The Basic Code of Broadcasting Ethics is a code of ethics to be followed uniformly by all broadcasters in Japan. Currently, NHK and commercial broadcasters provide training to ensure compliance with broadcasting ethics. However, there is no end to the number of cases of broadcasting ethics violations, such as the falsification of program information. When problematic cases occur in broadcasting programs, they are deliberated by a thirdparty organization, The Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (hereinafter referred to as “BPO”). The BPO selects cases from complaints and opinions from viewers about broadcast programs, conducts investigations and deliberations, and compiles a report if a broadcasting ethics problem is found. Given the current situation in which broadcasting ethics is not fully functioning as a profession’s code of ethics, this study explores factors common to cases of broadcasting ethics violations and clarifies issues by conducting a text-mining analysis of BPO reports.

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Railroad companies, as bureaucratic organizations, have emphasized leadership to guide their employees. On the other hand, building “a reporting culture” for safety requires the initiative of the employees, and traditional leadership may not be sufficient. This study attempts to explore whether traditional leadership is sufficient for fostering a proactive safety reporting culture within bureaucratic railway organizations. First, the argument progresses by examining the necessity of a reporting culture, the constraints of traditional leadership in bureaucratic structures, and introducing Servant Leadership (SL) as a viable solution. Second, this paper examines case studies of West Japan Railway Company and TESSEI, utilizing documentary research and interviews to explore the role of traditional leadership and SL. This study concludes that SL is effective in promoting a reporting culture essential for safety.

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This study identifies the impacts of NGOs and institutional investors on corporations’ response to biodiversity in Japan. For this, existing studies were reviewed and then, an empirical analysis was conducted. The sample for the study included cross-sectional data of 1,298 Japanese corporations in 2020. A logit regression model was employed, with the dependent variable being ‘whether the firm eagerly takes care of biodiversity matters’. The results show significant positive correlations between （1） cooperation with NGOs, （2） dialogue with institutional investors, and the dependent variable. Additionally, firm size, profitability and industry type were also found to affect a firm’s response to biodiversity.

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Through interviews with female outside directors, this research analyzes why gender equity progress has been slower in Japan in comparison to other nations. Japan’s GDP ranked third in the world after the United States and China, but its gender index ranked 125th out of 146 countries in a 2023 survey, the lowest among developed countries. Japan ranked particularly low in gender equity progress in the fields of business and politics. This paper’s focus is on female outside directors who are active in business, including interviews with five Japanese and non-Japanese female outside directors of Tokyo Stock Exchange listed companies. Data is analyzed using a qualitative method known as the Grounded Theory Approach （GTA） method. The findings of this research identify seven distinct issues causing barriers are for women to become senior executives in Japan, as well as on the need for cognitive diversity on boards of directors.

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The purpose of this paper is to understand the current situation and sort out the issues related to the linkage between sustainability indicators and executive remuneration systems in Japanese companies. This research will focus on Japanese companies with excellent sustainability performance and capture trends in the link between sustainability indicators and executive remuneration systems, which is said to be highly difficult. As a result, the high-quality Japanese companies for sustainability tend to link sustainability indicators to executive compensation at a higher rate than the major listed companies representing Japan, mainly those in the Nikkei 225 was confirmed. Additionally, through a case study, I confirmed the existence of external and internal factors in linking sustainability indicators and executive remuneration.

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Currently, the nature of city planning is undergoing reexamination. However, the ethics of city planning has rarely been discussed. Accordingly, this paper focuses on the Ethical Principles for Tsukuba Smart City. First, we examine and identify needs for improvement in the Principles, and suggest the need for additional principles （Section 2）. Next, to establish ethical principles for city planners to follow, we consider city planning by Echizen City in Fukui Prefecture and by Odakyu Electric Railway and Real Estate（ Section 3） and identify the “principle of solidarity” as an ethical principle found in Echizen City’s city planning （Section 4）and the “principle of encounter” as an ethical principle in Odakyu’s city planning. We then propose ethical principles for city planners to follow, including these additional principles（ Section 5）. Finally, we present issues that could not be discussed in this paper（ Section 6）.

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[in Japanese]

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In recent years, several generic companies and CMOs have committed GMP violations. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the prefectures under its jurisdiction imposed strict suspension of operations on these companies. Furthermore, since the persons responsible for disposal have jurisdiction over different prefectures, it is unclear whether the disposal is uniform. We investigated the appropriateness of administrative penalties and the uniformity of penalties. As a result, it is considered appropriate if the person taking the disciplinary action considers the fact that the upper management was aware of the violation to be a serious consideration. However, when the evaluation item was the presence or absence of maliciousness, there were cases where the punishment was severe and cases where the punishment was light.

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This study examines the impact of corporate chemical management initiatives on firm value by leveraging chemical emissions data published under Japan’s PRTR program. An analysis of panel data from 147 chemical companies for the period 2016–2022, conducted by applying the random-effects model, suggests that there is a significant and negative association between chemical emissions and firm value （Tobin's q）. Analysis conducted using propensity score matching （PSM） indicated that, when compared to the group with higher chemical emissions, the group with lower chemical emissions has a higher Tobin's q.

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This study demonstrates the impact of corporate proactivity and the collaboration between firms and non-profit organizations（NPOs）in Corporate Social Responsibility （CSR）activities on corporate social performance in economic crises. Text mining and covariance structure analysis were carried out on 183 listed Japanese manufacturing firms. The results show that firms’ positive attitudes towards CSR activities increase their positive approaches towards the collaboration between firms and NPOs through “donations” “cooperation”, and corporate social performance. In addition, the relationship between CSR and corporate social performance suggests that interorganization collaboration, such as between firms and NPOs, may be indirect. This research has theoretical contributions to CSR research, research on inter-organization collaboration, and practical contributions that promote social contribution activities through collaboration between firms and NPOs.

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This paper explores the influence of organizational ethical climate （OEC） and ethical leadership （EL） on unethical conduct （UEC） or organizational citizenship behavior （OCB） in workplaces that utilize remote work. Multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling were used in the analysis. Results revealed the following findings：（1） the climate of self-interest encourages UEC and reduces OCB, while the climate of personal morality reduces UEC. However, it was found that （2） as remote work increased, the effective function of OEC declined. Conversely, （3） the effective functioning of EL was observed in its ability to reduce UEC and encourage OCB. In summary, the primary finding of this study is that EL serves as a mediator between OEC and UEC or OCB, playing a crucial role in enhancing business ethics in a workplace that leverages remote work. The limitations of this study are discussed along with proposed suggestions for future research.

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We examine the impact of the SDGs on CSR, and the extent to which this impact is greater depending on the managerial perceptions. Previously, CSR has been discussed with the institutional theory and the theory of the firm. According to these arguments and given the increased societal expectations of firms brought about by the SDGs, CSR is expected to play an important role in gaining legitimacy while the firms' risks of ignoring CSR are expected to increase. However, managerial perceptions for such societal expectations and risks are likely to differ across firms, and consequently, it is expected that there will be differences in CSR efforts across firms. Using data from CSR disclosure of UNGC-signatory Japanese firms, we examine the relationship between SDGs and CSR, and the moderating effects of managerial perceptions.

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Recent years have seen an unending stream of employees who engage in misconduct within their company or workplace, contrary to management’s stance on ethical compliance. This study reveals the thought processes of such employees. It clarifies the contentions of research on bottom-line mentality （BLM） and unethical proorganizational behavior （UPB）, and the problems with these factors. The study then focuses on the complexity of the human psychology of choosing improper conduct simply because there is no alternative, despite knowing that it is wrong. Overall, this paper sheds light on the type of employees engaging in misconduct to benefit customers, within the context of workplace philosophies, especially （1） the pervasive “customer is always right” mindset in customer-facing roles in Japanese companies and （2） the persistent budget-centric thinking that continues with impunity, despite the current ongoing challenges of chronic labor shortage and restricted work hours.

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With the rise of the platform economy and the growing influence of social media, the relationship between consumers and businesses has evolved beyond the conventional buyer-seller paradigm. Consumers are no longer mere passive recipients of value but have emerged as co-creators, actively participating in various facets of value creation. Beyond mere purchasing activities, consumers are increasingly engaged in non-purchase behaviors such as advocacy, feedback, helping, tolerance as consumer citizenship behavior （CCB）. This study aims to explain the intricate relationship between consumer perceived value （CPV）, consumer perceived corporate social responsibility （CPCSR）, and their interaction effect on various dimensions of CCB. Our findings intend to provide new insights into consumer behavior theory while offering businesses effective strategies to better align with consumer needs and actions. By examining both the ‘soft’ aspects represented by CSR and the ‘hard’ aspects related to actual offerings, this research systematically addresses the role these elements play in promoting CCB.

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[in Japanese]

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[in Japanese]

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The Shigaraki Kogen Railway （SKR） accident on May 14, 1991, killed 42 and injured more than 600 people. Ever since, the SKR has not been involved in any major accident; moreover, it has received numerous safety awards from the Kinki Transport Bureau. This is probably because of SKR’s efforts to prevent the memory of that accident from fading away. This study applies Nora’s concept of “memory places（LES LIEUX DE MĒMORIE）” to clarify the kinds of “memory places（LES LIEUX DE MĒMORIE）” that existed at the SKR, and how they were utilized.

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The theory behind Corporate Social Responsibility （CSR） has been discussed from a number of different perspectives but there is no consistent definition of the term. This means that companies are expected to implement CSR practices despite the details being unspecified. In practice, one source of confusion is the requirement to disclose information on sustainability. This paper utilizes the two “inherently contested” perspectives on CSR from Mitnick et al. to elucidate that the practical thresholds at which companies will engage are changing.

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Under the current diversity & inclusion （D&I） considerations in Japan, persons with disabilities have been recognized as the objects of D&I promotion policies by companies and the government. However, they are not positively considered an essential part of the workforce in the D&I discussion in both academia and business. This study employs a qualitative approach, exploring the literature and evidence using data from the Japanese government and firms, and identifies a misunderstanding and definition of corporate social responsibility （CSR） among Japanese corporations. The study clarifies that business ethics with human rights is the indispensable basis for disability employment and D&I as the core business, not as the voluntary discretion separated from core business. The study concludes that human rights-based CSR drives the realization of human rights through business, including disability employment. Finally, this study proposes a disability-inclusive model of CSR based on the twin-track approach and ISO 26000.

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In this paper, the following research question: “What is the process by which the purpose of an entity that has long been practicing social business to solve social problems is formed?” is explored. A narrative analysis was conducted using Hokkaido Kouseisha, a business entity founded in 1956, as a case study. Hokkaido Kouseisha practices social business based on the management theory of corporate-sheltered workshops, aiming to achieve vocational aid for the self-reliance of disabled people through combined corporate management. The establishment of a laundry business is a key initiative towards this goal. The results of organizing and analyzing the pathdependent sequence of initiatives at Hokkaido Kouseisha, from before its establishment to 20 years afterwards, indicate that the purpose of Hokkaido Kouseisha was formed through the stages of “aspiration → purpose → raison d’etre.”

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This review starts from managerial accounting literatures related to Corporate Governance（CG） and Internal Control（IC）. And it develops these themes into an anti-fraud approach in the light of whistleblowing as a linkage between the ethics and management control. Whilst some whistleblowing studies have been evident in three areas of mutual monitoring, behavioral acounting and management control systems, they have tended to take out of context of CG or IC.

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Research on long-established firms has not been thoroughly examined an integrated perspective so far. In this paper, we utilize an integrative model based on the concept of “Wa” to examine from a new perspective what small and medium-sized enterprises should do to increase longevity. All individuals and organizations are put into four categories: the individual internal domain, the individual external domain, the group internal domain, and the group external domain. The formation of “Wa” supports the integration that occurs in the four aforementioned categories. Through case studies, we will confirm how long-run management leads to the integration of individual and organization, individual growth, and improved business performance.

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This study identifies the impacts of “Daily Newspaper Act” on newspaper media in Japan. After reviewing existing studies, the author analyzes the corporate governance structure of major companies the act has nurtured, that is, the male-dominated board of directors most of whom were promoted from within and disregard for shareholders. Facing a serious decline in readership, it is imperative to reconsider the closed system that has been allowed under the act, citing the reason of being a “public instrument of society.” These urgent reforms include ensuring diversity on the board and advancing the disclosure of management information.

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