduction and Crisis”, “Labour and Capitalism”, “MEGA”, “Financial Crisis”,
56

“Money and Finance”, and “Globalization and Inequality”.
4. The JSPE Prize for Younger Members
The JSPE selection committee for the 2010 JSPE prize for younger members
reviewed 21 nominees and chose Naoki YOSHIHARA (Hitotsubashi University) for the
first JSPE PYM: Naoki YOSHIHARA (2008) Roudou Sakushu no Kousei Riron Josetsu(Introduction to Welfare Theory of Labour Exploitation), Tokyo, Iwanami.
The JSPE selection committee for 2011 reviewed 20 nominees and chose YAN
Chengnan (Fukushima University) and Masashi SHIMIZU (Senshu University) for the
JSPE PYM: YAN Chengnan (2011) Chugoku no Keizai Hatten to Seido Henka(Economic Development and Evolution of the System in China), Kyoto, Kyoto
University Press; Masashi SHIMIZU (2009 - 2010) “Shohin Keizai no Busshin Suhaiteki
Seikaku wo Megutte (On Fetishism of Commodity Economy)”, Tokyo, Economic
Bulletin of Senshu University, 44-1, 44-2, and 44-3.
The JSPE selection committee for 2012 reviewed 20 nominees and chose Hiroaki
SASAKI (Kyoto University) and Kiminori HAYASHI for the JSPE PYM: Hiroaki SASAKI(2012) “Cyclical growth in a Goodwin-Kalecki-Marx model”, Springer, Journal of
Economics; Kiminori HAYASHI (2011) Gunji Kankyou Mondai no Seiji Keizai Gaku
(Political Economy of Military Environment Problems), Tokyo, Nihon Keizai
Hyoronsha.
5. The East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the Nuclear Disaster
The JSPE express our deep condolences to the victims of the Tohoku-Pacific
Ocean Earthquake and the giant tsunami it triggered. We sympathize with those in thedisaster area who are still in distress and appreciate the efforts of those engaged in thedisaster response, relief, and recovery in that area. Further, we express our deep concern
over the ongoing accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station, its
spreading radioactive contamination, and the flaws in the present system of nuclear
power plants that the accident has revealed.
We published a declaration on the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake and theaccident of Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power station on April 16, 2011 on our website.
The JSPE organized a Fukushima Symposium with the Japan Association of
Economic Geographers, the Japan Association for Regional Economic Studies and theInstitute for Fundamental Political Economy on 24-25 March 2013 in Fukushima. The
joint declaration reads:
We were unanimous in agreeing that social science has the duty to strive for the57

sustainability of local livelihoods and the natural environment, and to contribute to theformulation of recovery policies and an economic system that respects residents’ local
autonomy and sovereignty over issues affecting their daily life and livelihood. . .
Through our two days of discussion, we have recognized the following 3 points asurgent tasks in dealing with the earthquake and nuclear accident: 1) achieving areconstruction policy based on local residents that safeguards local self-government andautonomy; 2) clarifying responsibility for the nuclear accident and the accompanying
radiation, and providing prompt and fair compensation of victims, in particular sparing
no expense to safeguard the health of children, on whom the future depends; 3) moving
toward a regional policy and environmental/energy policy based on safety of life andlivelihood, in particular moving rapidly away from sources of electric power that rely onhighly dangerous atomic energy, and engaging with the task of reconstructing the basisof the regional economy that accompanies this shift. . .
(Nobuharu YOKOKAWA, Musashi University)

58

THE JAPAN SECTION OF
THE REGIONAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL
I. Outline of the Association
The Regional Science Association International (RSAI) was founded in 1954. The
Japan Section of the Regional Science Association (JSRSAI) is the Japanese branch of
the Association, which was established in 1962. JSRSAI is also a membership section of
the Pacific Regional Science Conference Organization (PRSCO) which is asuper-regional organization of the RSAI. The Japan Section as well as the RSAI aims toprovide intellectual leadership in the study of those social, economic, political andbehavioral phenomena which have a spatial dimension. Consequently, the Association
brings together scholars and practitioners from a large number of fields, including
economics, geography, urban and regional planning, civil engineering, sociology,
finance and political science. Members are found in academic institutions, ingovernment, in consulting organizations and in a variety of private firms.
The main objectives are the fostering of exchange of ideas and the promotion ofstudies focusing on the region, including the utilization of tools, methods and theoreticalframeworks, specifically designed for regional analysis as well as concept, procedures,
and analytical techniques of the various social and other sciences.
These objectives are supported through the acquaintance and discussion among its
members and with scholars in related fields, by the encouragement of publication ofscholarly studied and by performing services to aid the advancement of its members andthe field of regional science. For further details, please visit http://www.jsrsai.jp,
http://www.regionalscience.org, and http://www.prsco.info.
The recent successive Presidents of the JSRSAI are Yoshinobu KUMATA(2005-2008) Makoto TAWADA (2009-2010, University of Nagoya), and Yoshiro HIGANO(2011-2012, University of Tsukuba). The Executive Directors of the JRSAI are Yoshiro
HIGANO (1998-2010, University of Tsukuba) and Hiroyuki SHIBUSAWA (2011-2012,
Toyohashi University of Technology).
II. Annual Domestic Conferences(1) 44th Annual Conference, Kyushu University, 2007
The 44th Annual Conference of the Japan Section of the RSAI was held on the campusof Kyushu University, Fukuoka, October 6th-8th, 2007. About 280 members including P.
BATEY (University of Liverpool), R. STOUGH (George Mason University) and J. POOT
(University of Waikato) took part. The conference consisted of around 130 paper
59presentations in 34 concurrent sessions. The session titles included Regional
Environment and Policy Evaluation, Korean Session, Asia, and Effectiveness of ICT
Policies towards Sustainable Economic and Social Development.
A Symposium was held on September 11th, its theme was “Regional
Decentralization and Doshu-seo”. It was coordinated by Moriki HOSOE (Kyushu
University) and chaired by Toshiya JITSUZUMI (Kyushu University).
In addition to the regular Conference, the PRSCO sessions were held on October 6-7.
The theme was “Regional Environment and Policy Evaluation I and II”. Six papers
were presented. International members participated in the PRSCO sessions and enjoyeddiscussions contributing to the advancement of regional science.
(2) 45th Annual Conference, Future University Hakodate, 2008
The JSRSAI held its 45th Annual Conference on the campus of Future University
Hakodate, hosted by Akira NAGANO (Future University Hakodate) as the chair of thelocal organization committee. The meeting opened on Saturday, October 25th. Paper
sessions were held on the 25th, 26th and 27th. Some 220 scholars attended forpresentations and discussions. The conference consisted of around 140 paper
presentations in 43 concurrent sessions. The session titles included Energy Issues,
Eco-Tourism, Water Environment, Transportation, Information, Input-Output Analysis,
Fisheries, China Economy, Regional Regeneration, and Communication.
The Symposium was held under the chair of Akira NAGANO (Future University
Hakodate). The main theme was “The Integration of Academic and Diversity
Cooperation with Industries in the Region”. In the general meeting, P. W. BATEY(University of Liverpool), G. J. D. HEWINGS (University of Illinois), and Yasuhiro SAKAI(Saga University) were nominated as honorary members.
In addition to the regular Conference, the PRSCO sessions were held on October
25th-26th. The theme was “A New Perspective on Regional Science I and II”. Six
papers were presented. International members from Korea, Austria, Switzerland,
Holland, and United Kingdom participated in the PRSCO sessions and enjoyeddiscussions contributing to the new perspective of regional science.
(3) 46th Annual Conference, Hiroshima University, 2009
The 46th Annual Conference was held at Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, hosted
by Tsunekazu TODA, October 10th-12th, 2009. About 300 members, includinginternational distinguished scholars, J. D. HEWINGS (University of Illinois), J. POOT
(University of Waikato), A. A. BATABYAL (Rochester Institute of Technology) and others
60participated in the Conference, and actively contributed to academic communication.
The conference consisted of around 140 paper presentations in 32 concurrent sessions.
Four memorial sessions were dedicated to the late Prof. Yoshinobu KUMATA. The session
themes included CGE Analysis, Agriculture and Villages, IT Society, Urban
Environment, International Trade, Sustainable Society, Regional Economy, andRegional Management.
The Symposium’s theme was “Considering the future of Japan from the Chugoku
Region”. In the general meeting, Yoshinobu KUMATA and Isao HARA (Hokkaido Institutefor Future Advancement), Hiroshi OTA (Aoyama Gakuin University), D. BOYCE(University of Arizona), L.GIBSON (University of Arizona) were nominated as honorary
members.
In addition to the regular Conference, the PRSCO sessions were held on October
10th-11th. The theme was “Sustainable Regional Policy and Socio-Economic Situation I
and II”. Seven papers were presented and commented on.
(4) 47th Annual Conference, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, 2010
The 47th Annual Conference was held at the National Graduate Institute for Policy
Studies, Tokyo, hosted by Hideo FUKUI, October 9th-11th, 2010. About 280 members,
including international distinguished scholars, D. BOYCE, L. J. GIBSON (University of
Arizona), P. NIJKAMP (Free University), K. KOURTIT (VU University Amsterdam), A. A.
BATABYAL (Rochester Institute of Technology) and others participated in the Conference,
and actively contributed to academic communication.
The Conference consisted of around 140 paper presentations in 36 concurrent
sessions and one symposium. The session themes included Information, Networks,
Environment, General Equilibrium Analysis, Regional Regeneration, Transportation,
International Economics, Regional Economics, Compact City, Asia, and Policy Analysis.
The Symposium’s theme was “To What Extent Should We Allow the Powers ofLegislation, Tax and Justice to the Local Governments? Consideration of the Principleof Local Autonomy”.
(5) 48th Annual Conference, Wakayama University, 2011
The 48th Annual Conference was held at Wakayama University, Wakayama, hosted
by Noboru YOSHIDA, October 8th-10th, 2011. About 300 members, includinginternational distinguished scholars, G. J. D. HEWINGS (University of Illinois), Y. WANG
(Shanghai Academy of Social Science), G. F. MULLIGAN (University of Arizona), P.
NIJKAMP (Free University), K. KOURTIT (Free University), A. A. BATABYAL (Rochester
61

Institute of Technology), L. SANDERSON (University of Waikato), D. SANTOS (Universityof Minho) and others participated in the Conference, and actively contributed toacademic communication.
The Conference consisted of around 150 paper presentations in 35 concurrent
sessions and one symposium. The session themes included Sustainable Society,
Regional Analysis, Spatial analysis, East-Japan Earthquake, Information, China, Model
Analysis, Environmental Policy, Input-Output Analysis, Regional Regeneration, andCompact City. The Symposium’s theme was “Low-Carbon Society and Regional
Regeneration, Consideration of Environmental and Regional Regeneration in a Region”.
(6) 49th Annual Conference, Rissho University, 2012
The 49th Annual Conference was held at Rissho University, Tokyo, hosted by
Akifusa FUJIOKA, October 6th-8th, 2012. About 320 members, including international
distinguished scholars, T. BAYCAN (Istanbul Technical University), N. REID (Universityof Toledo), J. POOT (University of Waikato), J. SERRANO (National University of Mexico),
K. E. HAYNES (George Mason University), P. BATEY (University of Liverpool), M. C.
CARROLL (Bowling Green State University), L. J. GIBSON (University of Arizona), P.
NIJKAMP (Free University), K. KOURTIT (Free University), D. PLANE (University of
Arizona), J-C. THILL (University of North Carolina), A. A. BATABYAL (Rochester Instituteof Technology), H. GOLDSTEIN (Modul University-Vienna), M. LJUNGGEN (The RoyalInstitute of Technology), G. CLARKE (University of Leeds), and others participated in the
Conference, and actively contributed to academic communication.
The Conference consisted of around 130 paper presentations in 33 concurrent
sessions and one regular symposium which was entitled “Sustainability of the Regional
Economy – Consideration of the Country in the Future”. It was the 50th Anniversary
meeting since the Japan section of the RSAI was established in 1962. A Ceremonymarking the 50th Anniversary of JSRSAI and the Plenary Jubilee session were held
during the meeting.
The session themes included Model Analysis, Regional Economy, Industry,
Regional management, Asia Economy, Trade Theory, NEG/CGE Model, Urban
Economics, CGE Analysis, Sightseeing, Urban Planning, Compact City, Informationand Media Analysis, Input-Output Analysis, China, and Social Capital.
(7) 50th Annual Conference, Tokushima University, 2013
The 50th Annual Conference was held at Tokushima University, Tokushima, hosted
by Mitsuo KONDO, October 12th-14th, 2013.
62

III. International Conferences
The Regional Science Association International (RSAI) is an interdisciplinary,international organization focusing on understanding the growth and development ofurban, regional, and international systems. The RSAI provides intellectual leadership in
the study of those social, economic, political and behavioral phenomena which have aspatial dimension.
In 1990, the association changed its organizational structure to better reflect thegrowth and development of the field; the Regional Science Association International
serves as an umbrella organization overseeing three major super-regional organizationsin RSAmericas (North America), Europe and the Pacific Rim.
(1) RSAI Conferences(a) 8th World Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2008
Every four years since 1980, the RSAI has conducted a World Congress. The 8thWorld Congress of the RSAI took place at Sao Paulo University in Sao Paulo, Brazil on
March 17th-19th, 2008. It was organized by C. R. AZZONI (Sao Paulo University). The
main conference theme was World Integration, Emerging Countries, Lagging Regions
and Sustainability. The Conference brought together participants from various
disciplines and integrated young scholars from all over of the world. Sessions for the
Conference included methodological and topical issues and dedicated plenary sessions.
The session topics were Energy and Regional Growth, Regional Modeling, Rural
Economies, Transportation Planning, Demography, Social Policy, Labor Market, andUrban Growth. Most participants from Japan enjoyed the conference.
(b) 9th World Congress, Timisoara, Romania, 2012
The 9th World Congress of the RSAI took place at Regional Business Center,
Timisoara, Romania on May 9th-12th, 2012. It was organized by the RomanianRegional Science Association and the RSAI. The congress LOC chairs were M. P IRTEA(West University of Timisoara), I. TALPOS (West University of Timisoara), D-L.
CONSTANTIN (President of the Romanian Regional Science Association), and O. MEGAN(West University of Timisoara). The main conference theme was Changing Spatial
Patterns in a Globalizing World. The president of the RSAI was Yoshiro HIGANO(University of Tsukuba). About 30 members of the Japan Section joined the congress.
(c) International Conference of the RSAI on Regional Science and Sustainable Regional63

Development in China
A Workshop on Regional Science and Regional Sustainable Development was heldin Hangzhou, China on March 13th-14th, 2011 at the Hangzhou Lakeview Hotel. The
chairperson was H. DU (University of Jiaxing). The JSRSAI 50th Anniversary session
was organized by Y. HIGANO (RSAI President, University of Tsukuba) and about 10
JSRSAI members contributed the workshop.
The International Conference on Sustainable Development and Policy Decision of
Mineral Regions and the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Regional Science Association
International took place at the University of Geosciences in Beijing from the 31st ofMarch-1st of April, 2012. More than 200 participants from China, Japan, India, Vietnam,
Korea, France, United States, Netherlands, and Portugal.
(2) Pacific Regional Science Conference(a) 21st PRSCO Conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 2009
The international meetings of the PRSCO (Pacific Regional Science Conference
Organization) are held biennially. The 21st PRSCO Conference was held in Gold Coast,
Queensland, Australia, on July 19th-22nd, 2009, at the Conrad Jupiters Hotel. It wasorganized by the Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association International(ANZRSAI). The main theme was Global Challenges-Regional Responses. D. FULLER(Nihon University) was the president of the ANZRSAI and the chairperson of the localorganizing committee. The Conference brought together participants from various
disciplines and young scholars from all parts of the world. Some 200 scholars andstudents attended the Conference, which was composed of about 150 paper
presentations in 50 concurrent sessions. Some of the topics included the following:
Regional Policy Modeling in China, Migration and Labor Markets, Australian Regional
Issue, Applied Regional Science, Advances in Regional Data Analysis, Spatial andGovernance Structure of Cities, National and Regional Government Relations, Regional
Development and the Environment. About 30 members from Japan contributed to theconference and enjoyed the beautiful city.
(b) 22nd PRSCO Conference, Seoul, Korea, 2011
The 22nd PRSCO Conference of the Regional Science Association International
was held from July 3rd to 6th in Seoul, Korea, at the KyoYuk MunHwa HoeKan. It was
hosted by the Korean Regional Science Association (KRSA). The chair of the localorganizing committee conference was J. Yang (Seoul National University). The
conference main theme was New Trends & Challenges ─ Green Growth of Regional
64

Economy and High Tech Development & Job Creation, with more than 140 papers
given by presenters from many countries. About 60 members of the Japan Section
attended the Conference and played a central role in academic contribution. The
JSRSAI 50th Anniversary special sessions were organized during the conference.
(c) 23rd PRSCO Conference, Bandung, Indonesia, 2013
The 23rd PRSCO Conference was held in Bandung, Indonesia on July 2nd-4th,
2013, at the Savoy Homann Hotel and was organized by the Indonesian Regional
Science Association (IRSA) and hosted by the Faculty of Economics and Business,
University of Padjadjaran. The main theme was Green Grown and Global Recovery: A
Regional Perspective. M. FAHMI (Padjadjaran University) was the chairperson of thelocal organizing committee. As one of the biggest regional science conferences in theworld, the PRSCO 2013 conference was attended by around 350 researchers andacademicians from 30 countries. The Conference was composed of about 200 paper
presentations in 50 concurrent sessions. Some of the topics included the following:Green Economy, Green Growth, Macroeconomic Policies, Global Crisis, Disastermanagement, Poverty, Inequality, Inter-regional Disparity, and Spatial Econometrics.
About 40 JSRSAI members attended the conference.
(3) PRSCO Summer Institute(a) 10th PRSCO Summer Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2008
The PRSCO Summer Institute is a biennial international conference that brings
together members of PRSCO, RSAI and other scholars interested on Regional Scienceand related fields to discuss new methods, applications, case studies, and new
developments in Regional Science. The 10th PRSCO Summer was held in Dhaka,Bangladesh on May 15th -16th, 2008 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. It wasorganized by the Bangladesh Regional Science Association. The meeting had
contributions of over 140 participants from various countries. About 10 members of theJapan Section attended the institute.
(b) 11th PRSCO Summer Institute, Cal, Colombia, 2010
The 11th Summer Institute of PRSCO entitled “New Horizons of Regional Scienceon the Onset of the 21st Century” was held in Cali, Colombia, on June 16th-18th, 2010at the Universidad Autonoma de Occidente. It was hosted by the Colombian Associationof Regional and Urban Studies (ASCER). The ASCER was a newly establishedacademic association under the umbrella of the PRSCO, the RSAmericas and the RSAI.
65

The chairperson of the local organizing committee was E. MONCAYO (ASCER President).
About 10 members of the Japan Section made a substantial contribution to the Institute.
(c) 12th PRSCO Summer Institute, Beijing, China, 2012
The 12th PRSCO Summer Institute was held in Beijing, China on July 3rd-6th, at
the Renmin University of China. The Institute was hosted by Renmin University of
China. The chairperson of the LOC was J. SUN (Renmin University of China). There
were more than 150 papers given by presenters from many countries. Plenary sessions,special sessions and contributed papers have addressed themselves to the may regional
aspects of challenges we face. About 15 JSRSAI members attended the Institute.
IV. JSRSAI 50th Anniversary
The JSRSAI celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2012, publishing a book entitled
The Progress and Perspectives of Regional Science in Japan: The Golden 50th
Anniversary. It consists of three parts: The First 50 Years of the JSRSAI, Progress andPerspectives of the JSRSAI, and Archives of the JSRSAI. In domestic meetings and therelated international conferences such as the World Congress of the RSAI, ERSA andPRSCO, the special 50th anniversary sessions were held and many papers were
presented in the sessions. The special 50th anniversary awards were presented to ninedistinguished scholars and members as shown in Table 1.
Table 1: JSRSAI Special 50th Anniversary Awards
Distinguished Service
Best Paper
Best Article
Award
Award
Award
Y. OISHI, P. NIJKAMP, H.
G. J. D. HEWINGS,
L. J. GIBSON, K. E.
KOHNO
P.W.J.BATEY, D. BOYCE
HAYNES, A. BAILLY
The ceremony marking the 50th Anniversary of JSRSAI was held at Tanzan Ishibashi
Memorial Auditorium, Rissho University on October, 6th, 2012.
Ceremony marking the 50th Anniversary of JSRSAI
Tanzan Ishibashi Memorial Auditorium, Rissho University, Tokyo
13:30-14:45 Saturday October 6, 2012
Opening of Ceremony
Address by President of JSRSAI
Yoshiro HIGANO (President of JSRSAI)
Congratulatory address
66

Yoshitsugu HAYASHI (Vice-president of Japan Society of Civil Engineers)
Hiromi MITSUHASHI (President of Japan Association for Real Estate Sciences)
Peter W. J. BATEY (ERSA)
Lay J. GIBSON (WRSA)
Jean-Claude THILL (NARSC)
Jichung YANG (PRSCO)Special Prize Awarding Ceremony in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary
Report by Special Award Prize Committee
Yasuhiro SAKAI (Chair of special award prize committee)
The 50th Anniversary Award
Distinguished Services Award Hirotada KOHNO
Best Paper AwardDavid BOYCE，Peter BATEYBest Article Award
Antoine BAILLY，Kingsley HAYNES
Special Contribution Award Yuichi HATAYA, Nobuyuki TSUTSUI, Hiroshi KOYAMA
Speeches by award winners
Closing of Ceremony
V. Publication
Studies in Regional Science (the international journal of the Japan Section of theRSAI), is published four times a year on behalf of the Japan Section of the RSAI. All
the volumes are composed papers selected from those presented at annual Conferences,in addition to some submitted papers. Both of them are collected through a strict
reviewing process. Each volume contains articles, notes, case studies, symposium
articles, and book reviews. The number of papers which appeared in the journal aresummarized in Table 2. The proceedings of the JSRSAI and the programs of annual
conferences were also contained in the publication. In 2013, a submission system wasintroduced and submissions were made on-line using Editorial Manager. To submit to
the journal go to http://www.editorialmanager.com/sirs/.
The journal is indexed in EBSCO, EconLit (the American Economic Association’sElectronic Bibliography) and International Regional Science Review. The electronic
version of Studies in Regional Science is available on-line at J-STAGE (Japan Scienceand Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic) and EconlitTM with Full Text.
Please visit http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/srs to search for the articles.

67

Table 2: Studies in Regional Science, 2007-2012

ArticlesNotesCase Studies
Book ReviewsVol. 37
No. 1-4
2007
43
16
12
8

Vol. 38
No. 1-4
2008
38
16
18
11

Vol. 39
No. 1-4
2009
42
11
8
6

Vol. 40
No. 1-4
2010
37
18
12
6

Vol. 41
No. 1-4
2011
37
16
18
13

Vol. 42
No. 1-4
2012
30
17
21
3

VI. Japan Section’s Awards
The Japan Section of RSAI Awards were established in 1992 in commemoration of
our thirtieth anniversary. From 2007 to 2012, Distinguished Service Awards were
presented to two members who made outstanding contributions to our Society. Best
Article Awards went to 11 members in the same period. Promotion Awards were
presented to 12 young scholars. Book Awards were given to 12 publications. Those who
received these Awards are listed in Table 3.
Table 3: JSRSAI Awards, 2007-2012
Distinguished Service
Award
2007

2008

2009

Moriki HOSOE
Hitoshi MITOMO
Yoshinobu KUMATA

2010
2011
2012

Best Article
Award
Kaoru ITO

Makoto TAWADA

Lily KIMINAMI
Kiyoko HAGIHARA
Hiroyuki SHIBUSAWA
Toshihiko MIYAGIAmit BATABYAL
Akifusa FUJIOKA
Makoto OKAMURA
Keisuke SASAKI

PromotionAward
Masakuni KAKOI
Chisato ASAHI
Kazuhiko SAKAI
Ryouichi NOMURA
Masakatsu SUZUKI
Rui YAMAGUCHI
Shintaro KOBAYASHI
Yuko AKUNE
Zhan JIN
Mamoru IMANISHI
Shaosheng JIN
Shinichi FURUZAWA(Hiroyuki SHIBUSAWA, Toyohashi University of Technology)

68

JAPAN SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE OF ACCOUNTING– A survey of research by JSSSA since 2005 –I. Introduction
The Japan Society for Social Science of Accounting (JSSSA), founded in
September 1986, is an academic association in Japan that seeks to advance research inaccounting from an array of perspectives critical of mainstream assumptions, practiceand worldview. A historical sketch of its provenance, prominent research approaches
and major issues addressed by its annual conferences leading up to 2005 is offered by
OGURI (2006). The objective of the present article is to follow up on OGURI’s work by
surveying major research advances since 2005 through 2012 as evidenced by papers
published in JSSSA’s Annals, hereinafter referred to as AJSSSA, with a primary focus
on issues of fundamental accounting theory and research methodology. The referencesat the end of this article include an additional array of papers addressing such issues asbasic accounting concepts, conceptual frameworks, accounting standards,
standards-setting and regulation.
II. JSSSA’s Annual Conferences and Their Main Themes
JSSSA has held its annual national conferences every year since its inception. The
dates, venues and main themes of the annual conferences since its 20th conference in2005 through the 27th in 2012 are as follows:
20th Conference, October 21-23, 2005, Meiji University
Main theme: What is accountability in modern society?
21st Conference, October 27-29, 2006, Kyoto University
Main theme: The meanings of criticism in accounting research
22nd Conference, October 19-21, 2007, Nihon University
Main theme: The responsibility of non-profit organizations and accounting regulation
23rd Conference, October 10-12, 2008, Kumamoto Gakuen University
Main theme: Review of accounting object in relation to the unsettled income concept[Reconsidering the object of accounting in the face of shifting concepts of income]24th Conference, October 16-18, 2009, Takushoku University
Main theme: Financial capitalism and fair value accounting
25th Conference, October 15-17, 2010, Meijo University
Main theme: Theoretical and methodological issues in accounting
26th Conference, September 22-24, 2011, Hokkaido University
69

Main theme: Accounting objectives in the era of IFRS
27th Conference, October 12-14, 2012, Ritsumeikan University
Main theme: An accounting useful to economic activity
Despite the partial overlap in coverage with OGURI (2006), the 20th conference has
been included within the scope of the present article due to the presence of several
conference papers highly relevant to our abovementioned topic. This article thus covers
AJSSSA issues No. 20 through 26, which collectively yield a total of 65 papers, 25 ofwhich are represented in the references to the article (plus OGURI (2006)). Thirteen of
those papers (plus OGURI (2006)) are discussed below. All of these papers are written in
Japanese, with English-language abstracts.
Note that papers coming out of the 27th conference in 2012 have not been included
in our present discussion since they have not yet been published in the AJSSSA as of thiswriting. Note also that citations without attribution in this article are derived from theindividual papers concerned or their accompanying English-language abstracts.
III. Research on Fundamental Accounting Theory and Research Methodology
Papers addressing issues of fundamental accounting theory and researchmethodology have been presented at and published after every annual conference during
the period under discussion, with the 25th Conference in 2010 standing out for devoting
itself to precisely these fundamental issues through its four main papers, JINNAI (2011),
FUJII (2011), ARAYA (2011) and ADACHI (2011). The four authors all addressed theoverarching theme, “Theoretical and methodological issues in accounting”, each with adistinctive focus. The four focal points may be identified as 1) revisiting and criticallyappraising the theoretical heritage of critical accounting research in Japan, 2) examining
the nature of methodologies now prevalent in accounting research throughout much of
the world, most notably, positive accounting theory, and exploring how criticalaccounting research might relate to such methodologies, 3) placing Japanese criticalaccounting research in a broader international context, comparing and contrasting itwith similar, but not necessarily identical, academic inquiries referred to collectively in
the Anglophone research community as “interdisciplinary” accounting research, and 4)
explicitly highlighting Japanese critical research in management accounting, an area
which had not attracted as much attention of critical research within JSSSA as financial
accounting and related areas of inquiry. Based on the frame of reference noted above,
this article attempts to weave in additional contributions to the JSSSA literature on
accounting theory and research methodology that have appeared in other years during
70the period under consideration to draw a fuller picture of the theory/methodology
discussion undertaken by JSSSA in the recent past.
1. Revisiting and critically appraising the theoretical heritage of critical accounting
research in Japan
As noted above, OGURI (2006) provides a broad overview of critical accounting
research in Japan, tracing its roots to as far back as the early 1930s and recounting thefull-fledged emergence of critical research in post-World War II Japan of the 1950s.
Various critical research initiatives that flourished at the time are categorized into two
main groups: an “individual capital movement” approach and a “socio-politicalsuperstructure” approach.
Revisiting major legacies of critical accounting research in Japan by authors suchas Iwao IWATA, Wasaburo KIMURA, Katsuzo BABA, Tadao KANDA and Kazuo MIYAGAMI,
JINNAI (2008) addresses the meaning of “criticism” in accounting research by examining
how the processes of analysis and synthesis were defined by individual authors while
highlighting a thesis advanced by Akiyoshi TANAKA which defines accounting as areflection of the “self-consciousness of capital”. JINNAI goes on to present his proposal
for synthesis of critical accounting research by, among other things, redefining theconcepts of “accounting methods” and “accounting institutions.” Such a redefinedconceptualization of accounting as a social institution, he argues, will resonate with theworks of such Western authors of critical accounting research as Tony T INKER.
JINNAI (2011) further pursues the historical appraisal of critical accounting researchin Japan by grouping the works of such noted Japanese authors as Torao NAKANISHI,
Fukuichi HATANAKA, Torazo NINAGAWA, Toshiyoshi OKABE and Aiji OKAMOTO along with
KIMURA and BABA under a common conceptual umbrella of a “theory of accounting
methods,” and attempts to develop their methodologies “to provide an alternativeinterpretation of the relationship between double-entry bookkeeping and thecontemporary mode of capitalist accounting”. The above-mentioned authors, argues
JINNAI, were all dialectic thinkers in the Hegelian/Marxian tradition, which enabled themto view accounting as a dynamic existence given to successive metamorphoses throughhistory and provide guidance for future directions of research.
OGURI (2012) revisits the “individual capital movement” approach as one drawing
on the logic and methodology of Marx’s Capital and discusses how the trial balance inbookkeeping reflects individual capital movement. After comparing the “mathematical”
and “individual capital movement” views of the trial balance equation, OGURI concludes
that the latter “is more successful in depicting individual capital movement than (the71

former)”, as it offers an approximate reflection of the movement of individual capital,
not in a straight forward way as posited by existing “individual capital movement”
theory, but after undergoing a cognitive transformation that results from the accounting
recognition process.
FUJII (2010) is a brief paper intended to serve as an introduction to a collection of
papers by other JSSSA academics addressing the question of “Financial Capitalism andFair Value Accounting”, the common theme of the 2009 annual conference. Writing in
the midst of a gathering global financial storm, FUJII defines the central question for allof his co-authors as “what the power of theory can do to identify the nature and the lawsof accounting as we dissect an epic financial crisis and the attendant accounting issues?”
Categorizing diverse research methodologies broadly into “structural” and “functional”
research, FUJII notes that while the two categories of research are inseparably linked likethe two sides of a coin, mutual differences in emphasis may at times trigger sharply
divergent views, a case in point of which is the controversy between the “individual
capital movement” and “socio-economic superstructure” schools in Japanese criticalaccounting research. Thus placing the controversy in a broader academic/philosophicalperspective, FUJII calls on his co-authors to leverage their mutual theoretical differences
into factors for productive academic debate.
ENDO (2006), in its original form, was delivered as a commemorative lecture atthe 2005 annual conference, an honor accorded to distinguished senior academics. ENDO
addresses the question of how to structure accounting as a social institution, regarding it
as the primary issue of accounting research. He sheds special light on a controversy
over the object of accounting and methods of accounting research in the 1960-70s
between two prominent scholars in critical accounting research, MIYAGAMI and BABA,
concluding that the quest for a synthesized general theory of accounting must go on.
As another in a series of commemorative lectures, KAKURAI (2008) mentions
KIMURA, BABA, OKABE, MIYAGAMI and Manji NAKAMURA as initial sources of academic
inspiration and underlines the author’s objective of presenting constructive proposals
for accounting reform to advance the cause of economic democracy based on asynthesis of the “individual capital movement” and “socio-economic superstructure”
approaches. Regarding the former, KAKURAI emphasizes the need to recognize theduality of real versus fictitious capital and that of real versus fictitious images of
economic reality provided by accounting.
TANAKA (2009), in yet another of the commemorative lectures, pays special
attention to the theories of NAKANISHI and BABA as well as the critiques of those theories.
TANAKA goes on to critically appraise the nature and role of positive accounting theory,72

viewing it in the historical context of evolving (Western) philosophical traditions ofrationalism and positivism. In his appraisal, TANAKA notes both the strengths andweaknesses or pitfalls of positive research, and advocates an interdisciplinary review ofmethodologies and their philosophical underpinnings not only in accounting research
but also in the broader social sciences. This aspect of Tanaka’s inquiry naturally leads
this article into the next section.
2. Examining the nature of methodologies now prevalent in accounting research
In examining the nature of methodologies now prevalent in accounting research,most notably, positivist research, FUJII (2006) begins by raising two questions: 1) Why
are we recently witnessing the setting of accounting standards that are apparently
inconsistent with the results of empirical research, and 2) what else, other than empiricalevidence, has served as the basis for standard setting? FUJII attempts to answer them bypointing to the role of a priori “beliefs”, suggesting possible limitations on theusefulness of empirical research for standard setting, and goes on to examine theprocess by which such beliefs are formed. Drawing on insights from comparative
institutional analysis, FUJII illustrates how belief-based “assertions” crystallize intosocial norms, and also how institutions and behavioral patterns of economic actors may
evolve over time.
FUJII (2011) addresses the methodological foundations of positive accounting
research based on what the author regards as commonly accepted notions in the realm ofphilosophy of science. Noting logical positivism as the overall foundation of positive
accounting research, FUJII revisits some of the major research methodologies sharing thesame foundations, such as enumerative induction, hypothetico-deduction andfalsification as advocated by Karl POPPER. FUJII further refers to probability- andstatistics-based thinking as offering a solution to the crucial problem ofunder-determination ascribed to Popper’s falsification approach. After considering
relevant issues such as the validity of logical positivism, distinction between causationand correlation and a resurgence of induction, the author acknowledges the primacy, forthe foreseeable future, of positivist methodology within the historical context of“institutionalization” of the social sciences since the 1950s, a primacy that he ascribes to,inter alia, its relatively advanced level of perfection in comparison to othermethodologies and its aptitude for serving as a defining research instrument for“institutionalized” sciences. But FUJII also argues that positive research will not be able
to totally eradicate other methodologies given the existence – and indeed the increased
incidence – of complex accounting issues that do not readily lend themselves to positive73

research that confines its inquiry to statistically testable propositions. Given such acontext, FUJII observes that it will be incumbent on researchers investigating accounting
issues of such complexity to further develop alternative methodologies to raise the levelof scientific objectivity of their research.
3. Placing Japanese critical accounting research in a broader international context
of “interdisciplinary” accounting research
ARAYA (2011) is a survey and appraisal of alternative, “interdisciplinary”
accounting research in the West, intended to place the Japanese tradition of criticalaccounting research in a broader international perspective. As distinguishing features ofthe paper, Araya presents three components: 1) an inventory of key issues that haveemerged out of controversies within the interdisciplinary accounting researchcommunity, 2) a survey of interdisciplinary accounting research based on literature
reviews, with a special focus on the choice of differing methods of “engagement” orinteraction between researchers and the object of their research, and 3) a bibliographicallisting of interdisciplinary and critical research in the West and in Japan that sharescommonalities in terms of the scope, theme, framework and/or method of research.
While noting certain similarities between the two research communities such as theirshared willingness to challenge mainstream research assumptions and their common
commitment to analyze accounting phenomena in social/historical contexts, ARAYA
underlines a number of differences such as their evolution, sources of theoreticalinspiration, methodology and prioritized areas of research. The author further notes a far
greater diversity in the West in terms of the object and method of research as well as thetheoretical foundations of research compared to the state of research in Japan. He
concludes by advocating further comparative surveys of the two research communities
with a focus on the following three areas of shared interest: 1) research on class-oriented
use of management accounting and its historical evolution, 2) research on methods ofaccounting and measurement of income that derives theoretical inspiration from Marx’s
Capital, and 3) research involving critical financial analyses and/or critical research that
may lead to political intervention in such domains as public policy, labor relations andresolution of accounting and auditing irregularities.
YOSHIMI (2007) represents another effort to place the two research communities on
a common platform. The author traces the historical evolution of critical accounting
research in Japan, highlighting the role played by external influences, notably from
Germany and the US, and making a distinction between institutions and theory as theintended object of critical inquiry. After surveying the evolution of critical accounting74

research in the West, YOSHIMI re-examines the meaning of “criticism” in accounting
research and proposes an interpretation that can arguably provide a shared platform for
future critical research, through which he advocates criticism of existing accounting
theory as well as accounting institutions.
YAMAJI (2007), in an endeavor to bring post-modern thinking into the accounting
debate, introduces social constructionism and Michel Foucault’s discourse analysis as ameans to criticize modern theories in which the author includes accounting theories,
Marxian or otherwise. YAMAJI proceeds by subjecting his own previous writings,
including his theoretical research on accounting measurement and information
disclosure as well as his empirical research, to post-modernist scrutiny, and offers are-interpretation based on social constructionism. The author, in his post-modernist
critique of accounting and accounting institutions, rejects the notion of “evolutionary”
formation of accounting institutions and regards accounting theory as “narratives
relating the various socio-economic issues of the day to broadly defined pricedifferentials that are induced by the contemporary structures of income measurement.”
4. Japanese critical research in management accounting
While other JSSSA papers during the period under survey do contain somereferences to management accounting, ADACHI (2011) stands apart from the rest for its
discussion of the theoretical challenges and methodological issues in management
accounting research. In the paper, ADACHI first identifies “accounting methods” (such as
costing) and the corresponding “accounting concepts” as the essential elements that
render management accounting a constituent part of accounting. He underscores theimportance of such identification for counteracting against tendencies to blur the
distinction between accounting information and non-accounting information as well as
the distinction between management accounting and management control. The author
then revisits the historical process in which the identity of management accounting was
subsumed into a more general category of “information systems”, obscuring the linethat formerly separated management accounting from management systems. Based onthese observations, ADACHI presents his assessment of critical management accounting
research in Japan, crediting it with identifying the socio-economic conditions
underlying management accounting and the actual functions of management accounting.
He also points to a conceptual understanding of management accounting based on
logical and historical approaches as another positive contribution. ADACHI, however,delivers his negative assessment on what he regards as a tendency to relegate theimportance of accounting-specific aspects of management accounting and to render it
75into what he terms an “economics of accounting”. For a successful inquiry ofmanagement accounting as part of accounting theory, the author calls for attention to theessential elements of management accounting mentioned above, to be followed by aninvestigation of the specializing elements unique to accounting for management and an
examination of the socio-economic conditions for management accounting and its actual
functions.
IV. Other Research Published by JSSSA
As mentioned in Sections I and II of this article, the above discussion covers only asmall albeit important segment of the overall research output published by JSSSA. The
references below contain bibliographical information on additional JSSSA literature
published between 2006 and 2012 addressing such fundamental issues as accounting
concepts, standards-setting and regulation.
Selected References
ADACHI, Hiroshi (2011)“The Problems and a Methodological Viewpoint of Accounting Theory inManagement Accounting”, AJSSSA, No. 25 (25th Conference, 2010).
ARAYA, Tsukasa (2011)“Trends in and Evaluations of Interdisciplinary Accounting in Western Countries”,
AJSSSA, No. 25 (25th Conference, 2010).
ENDO, Takashi (2006)“Some Thinking about the Essence of Accounting and the Methodology of
Accounting Theory”, AJSSSA, No. 20 (20th Conference, 2005).
FUJII, Hideki (2006)“Nature and Direction of Institutional Change in Accounting: Accountability,
Empirical Evidence and Bounded Rationality”, AJSSSA, No. 20 (20th Conference,2005). [Interaction of accounting research and accounting standard-setting]
FUJII, Hideki (2010)“Commentary for Plenary Session: Finance-Driven Capitalism and Fair Value
Accounting”, AJSSSA, No. 24 (24th Conference, 2009).
FUJII, Hideki (2011)“Theory and Research Method in Accounting: With Special Reference toMethodological Basis of Empirical Study,” AJSSSA, No. 25 (25th Conference, 2010).
ISHIKAWA, Junji (2006)“The Standpoints of the Conceptual Framework for Financial Accounting of Japan:
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From Four Basic Theory-Viewpoints”, AJSSSA, No. 20 (20th Conference, 2005).
ISHIKAWA, Junji (2010)“The Viewpoints of the Transformation of Today’s Business Accounting: The
Comprehensive Viewpoint of Economics, Accounting and Law”, AJSSSA, No. 24(24th Conference, 2009).
IWASAKI, Isamu (2012)“On the Application and Problems of Fair Value Accounting”, AJSSSA, No. 26(26th Conference, 2011).
JINNAI, Yoshiaki (2008)“The Significance of Criticism in Accounting Research”, AJSSSA, No. 22 (22ndConference, 2007).
JINNAI, Yoshiaki (2011)“An Appraisal of the Theory of Accounting Methods: Continuing and Developing
Critical Researches in Accounting”, AJSSSA, No. 25 (25th Conference, 2010).
KABATA, Ryuzo (2010)“The Change of the Economy and Society and Fair Value Accounting”, AJSSSA,
No. 24 (24th Conference, 2009).
KABATA, Ryuzo (2012)“The Universal Validity of the Stewardship Concept / Objective in the Era of
IFRS”, AJSSSA, No. 26 (26th Conference, 2011).
KAKURAI, Yasuo (2008)“In Search of Social Science of Accounting: My History of Critical Accounting
Study”, AJSSSA, No. 22 (22nd Conference, 2007).
KUMAGAI, Shigekatsu (2009)“Changing Accounting Income and Corporate Capital Structure,” AJSSSA, No. 23(23rd Conference, 2008).
MATSUMOTO, Toshifumi (2009)“A meaning of comprehensive income and a new corporate value evaluation model– Beyond the bounds of the stockholder sovereignty principle –”, AJSSSA, No. 23(23rd Conference, 2008).
MURAKAMI, Osamu (2012)“Accounting Standards and their Political Nature”, AJSSSA, No. 26 (26thConference, 2011).
OGURI, Takashi (2006)“The Japan Society for Social Science of Accounting”, Information Bulletin of theUnion of National Economic Associations in Japan, No. 26.
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OGURI, Takashi (2012)“How does Accounting / Bookkeeping reflect Individual Capital Movement?”,
AJSSSA, No. 26 (26th Conference, 2011).
OKADA, Hiromasa (2009)“Coexistence of Comprehensive Income and Net Income under the ASBJ’s
Discussion Memorandum on Conceptual Framework”, AJSSSA, No. 23 (23rd
Conference, 2008).
ONO, Takemi (2010)“Economic Crisis and Accounting as Rhetoric”, AJSSSA, No. 24 (24th Conference,2009).
SHIMA, Kazushige (2006)“Accountability View in Japanese Institutional Accounting”, AJSSSA, No. 20 (20thConference, 2005).
TANAKA, Akiyoshi (2009)“What is Accounting Theory?”, AJSSSA, No. 23 (23rd Conference, 2008).
TOMITA, Satoshi (2012)“An Influence on Corporate Valuation in Applying IFRSs”, AJSSSA, No. 26 (26thConference, 2011).
YAMAJI, Hidetoshi (2007)“Accounting and Social Constructionism: Can Post-Modern thinking be afoundation of Critical Analysis?”, AJSSSA, No. 21 (21st Conference, 2006).
YOSHIMI, Hiroshi (2007)“The Demand for Accounting Theory and Its Development in Japan: from the critic
of institution to the critic of theory”, AJSSSA, No. 21 (21st Conference, 2006).
(Yoichi HARA, Ritsumeikan University)

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