Japanese Agency Research Articles

Орталық Азия елдеріндегі білім беру үдерісіне интернационалдандыру құралдарын енгізу: Жапондық халықаралық ынтымақтастық агенттігінің мысалында (JICA)

This article analyzes the issue of introducing internationalization tools into the educational process in the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) under the program of the Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency, hereinafter referred to as the agency). The aim was to review the agency's experience, as well as to identify the prospects for Central Asia participating in the international cooperation program. The agency is the object of the study. The agency's materials were used in the course of the study. The relevance of the article lies in the study of the main tools for the implementation of internationalization, in particular the agency, whose role is to implement student exchange programs, including the development of representatives of government agencies, research centers and volunteer movements. Among the prospects for the implementation of the internationalization policy are the introduction of international training standards, the qualification of specialists, and the possibility of obtaining high–quality professional training. The study concluded that Japanese cultural and educational policy is being built by the Central Asian countries through the agency on a long-term basis. The Agency intends to continue to provide assistance in the development of human resources for the training of highly qualified personnel in various fields by financing, organizing and conducting educational programs (courses). Further internationalization of education in developing countries is becoming the main object of improving the effectiveness of the educational process. The experience of the Japanese agency on the implementation of the internationalization tool has a positive impact on the competitiveness and professional development of personnel. In addition, the analysis and identification of problem areas in the internationalization policy of other countries will help to introduce high-quality tools in the field of education in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Frontier of Understanding Earth's Dynamics

Frontier of Understanding Earth's Dynamics

Japan’s recent earthquake impacts on nuclear plants safety in the wake of Fukushima Daiichi

Once again, the whole world became increasingly alarmed by the devastation caused by the recent 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan that struck on March 11, 2011 at about 12:50 (14:56 JST Thursday) to the east of Sendai, Honshu Island. Centered at a depth of about 32 km below the ocean floor, it triggered a huge tsunami, resulting in the deaths of over 14,000 people, with another 10,000 still unaccounted for. In addition, when the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant cooling supply system was damaged by the earthquake, it fractured the structure and water supply system to the reactor core leaving the reactor without cooling water followed by a series of explosions due to dry reactor operation, sending high levels of radioactive gases into the air. Furthermore, on March 16, 2011, a fire broke out in the number 4 reactor when workers could not sufficiently cool the reactor core, and sensors gauging radiation levels inside failed to detect the dry operation of the reactor. Therefore, innovative concepts in performance-based design must be developed by the structural engineering community to better design structures to address the danger of collapse. Simulation is essential for predicting realistic scenarios by mimicking natural disasters. Computing power technology is advancing, and the recent K-computer is nearly the fastest computer operating system in the world, now operating at 8.2 petaflops per second. This system can accomplish the task of simulation to provide us better warning, protection, and disaster reduction. Japan is rebuilding from deadly March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. With the experience gained from this disaster, planning teams can now design highly resistant nuclear reactor structures, water supply systems with backups to withstand major earthquakes and aftershocks, as well as install early warning systems on the ocean surface, so that, with a better coordination of Japanese government agencies and engineers, the effect of such double catastrophes can be minimized and human life and property can be saved. We believe that a new generation of disaster simulation technology is necessary, and will emerge from the DS’11 Kobe Symposium. The symposium will further provide a deep understanding how disaster simulation can be modeled, by taking into account 3-D material structures and behaviors from the macro to micro level. In this paper, we will examine of the earthquake impacts what measures Japanese Government agencies should take in the future to redesign structural safety, structural response control for nuclear power plants, and simulation benefits, so that future natural disasters can be minimized, and greater security against natural disasters can save human lives, properties, and the environment.

Search of official nationwide database in Japan for adverse events associated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapies: focus on therapies in combination with methotrexate

ABSTRACT Background Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are essential for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy. The adverse events (AEs) evaluation should focus on that methotrexate (MTX) is frequently prescribed in combination with others (combination MTX). Methods A search of the website of the official Japanese Agency for AEs, including lymphoproliferative disease (LPD), cytopenia, interstitial pneumonia, infectious pneumonia other than Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) (i-Pn), and PCP, associated with MTX, tacrolimus, adalimumab, tocilizumab, and abatacept therapies reported from 2014 to 2016 was performed. Number of each AE cases and its ratio to total number of AEs cases were examined. Combination MTX was checked for RA cases. Results A total of 8874 cases were listed. In 3955 MTX cases, LPD was most frequent (36.4%). In any of the other four DMARDs cases, i-Pn was most frequent (4.2 ~ 15.3%); PCP cases showed most frequent combination MTX (94.4%). In total, including cases reported for MTX therapy, 98.2% of LPD and 97.6% of PCP cases had MTX, and less than 90% of the other AEs cases had MTX. Conclusion LPD was by far the most frequent AE associated with MTX therapy. PCP was strongly associated with combination MTX. For any of the other four DMARDs, i-Pn was most frequent.

Variant-dependent heterogeneity in amyloid β burden in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of an observational study

Insights gained from studying individuals with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease have broadly influenced mechanistic hypotheses, biomarker development, and clinical trials in both sporadic and dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease. Although pathogenic variants causing autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease are highly penetrant, there is substantial heterogeneity in levels of amyloid β (Aβ) between individuals. We aimed to examine whether this heterogeneity is related to disease progression and to investigate the association with mutation location within PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP. We did cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network (DIAN) observational study, which enrols individuals from families affected by autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. 340 participants in the DIAN study who were aged 18 years or older, had a history of autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease in their family, and who were enrolled between September, 2008, and June, 2019, were included in our analysis. 206 participants were carriers of pathogenic mutations in PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP, and 134 were non-carriers. 62 unique pathogenic variants were identified in the cohort and were grouped in two ways. First, we sorted variants in PSEN1, PSEN2, or APP by the affected protein domain. Second, we divided PSEN1 variants according to position before or after codon 200. We examined variant-dependent variability in Aβ biomarkers, specifically Pittsburgh-Compound-B PET (PiB-PET) signal, levels of CSF Aβ1-42 (Aβ42), and levels of Aβ1-40 (Aβ40). Cortical and striatal PiB-PET signal showed striking variant-dependent variability using both grouping approaches (p<0·0001), despite similar progression on the clinical dementia rating (p>0·7), and CSF Aβ42 levels (codon-based grouping: p=0·49; domain-based grouping: p=0·095). Longitudinal PiB-PET signal also varied across codon-based groups, mirroring cross-sectional analyses. Autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease pathogenic variants showed highly differential temporal and regional patterns of PiB-PET signal, despite similar functional progression. These findings suggest that although increased PiB-PET signal is generally seen in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, higher levels of PiB-PET signal at an individual level might not reflect more severe or more advanced disease. Our results have high relevance for ongoing clinical trials in autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, including those using Aβ PET as a surrogate marker of disease progression. Additionally, and pertinent to both sporadic and autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, our results suggest that CSF and PET measures of Aβ levels are not interchangeable and might reflect different Aβ-driven pathobiological processes. National Institute on Aging, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development.

The voice of diversity: Picture brides and masked individuality in Julie Otsuka’s The Buddha in the Attic

ABSTRACT Julie Otsuka’s 2011 novel The Buddha in the Attic politicizes the first-person plural “we” narration to recuperate the silenced voices of Japanese American picture brides. The novel’s unconventional narrative style, however, has been criticized for reducing picture brides to “lists” and reproducing stories that deprive Japanese Americans of individuality. This article examines how Otsuka’s use of the “we” narration and self-mimicry locates Japanese American femininity and agency at the historical confluence of imperialist and assimilationist dynamics. It contends that the novel’s stylistics make visible not only a collective minority consciousness, but also the complex subjectivity of picture brides in a transnational space of diasporic negotiation, social masking, and situational coalition. In doing so, the novel questions not only a lack of individuality, but individuality itself. That is, it demonstrates how ethnic and diasporic literature can ethically comment on a universal notion of political individuality and revise it with multiple and contingent perspectives.

The Wealth of Zaibatsu Owner Families: The Impact of Zaibatsu Busting in Occupied Japan

Contrary to widely accepted views, the former zaibatsu owner families, despite the drastic reduction in their enormous wealth, emerged from the U.S. Occupation with relatively sizable assets. The Holding Company Liquidation Commission, the Japanese agency that at the direction of Occupation Headquarters (GHQ) seized stocks that the zaibatsu families had held either directly or through their holding companies, worked to protect the families, especially by convincing GHQ to switch compensation from nonnegotiable bonds to cash. Furthermore, in the sale of stocks, the policy of giving purchase priority to zaibatsu company employees appears to have made it possible in some cases for the families to buy back shares and regain control over their former enterprises after 1952. As it turned out, the confiscatory measure was not so much the appropriation of the families’ assets under the GHQ-mandated dissolution of the combines as it was the Japanese government’s own punitive capital levy.

Hiring people with disabilities leads to increased psychological safety and increased labour productivity for companies

Despite legal requirements stipulating that companies must employ a certain number of people with disabilities, after a survey by Japanese Government agencies on 1 June 2019 only around 48 per cent of companies meet these requirements. Myths that people with disabilities are limited in what they can do and are therefore not suitable employees for certain companies present barriers to prospective employees with disabilities and also deprive companies of the synergistic benefits that can come from hiring people with disabilities. Professor Makoya Kageyama, Graduate School of Urban Social and Cultural Studies, Yokohama City University, Japan, is conducting research focused on these synergistic benefits and, through his work, is dispelling the incorrect belief that people with disabilities are not productive employees. Kageyama has found that the synergistic effects created from contact between people with disabilities and people without disabilities leads to innovation. His research involved interviewing companies across Japan, asking questions surrounding the employment of people with disabilities, enabling Kageyama to gather some promising data. An important finding was that overall labour productivity could be increased via the synergistic effects of hiring people with disabilities. He is empirically quantifying his findings in order to demonstrate to companies the benefits that can be afforded by hiring people with disabilities and to help eliminate discrimination.

Political Trials of the Second Half of the 1930s in the Mirror of the Regional Press

The article reveals the reaction of the regional press, and in particular, on the Mordovian regional Committee of the CPSU(b) of the newspaper “Red Mordovia” in the political trials of 1937 in Moscow, and the establishment of Soviet society a climate of suspicion, “hostile environment”, the search for “enemies of the people”, “wreckers”, “spies”, “Trotskyites”, spies of Western and Japanese intelligence agencies.

Japanese naval activities in Southeast Asian waters: building on 50 years of maritime security capacity building

ABSTRACT Japan has included improvement of Southeast Asian maritime security as an aim of its foreign policy for the last fifty years. This article analyzes the evolution of Japan’s maritime security initiatives in Southeast Asia by documenting major events and offering new insights into the most important inflection points associated with that history. Unlike previous accounts that portray this history as a matter of gradual change, it demonstrates that Japan’s initiatives passed through three distinct phases (1969–1998, 1999–2009, and 2010-present) with the shifts between each being marked by quick expansions of the Japanese agencies and partner organizations involved. This history provides critical context for understanding Japan’s apparent transition into a fourth phase in which Japanese cooperative activities will begin working to strengthen Southeast Asian military capacities.

Initial Coin Offerings and Regulation in Japan

This article examines the regulation of initial coin offerings (ICOs) from the Japanese perspective. An ICO may be provisionally defined as a method of raising capital in exchange for digital “coins” or “tokens” that entitle holders to certain rights. Investors who receive the digital tokens are normally provided with an opportunity for reinvestment by selling them on an exchange. Japanese state actors have been acutely aware of the risks associated with ICOs. However, it took some time before regulatory reforms were adopted aiming at enhancing protection of ICO investors on resale markets. As a result of a recent initiative by the Japanese Financial Services Agency, the first regulation of ICOs was implemented as an amendment to the Japanese Financial Instruments and Exchange Act on 31 May 2019. This article discusses critically these recent legal developments in the realm of cryptocurrency exchange and ICO markets in Japan, as well as an earlier attempt to regulate cryptocurrencies in a 2016 amendment to the Japanese Payment Services Act. The article concludes that it is important to closely monitor how ICOs develop and to keep the issue on the regulatory agenda, in order to be prepared for alternative regulatory arrangements. Japan, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Cryptocurrencies/Crypto Assets, Regulatory Background, Investor Protection, Financial Services Agency, Payment Services Act, Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, Regulation on Cryptocurrencies, New Regulation on ICOs

Research and development of κ opioid receptor agonists and δ opioid receptor agonists.

Delta opioid delta receptor (DOP) agonists were expected to be analgesics and many researchers tried to develop the SNC80 derivatives. However, the derivatives were dropped at the stage of early clinical trials because of undesirable side effects and weak analgesia. On the other hand, DOP agonists have been proposed as attractive candidates for the novel psychotropic drugs. We recently succeeded in synthesizing a novel selective DOP agonist KNT-127. KNT-127 produced neither catalepsy nor convulsive effects. We have demonstrated that KNT-127 has potent anxiolytic-like effect in rat models of innate anxiety. This anxiolytic-like effect was independent from known adverse effect of benzodiazepine, such as memory impairment, motor coordination deficits, and ethanol interactions. We have also demonstrated that KNT-127 showed potent and rapid antidepressant-like effects in rat models of depression. This antidepressant-like effect was independent from known adverse effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), such as digestive symptoms. Therefore, we propose that DOP should be considered as an attractive target for the development of novel psychotropic drugs, without producing the adverse effects associated with benzodiazepine anxiolytics and SSRI antidepressants. Very recently, we developed another delta agonist NC-2800 with a different structure. NC-2800 is now in the preclinical stage using the CiCLE fund supported by AMED (Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development).

IgG4-related disease in the Japanese population: a genome-wide association study.

IgG4-related disease is a newly recognised immunopathological entity that includes autoimmune pancreatitis, IgG4-related sialadenitis, and IgG4-related kidney disease. To understand the genetic landscape of IgG4-related disease, we did a genome-wide association study. We did a genome-wide association study of Japanese individuals, initially screening 857 patients with IgG4-related disease at 50 Japanese research institutions and DNA samples from 2082 healthy control participants from the Nagahama Prospective Genome Cohort for the Comprehensive Human Bioscience. From Oct 27, 2008, to July 22, 2014, we enrolled 835 patients and used data from 1789 healthy participants. Only patients with confirmed diagnosis of IgG4-related disease according to the international diagnostic criteria were included. Genotyping was done with the Infinium HumanOmni5Exome, HumanOmni2.5Exome, or HumanOmni2.5 Illumina arrays, and genomic distributions were compared between case and control samples for 958 440 single nucleotide polymorphisms. The HLA region was extensively analysed using imputation of HLA alleles and aminoacid residues. Fine mapping of the FCGR2B region was also done. Associations between clinical manifestations of disease and the genetic variations identified in these two genes were examined. We identified the HLA-DRB1 (p=1·1×10-11) and FCGR2B (p=2·0×10-8) regions as susceptibility loci for IgG4-related disease. We also identified crucial aminoacid residues in the β domain of the peptide-binding groove of HLA-DRB1, in which the seventh aminoacid residue showed the strongest association signal with IgG4-related disease (p=1·7×10-14), as has been reported with other autoimmune diseases. rs1340976 in FCGR2B showed an association with increased FCGR2B expression (p=2·7×10-10) and was in weak linkage disequilibrium with rs1050501, a missense variant of FCGR2B previously associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Furthermore, rs1340976 was associated with the number of swollen organs at diagnosis (p=0·011) and IgG4 concentration at diagnosis (p=0·035). Two susceptibility loci for IgG4-related disease were identified. Both FCGR2B and HLA loci might have important roles in IgG4-related disease development. Common molecular mechanisms might underlie IgG4-related disease and other immune-related disorders FUNDING: The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, the Japanese Agency of Medical Research and Development, and Kyoto University Grant for Top Global University Japan Project.

Reduction in HPV16 and HPV18 Prevalence Among Young Women with Low- and High-Grade Cervical Lesions Following the Japanese HPV Vaccination Program: 6-Year Analysis of the MINT Study

Background The Japanese government began the national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program for girls aged 12-16 years in 2010 but withdrew its recommendation in 2013 because of potential adverse effects, leading to drastically reduced vaccination uptake. Methods To evaluate the population-level impact of HPV vaccination implemented for only 3 years in Japan, women aged <40 years newly diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1-3 (CIN1-3), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) or invasive cervical cancer (ICC) have been registered at 21 participating institutes each year since 2012. Findings A total 7709 women were registered during 2012-2017, of which 5045 were HPV-genotyped. Declining trends in prevalence of vaccine types HPV16 and HPV18 during a 6-year period were observed in CIN1 (50.0% to 0.0%, Ptrend<0.0001) and CIN2-3/AIS (83.3% to 45.0%, Ptrend=0.07) among women aged <25 years; no similar decline was observed for older age groups. Overall, HPV vaccination reduced the proportion of HPV16/18-attributable CIN2-3/AIS from 47.7% to 33.0% (P=0.003): from 43.5% to 12.5% as the national vaccination (P=0.08) and from 47.8% to 36.7% as catch-up vaccination (P=0.04). HPV16/18 prevalence in CIN2-3/AIS cases was significantly reduced among females that received first vaccination at age ≤20 years (P=0.02). We could not evaluate vaccination effects on ICC owing to low incidence of ICC among women aged <25 years. Interpretation We found HPV vaccination to be effective in protecting against HPV16/18-positive CIN/AIS in Japan; however, our data did not support catch-up vaccination for women aged >20 years. Older adolescents who skipped routine HPV vaccination owing to the Japanese government's suspension of recommendation may benefit from receiving catch-up HPV vaccination before they reach age 20 years. Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMI08891. Funding Statement: The Foundation for Advancement of International Science (FAIS) and the Japanese Agency of Medical Research and Development (AMED) (grant number: 19fk0108098). Declaration of Interests: Koji Matsumoto received lecture fees from HOLOGIC Japan, Inc. and MSD K.K., and research grants from MSD K.K. Kimio Ushijima received lecture fees from MSD K.K. Ethical Approval Statement: Institutional ethical and research review boards of the participating institutions have approved the study protocol.

Transforming the Archives of the Great East Japan Earthquake into Global Natural Disaster Archives

Soon after the devastation brought by Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), a variety of Japanese agencies and organizations began to build digital archives of the disaster. Seven years onwards, over fifty digital archives collect and release millions of earthquake records. These earthquake disaster digital archive created for the Great East Japan Earthquake have the potential to lead the way for more general measures and countermeasures to reduce the impact of future ‘natural’ disasters. 1 We also believe that the records and knowledge of ‘natural’ disasters must be systematized and shared worldwide. As a first step, this research sheds light on examples and subjects of the digital archive of GEJE and report on basic knowledge that serves for the development of digital archive of ‘natural’ disasters’ in the future.

Japanese Public Diplomacy in Indonesia: The Role of Japanese Agencies in Academic Exchange Programs between Japan and Indonesia

Japan and Indonesia have developed mutual cooperation in academic exchange programs for the past three decades. Japan acknowledges that student interchange plays a significant role in promoting mutual understanding between Japan and foreign countries. Japanese government expects international students, either those who are still studying in Japan or those who have returned to their home countries, serve as a bridge between their countries and Japan. To achieve this goal, Japanese government employs some agencies to undertake academic exchange programs. In Indonesia, particularly, some Japanese agencies such as Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), Japan Foundation, and Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) have played important role in student exchanges. They have various programs to attract Indonesian students getting involved in academic exchanges. This paper describes these agencies’ role in academic exchange programs between Japan and Indonesia. Considering that the Japanese agencies work to promote Japan’s soft power through public diplomacy activities under transgovernmental networks model, I utilize concepts of public diplomacy and transgovernmental networks as a framework for analyzing the case. I argue that Japanese agencies have successfully served as Japanese public diplomacy agents by acting great role in advancing Japan’s soft power through academic exchange activities. However, some challenges appear in the way to achieve Japanese public diplomacy goal to create mutual understanding between Japanese and Indonesian people.

Structure control of nanoparticle superstructures with DNA nanostructure

Nanoparticles are tiny stable clusters of atoms or molecules of between one and 100 nanometres. In comparison, the width of a human hair ranges from 80,000 to 100,000 nanometres. At this scale, particles sometimes exhibit unexpected properties, and structured assemblies of nanoparticles can have characteristics which are not found in the natural world. These varied and novel properties are finding applications in new technology domains such as nano-optics, neural computing, nanoscale transistors and cloaking devices. A research group at Nagoya University, led by Professor Miho Tagawa and including Dr Takumi Isogai, graduate students Hayato Sumi and Shoko Kojima, is working at the cutting edge of nanotechnology, finding ways to programme and control the structure of nanoparticle crystals and lattices using DNA mediation. As Tagawa says: 'programmable self-assembly of matter represents a big challenge in the field of material science and nanotechnology. It will lay the foundations for the creation of highly novel materials and devices, based on the specific properties of nanoparticles.' The project is funded by a range of Japanese agencies, including government ministries and private foundations. Nanoparticle crystals Nanoparticle crystallisation is difficult because of the various molecular interactions within and between particles and with the solvent. In 2008, it was discovered that using strands of DNA as surface ligands on nanoparticles would cause nanoparticles to assemble in crystalline structures similar to those exhibited by atoms. The surface strands of DNA interlink through hybridisation and act as a binding agent between the nanoparticles. Varying the lengths and segment types causes the particles to bind in different ways and thus exhibit different properties. Much has been learned about DNA-nanoparticle (DNA-NP). However, many challenges remain. Tagawa elaborates: 'whereas crystals of DNA-NP superlattice are stable when in a buffer solution, they tend to lose their symmetry when dried and exposed to air.' The team at Nagoya were determined to find a means of stabilising these structures after dehydration.

Vocabulary variety of Japanese in tourism field

The growing number of Japanese tourists to Bali has resulted in large numbers of workers in the tourism sector, such as Japanese language tour guide, GRO and hotel staff, Japanese travel agency staff and others. To provide good service to Japanese tourists, the quality of tourism practitioners also need to be improved both from the attitude, hospitality, security and the ability to speak Japanese so that Japanese tourists feel comfortable while on the island of Bali. Efforts to improve the ability of Japanese language, the vocabulary knowledge of tour guide is needed to be able to use the vocabulary in context. Based on the phenomenon, then this paper discusses the variety of Japanese vocabulary that is often used when doing tourism activities in some tourist attractions in Gianyar regency. The problems discussed in this paper is what kind of tourist vocabulary is commonly spoken Japanese tourists when visiting the tourist attraction on the island of Bali. In general, this study aims to support the program of Welcome to Bali in order to become more popular bali tourism that can increase the number of Japanese tourists to come to visit the island of Bali. The specific purpose of this research is to (1) know the Japanese language vocabulary of tourism spoken by Japanese tourists so that the vocabulary can be used as a reference for tourism practitioners in order to increase the knowledge of Japanese language vocabulary of tourism. The approach used in this study is a qualitative approach. Research approach by processing the data source that is descriptive by using descriptive method qualitatif. The research was done in tourist object in Ubud area. The data types are primary data with lingual data sources obtained from Japanese tourist communications. The observations show that the vocabulary spoken by Japanese tourists is a vocabulary that is related to cultural and natural activities such as esute, chiketto, raisu terasu, kojin takushi, mise, subarashii. Japanese tourists often use joshi as a complement to a speech to tourism practitioners in communicating. Joshi also sometimes omitted in speech but still acceptable.

Danish, Japanese agencies aim to better utilise health data

Danish, Japanese agencies aim to better utilise health data

Social norms strike back: why American financial practices failed in Japan

ABSTRACTMoody's and Standard & Poor's, the major American credit rating agencies, were expected to outcompete and overwhelm the local agencies in Japan during the 1990s. The local Japanese rating agencies were widely understood to be compromised by their links to government and banks. Why have the influences of the American agencies in Japan diminished, while the local Japanese agencies survived? We emphasise the concept of ‘systemic support’ as a solution to this puzzle. Our broadened definition of systemic support incorporates dominant elites’ support and protection of subordinates in exchange for loyalty and obedience. We argue Japanese society's anti-liberal, anti-free market norms (epitomised by systemic support) are a form of counter-hegemony, and this has resisted American financial hegemony and prevented capitalist dominance from severing long-term social relations (including management-labour alliances). Credit rating in Japan is an ideational battlefield between the market liberalisation and anti-free market camps within the Japanese elite. The American agencies’ market friendly, short-term profit-seeking mental framework clashes with the continuing attachment to systemic support in Japan. Similar conflicts can be witnessed in other constrained market economies in Asia and Europe, where corporate bailouts often occur, and local agencies compete against the American majors.