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2024 Volume 41 Pages 74-77
The present volume illustrates the various issues and limitations faced by Japan during the modern period, as viewed through the lens of the railroad industry. It carefully investigates, analyzes, and elucidates the various factors available for consideration—within the self-imposed limitation of the history of technology that is the author’s field of expertise—to explore how the development of modern Japan’s rail industry and its management was associated with Japan’s approach to being a colonial empire. Furthermore, it examines the activities of the engineers who played a major role both technically and in their approaches to management from two perspectives: those of “learning,” which was aimed at absorbing and transplanting advanced technology from the West, and “teaching,” which attempted to apply railroad technologies and management approaches adapted to local conditions to the imperial sphere, including colonized regions. The results of this examination present a multifaceted image of imperial Japan that goes beyond the framework of technological history.
From the first section focused on “learning,” we see that the source of energy for the painstaking efforts of specialists like the engineers who partook in the management of railroad companies at the time came from their strong self-esteem, such that they wanted to be recognized by the countries of Europe that were the advanced nations of the age and enhance Japan’s prestige. Also, at the same time, the obsession with proprietary technologies and problem-solving techniques produced as a result that constrained development is portrayed in the examples of successes that were somehow achieved with electric locomotives that are the focus of Chapter 3 and in the example of long-term stagnation in diesel locomotives shown in Chapter 4.
In Section 2 with its focus on “teaching,” the reality that comes to light is that the management of railroad and related companies in Manchuria and China—areas of Japanese influence—as well as in the then-colonial Korean Peninsula was greatly affected by various factors including not only technological ones but also social, work culture, and the like, as well as the approach to rule within the empire. That said, I also want to take note of the fact that, throughout the whole of Section 2, attention is paid to the fact that discrimination toward the ruled and the arrogance of the rulers is embedded with the activities of managing Japan-related railroad and related companies. This, as is illustrated at the end of the final chapter, is also clear from the restrained but strong criticism of the common belief prevailing in society that “Japan’s rule was a good rule that provided the foundations for economic development in the former colonies after the war.”
Kokushikan University
Hot spring trip is among the most popular leisure activities in present-day Japan. This book investigates the historical process from the Tokugawa period till the 2020 COVID-19 crisis in which hot spring trip has taken root in the Japanese society as a major leisure activity.
The investigation is conducted from the viewpoint of hot spring users. More concretely, it is guided by the following three questions. (1) Who traveled to hot springs and with whom? (2) On what information did they make their trips and how did they travel? (3) How did they spend their time in hot spring areas and how much did their trips cost?
A merit of this book is that the general overview of the history of hot spring trip is well complemented by concrete episodes to delve deeply into the above questions. The general historical outline is as follows. Hot spring trip began to become popular around the time of WWI. (More concretely, the main purpose of hot spring trip began to change from long-term medical treatment to short-term stay for pleasure.) During the high economic growth period, especially in the 1960s, group tour gained popularity. As the numerical importance of small group tour increased during and after the 1970s, the purpose of hot spring trip became diversified, with the effectiveness of the hot spring medical treatment being under scrutiny. While presenting the general historical overview, intriguing episodes are introduced: for instance, gender differences related to hot spring trip, hot spring trips in Japanese colonies and Manchuria, and unexpected relations between hot spring trip and the national health insurance system.
As abovementioned, this is a chronological history viewed only from the standpoint of hot spring users. Consequently, questions such as “What attempts have been made by each economic entity with regard to the development of hot spring resort sites and innovation in transportation and the supply of information?” and “What were the crucial factors for the success of the innovation?” are not directly discussed. However, historical facts presented in this work are sufficient enough to pursue these questions: for instance, Sohō Tokutomi, who unwittingly promoted hot springs in Atami through his essays; group tour plans proposed by newspaper companies during the 1930s; and the rise and fall of the Funabashi Health Center in Chiba Prefecture during the high economic growth period. By using this work’s valuable research results as a springboard, the managerial and entrepreneurial history of hot spring trip can be further developed.
Kyoto University
This book conducts historical investigations into diversification strategies and organizational reforms implemented by general electrical enterprises, making comparisons between Japanese, American, and German experiences. Maintaining that there are two “myths” related to this subject which originate from influential studies, the editor and authors make it an aim for this work to challenge them. The first myth is the proposition deriving from Edith Penrose’s study that “companies adopt diversification strategies to utilize unused resources.” Against this proposition, this work posits that not all companies have adopted diversification strategies with an initial intention to utilize unused resources. It is claimed that actual diversifications of general electrical enterprises have often taken place rather emergently. The second myth is the proposition deriving from Alfred D. Chandler Jr.’s study that “organizations are reformed according to the strategies adopted: that is, for the management that has adopted a diversification strategy, it is economically rational to transform the business organization from a U-form (unitary form) to a M-form (multi-divisional form) one.” Against this proposition, this work posits that even if a diversification strategy is adopted, maintaining the U-form organization can be an economically rational choice, as long as “economies of scope,” which is used synonymously with “synergistic effects” in this work, outweigh its disadvantages.
Some points need to be addressed. First, although the proclaimed aim of this work is to challenge the “mythicized” theories, the possibility is not taken into consideration that the “mythicization” is itself a myth. It is important to examine previous studies, especially the post-Chandler studies, to determine if those “myths” are truly believed outside of a specific community in Japan. Second, the mechanism of “economies of scope” is not fully elucidated. Historical studies contained in this work do not present a clear picture of what concrete measures have been taken by the management and how economies of scope emerged. Third, although the work carries out international comparisons, it is ambiguous whether this comparative method is suitable for its aim.
These points notwithstanding, this is a valuable book full of academic, argumentative energy. When the book’s joint review meeting was held at Tohoku University on April 20, 2024, the reviewer was there as a commentator. The meeting proceeded in a lively atmosphere, where the authors talked candidly about their thoughts and difficulties they had during their research. Readers of this book are advised to draw attention to the authors’ academic backgrounds and to think about the academic debates through which this book was produced. After having gone through those controversies, the editor has realized the publication of this book. His effort and ability to coordinate this research publication project deserve high praise.
Hitotsubashi University; Tohoku University
The present volume focuses in particular on the histories of Cadbury and Rowntree—two confectionery companies founded by Quakers—to explore the characteristics of the corporate welfare engaged in by the families of the founders. It points out that both companies were engaged in corporate welfare that differed from what had come before. Previously, what companies had done for their employees was directed toward increasing their loyalty to the company and stoking the desire of the workers to carry out their tasks in ways that would benefit the company. The volume indicates out that the corporate welfare in which these two companies engaged was pursued as a social obligation. For example, as is presented in the volume, John Cadbury invested his own funds toward providing housing that realized a good living environment not only for company employees but also for the general populace more broadly, and strived to improve that living environment. The volume also explains how the British welfare state was established after World War II and corporate welfare fell into disuse, and how corporate welfare had played a role to that point for supplementing state social welfare. The volume portrays the history of both companies' efforts at corporate welfare such that we understand at the very least that their efforts precisely assumed such a role.
While corporate welfare is the topic of the present volume, it also investigates in detail the management histories of Cadbury and Rowntree. The story of how Cadbury grew to be the British Empire's leading chocolate manufacturer by establishing a mass production system that could deliver the cocoa and chocolates that British people were fond of at low prices, and also by promoting local production overseas through overseas direct investments, is an extremely interesting one. So, too, is the story of Rowntree, which got its business back on its feet with confections that used chocolate, such as Kit Kat bars.
The present volume also devotes much space to explanations summarizing the history of companies other than Cadbury and Rowntree that also appear, as well as Quaker and British economic history. This allows one to carefully verify the historical background against which this corporate welfare was provided while reading along. This volume is useful for learning about the history of corporate welfare in Great Britain, and moreover for also deepening our understanding of British economic and religious history.
Gakushuin University
