This paper aims at the situation and structure of labor movement, workers in modern Japan as same as in region and the relations between labor unions in the core and the periphery. Proving the above mentioned, especially the situation of labor movement, workers and their families in region of Japan, this paper focused strike which members of Tochigi Newspaper Labor Union went on from March till November in 1994. It is based on the data which I researched into the union members during August and September in 1995 and arranged later. The analytical method that this paper adopts is it on subjective interpretation. Its method aims at the motivations of union members to participate the strike. I found the facts following. Firstly, the union members participating labor movement changed to have orientation to their union. Secondly, most of union members were supported by their families, particularly their wives and many civilian groups while striking. Thirdly, nonetheless, labor movements are coming crisis in region of Japan now.

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In the past decade or so several researchers on industrial relations in Japan have tried to define industrial relations system in Japan as a “neo-corporatist” type in some sense, while this type of system has been on the decline in other advanced capitalist societies. These researchers also have questioned why a “neo-corporatist” type of industrial relations has been formalized in Japan while otherwise in other societies. This article attempts to explain why the extent to which “neo-corporatism” is institutionalized is different in national societies and to examine whether industrial relations system in Japan can be regarded as “neo-corporatist” or not. First of all, various concepts of “neo-corporatism” are specified on the basis of their “range”, “level”, “type” and “object”, and a concept of “neo-corporatism” is newly defined as an institution of class compromise, more or less, mediated by the state in capitalist society. Secondly differences between national societies in the formation of “neo-corporatism” are theoretically explicated in terms of three types in capitalist development, which “historical sociology of industrial relations” has molded. As a consequence, thirdly, it is clarified that Japan is an “exception” or a “variance” in the formation of “neo-corporatism”, and the fact that industrial relations system in Japan should not be defined as “class compromise” but “class integration” and not termed “neo-corporatist” is suggested.

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This paper tries to clarify the relationship between an employment growth and a temporary help supply industry (THS), in particular the employment form of THS. The employment growth includes an increase of contingent workers which have uncontinuous jobs with low wage and a little benefit such as temporary helpworkers. In f.act, THS firms lead to increase contingent workers. Because THS firms deliver their employees with a few of labor rights to meet downsizing in users firms. Only the employment form of THS allows to separate an employer (THS firm) from an user (cliant firm) and makes a contract of providing temporary help workers (between THS firm and cliant firm) more preferred and an employment contract (between THS firm and worker) less preferred. As a result temporary help workers acquire their jobs at the sacrifice of labor rights. This implys on labor history that a labor market is going to become just like a products market.

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The purpose of this paper is to examine and show through a case study of the Kyoto folding fan industry that the basis for sustaining old industry conveying old handicraft techniques until today can be found in the artisan-merchant co-existence community. First my approach is as follows. The artisan-merchant co-existence community may be viewed as a social grouping which has been formed by the fact that both parties have a common objective, and hence interact and form social bonds. The common objective is the reproduction of the craft and the industry itself. Secondly I examine through a concrete case study the actual roles of the artisan and merchant shops as well as their respective cognitive frameworks and value systems. The analysis is being brought forward by introducing the concept of occupational lineages. This concept refers to various personal relations like consciousness of common trade and industry, and emerge f rom the fact that the actors are knit together through the relations of their craft. Basically the artisan and merchant shops dif fer in their principles and value systems, but through the occupational lineages they become knit together and form the artisan-merchants co-existence community. Within this process of interaction between artisans and merchants the point of compromise is the craft itself . The occupational lineages inherit and realize the craft, and then concretely display and utilize the craft. By carrying on the craft like this the occupational lineages function towards the construction of the artisan-merchant co-existence community and support its reprodrrction. Finally I recogneize thet the artisan-merchant co-existence community characterized by symbiotic and network-type relations through the occupational lineages.

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