Texts of lectures delivered at the Japan Lecture
Series organised by the Centre for Japan Studies at ISIS Malaysia.
Prominent speakers are invited to speak on topics of current
interest pertaining to the role of Japan in the modern world.
JAPAN AND EAST ASIA
26 pp (1996)
By Shinichi Nishio, Kazuo Nukazawa, Katsuhiro Utada & Yuji
Auzuki
RM 5.00
ISBN 967947-217-5
This special issue is a compilation of speeches given by
four guest speakers in Kuala Lumpur as part of the `Forum
for Promoting Dialogue Between Malaysia and Japan.’ The
speeches cover issues pertaining to Japan–Asia relations,
more specifically on Japan ‘s economic activities in Asian
countries. Japan’s role in Asean‘s economic development is
also discussed.
TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION AND JAPAN'S
NATIONAL SECURITY
12 pp (1997)
By Richard Samuels
RM 5.00
ISBN 967947-234-5
This lecture by Prof. Richard Samuels focuses on the
relationship between technology and national security in
Japan. According to the speaker, Japan provides lessons on
how to obtain both national security and prosperity for a
nation as well as lessons on instituting a national system
of innovation. As Japan believes that control of technology
is a matter of national security, it is important to
understand the policy implications on Japan–US and
Japan–Asia relations.
ASIA IN THE PACIFIC RIM: TOWARDS THE 21st
CENTURY
15 pp (1998)
By Minoru Makihara
RM5.00
ISBN 967947-235-3
The Lecture covers various issues pertaining to the dawn of
the Pacific Century, including those facing the developing
Asian economies. Also examined are Japan’s position and
responsibility in the region, the impact of Japan–US
relations and the role of regional and multilateral fora in
Asia.
JAPAN-MALAYSIA RELATIONS AT THE
CROSSROADS
7 pp (1998)
By Taizo Nakamura
RM 5.00
ISBN 967947-236-1
The Lecture highlights the need to re-assess Japan-Malaysia
relations in light of the rapid changes that have taken
place in both countries and in the surrounding environment.
Both sides are encouraged to look for new avenues for
co-operation. Japan is also urged to play a more active role
in the region.
JAPAN'S STRATEGIES FOR AND FUTURE
COMMITMENT TO THE CHANGING WORLD
Saburo Okita
1991 13pp RM4.50/US$2.50 ISBN 967-947-138-1
Dr Saburo Okita, former Foreign Minister of Japan, outlines
three elements of the economic relationship between Japan
and the Asia Pacific countries -- trade, investment and
official development assistance (ODA). He elaborates on the
philosophies behind ODA and gives a rounded view of what
Japan would do to ensure sustainable development in the Asia
Pacific region.
JAPAN'S ROLE IN THE WORLD
Wendy Dobson
1992 9pp RM5.OO/US$2.50 ISBN 967-947-153-5
The ending of the Cold War with removal of the common
security threat has bared economic tensions among the
world's three major economies. Japan has emerged as an
economic superpower, technology leader and capital supplier,
but as yet lacks a widely-understood vision within which it
will exercise its new clout. This lecture looks at Japan's
recent record in meeting some of the numerous and complex
challenges of managing in a rapidly-changing world economy,
and at prospects for the future evolution of Japan's
international economic role.
THE REALITIES AND MYTHS BEHIND JAPAN'S
INDUSTRIAL JUGGERNAUT
Kunio Yoshihara
1992 13pp RM5.OO/US$2.50 ISBN 967-947-152-7
The real driving force behind the Japanese economy has been
the manufacturing industry, but the proposition that
Japanese industry has developed because of the powerful MITI
(Ministry of International Trade and Industry) is a myth,
asserts the author. It is possible that because of MITI's
intervention, economic restructuring went smoothly and Japan
is benefitting from it today. But industrial policy is not
the only factor for Japan's success argues the author.
Several factors working in tandem are required.
THE TRENDS IN THE JAPANESE CONSUMER
MARKET
Katsuhiro Utada
1992 8pp RM5.OO/US$2.50 ISBN 967-947-151-9
The Japanese consumer market, which was worth US$1.7
trillion in 1989, is seeing a growing trend towards
sophistication through upgrading or buying durable goods
with increased functions. The author discusses sophisticated
consumption from three angles: diversification, higher
quality and service-oriented trends.
THE JAPANESE STOCK MARKET
An Outsider's Inside View
Nigel Holloway
1994 14pp RM5.00/US$2.50 ISBN 967-947-183-7
The dramatic rise and fall of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)
and the lessons to be drawn from the TSE experience are the
focus of Mr Nigel Holloway's paper. Mr Holloway, Business
Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, contends that the
fall and rise of the TSE was exaggerated by some features
that are unique to the TSE. Chief among them is the
existence of corporate governance, which because of the
intimate and interlocking nature of their stock cross
shareholding set up, prevented the TSE shares from moving
freely and inhibited any corrections to the TSE stock
movement. Mr Holloway also expounds on the various measures,
including restructuring the corporate cross shareholding
practice, changes in merger and acquisition law and
deregulation in the financial industry, that would make the
TSE a better place to invest.
POPULATION DYNAMICS
Its Social And Economic Impact And Policy Responses in Japan
Makoto Atoh
1994 43pp RM8.00/US$4.00 ISBN967-947-182-9
With fertility failing below replacement rate, the
demographic transition presents a serious challenge to
Japan's future. Dr Atoh, Director of Department of
Population Studies at the Institute of Population Problems,
Ministry of Health and Welfare, traces the trend in
population growth, the social and economic factors behind
this trend and its implications, with particular emphasis on
the 'aging population' of Japan. Dr Atoh explores the
various policy measures designed to counter the population
decline, focusses on improving the social and economic
environment for child care and also deals with the issue of
foreign immigration. This paper was delivered as a Centre
for Japan Studies Lecture.
JAPAN'S URBAN TRANSPORTATION
Michihiko Sato
1994 76pp RM8.00/US$4.00 ISBN967-947-189-6
How does Japan, whose land area is only slightly bigger than
that of Malaysia and which has a population six-and-half
times as large, cope with the problem of traffic jams? Mr
Sato, who is with the Public Works Department in Osaka City,
examines Japan's urban planning as well as its policy
implementation system, particularly with regard to urban
transportation. Among the issues covered are the
improvement, in terms of convenience and efficiency, of the
public transportation system, betterment of traffic control
systems and traffic law, and reduction in pollution related
to transportation (i.e. noise and air pollution) through
various means such as the promotion of the electric car, the
introduction of automobile emission reduction devices and
the construction of buffer buildings near residential areas
affected by traffic.
DIFFERENCE IN BUSINESS CULTURE BETWEEN
JAPAN & AMERICA
Experiences Of A Japanese Businessman
Haruyasu Ohsumi
1994 109pp RMl0.00/US$5.00 ISBN967-947-194-2
Differences in the practice and culture between the business
community of Japan and that of the United States, Mr Ohsumi
believes, have 'greatly influenced their economic
competitiveness.' Mr Ohsumi regards the daily activities of
doing business by the businessmen as the fundamental of
economy, thus, meaningful solution to economic friction will
not be realised unless..... there (is a) focus on the
differences in daily performances of businessmen.'
JAPAN'S ENERGY POLICY: MEANS AND MEANINGS
Jun Arima
1994 27pp RM5.00/US$2.50 ISBN967-947-190-X
Japan is the world's largest energy
consuming country and yet produces less than 20 per cent of
it's own energy needs. Thus it is not surprising that
ensuring a steady and reliable supply of energy sources is
of paramount importance in Japan's energy policies. Mr Jun
Arima, currently the Deputy Director of the International
Policy Division of the Agency of Natural Resources and
Energy, MITI (Japan) in this booklet version of his lecture,
traced the energy policy process of Japan since WWII to the
present. Mr Arima also revealed how events such as the soil
shocks of '73 and '78 as well as new realities such as the
environmental concerns and consideration for resources
conservation had shaped Japan's energy policy.
NORTH KOREA'S NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT AND
JAPAN'S POSITION
Masao Okonogi
1994 llpp RM5.00/US$2.50 ISBN967-947-195-0
Professor Okonogi, a Korean specialist at Keio University,
examines the events surrounding North Korea's decision to
pull out from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He
also touches on relevant issues such as the possible motives
behind North Korea's desire to develop its nuclear
capability and the effect of such moves particularly on
North - South Korean relations, and more generally on North
Korea's international relations.
JAPANESE EXPERIENCE AND NATION-BUILDING
IN ASIA
Najmul Saqib Khan
1995 10pp RM4.00/US$2.00 ISBN967-947-210-8
Japan constitutes only 0.3% of the world area, and about 3%
of its population but yet accounts for 15% of the world's
Gross National Product (GNP). One of the major lessons from
the Japanese experience according to the author is that
modernisation does not necessarily equate with
westernisation. Japan has managed to assimilate new
technologies, and economic and market strategies from the
West without eliminating or sacrificing their non-economic
factors, attitudes, values, behaviour and the mindset. The
author summarises the lessons that Asia can learn from the
Japanese experience, e.g. the will to change, mass
education, land reforms and adoption and adaptation of
Western technology.
EAST ASIA TOWARDS THE YEAR 2000:
WHAT THE REGION SHOULD, CAN AND WILL DO
Ezra Vogel and Ichiro Uchida
1996 21pp RM5.00/US$2.50 ISBN 967-947-217-5
What is happening in East Asia and will happen to it in the
future are the issues being explored by two Asian experts in
this CJS Lecture Series booklet. Prof. Ezra Vogel, who has
studied and witnessed first hand the changes in East Asia
from the 1950s, focused his discussion on China and
Southeast Asia, as well as the role of big powers (the
United States and Russia) in the region. He traced the
changes that are taking place in China and Southeast Asia,
examining the progress and developments as well as problems
in these countries. Uchida concentrated on the role of Japan
in East Asia -- past, present and future - and presented an
overview on the rapidly changing political scenes in Japan.
