抄録
The purpose of this study is to consider the modern implication and interpretation of Japanese family businesses. Specifically, by considering the relationship between continuity and innovation of Japanese centennial firms from the perspective of entrepreneurial activity, this paper explores the dynamism that these firms have continued and survived for more than one century. For this purpose, we are subject to quantitative research and case analysis. And then the integrated discussions are made on the basis of three major findings. In the first, we find the family businesses outperformed non-family businesses during post war economy (1961-2000). Second, the comparative case study showed well-established companies constantly generated new values through well-balanced management of tradition and innovation. As its result, entrepreneurships have been inherited for long time. Finally, as typified by a case study, a family successor was, by its nature, caught in a dilemma between autonomy and constraints given by the predecessor generation, and he tried to resolve the dilemma in succession process. The case study showed this behavior of the successor was likely to be a source of innovative action in centennial family businesses.
