Contact Zone of Anthropology of and in Business

Inspiring Synergy between Anthropology and Industry in Japan

Abstract

It is not an easy task to describe "business anthropology". Moreover, the definition of business anthropology is not concretely established. Discussions still remain on whether business anthropology is something that anthropologists do for (and sometimes with) and in business; it is a field "in the making."

This paper focuses on two points regarding anthropology of/in business. First, it elaborates on the relationship between development of anthropology in business and the characteristics of Japanese enterprises along with the possibilities of applying business anthropology in Japan. Second, business anthropology is an interdisciplinary subject applied in business and academia; further, cooperation with business people (including anthropologists hired in business enterprises) have the potential to invigorate Japanese anthropology.