Japanese Oil Research Articles

An Artistic Nature: Kōno Michisei’s <i>Self-Portrait</i> (1917)

Kōno Michisei’s (1895–1950) Self-Portrait (1917) is celebrated as a masterpiece of Taishō-period (1912–1926) painting in Japan but remains little-known overseas. This article seeks to reintroduce and contextualize this rare example of a Japanese oil painting in an American collection with an exploration of the artist’s conception of his self-portrait between the dynamic currents of Taisho period yōga (Western-style painting) and his own worldview. Kōno stood on the fringes of the Tokyo avant-garde as artists sought to overcome the naturalism advocated by the academy in pursuit of an art more true to the individual. After years of studying prints of the old masters amid the rural environs of his hometown, Nagano, and inspired by a uniquely spiritual outlook, in Self-Portrait, Kōno synthesized the grand portrait mode of Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) with his own conception of artistic beauty to create a highly idiosyncratic expression of the self.

Отблеск ушедшего нэпа? Японская нефтяная концессия на Сахалине (1925-1944)

One of the well-established concepts in the understanding of the Soviet period is the consideration of its initial stage in relation to the implementation of the new economic policy (NEP) and the subsequent departure from it. That was reflected in the analysis of the experience of foreign concessions of the 1920s. It is consistently regarded as one of the elements of the NEP. In this article, we proceed from the fact that this concept is a hypothesis that requires verification. To this end, the first section provides a brief overview of the historiography of Soviet concessions. In the second section, the Soviet concession practice in the Far East is placed in the broader context of relations between Russia and Japan. In the third section, based on published and archived data, the main problems in the activities of the Japanese oil concession are considered. The fourth section attempts to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the desired and achieved results of its activities for both parties. In conclusion, two main theoretical conclusions are given. Firstly, the hypothesis according to which the beginning of the concessions was laid by the transition to the NEP, and the end — by its curtailment (due, in turn, to political factors) does not find unambiguous confirmation on the basis of the data considered and needs further verification. Based on this, it can be assumed that the focus on NEP to makes it difficult to analyze the Soviet concession experience. Secondly, concession enterprises for the development of mineral resources in the Far East arose on the basis of the existing balance of power between states. Their functioning, therefore, initially depended on maintaining this balance to a greater extent than on economic efficiency indicators for both sides. This conclusion seems to have more than just historical significance.

Controversial Victory: The “Tanker War” Against Japan, 1942–1944

Abstract In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War, the Army Air Corps (soon to be Air Force) provoked controversy by criticizing the Navy’s “tanker war” against Japanese oil, stating that Japan’s collapse might have occurred months if not years sooner had a coordinated submarine campaign against tankers been conducted. For years, submariners pointed to a host of problems as to why enemy oil tankers were not targeted effectively until later in the war, including prewar doctrine, faulty torpedoes and lack of intelligence. The reality – classified until the early 1980s – was that intelligence on the Japanese was so sparse that only through a highly classified signal intelligence effort was enough information derived to target enemy oil. This article will examine the developing and maturing link between signal intelligence and submarines using primary sources declassified in the 1980s. The research will demonstrate that there was no single answer to targeting enemy oil tankers, but only through intense analysis and coordination among multiple Services and agencies were the submarines able to launch their devasting offensive against Japanese oil tankers in late 1943.

THE LANDSCAPE OF BUSINESS GROWTH FOR OIL AND GAS UPSTREAM COMPANIES: A CASE FROM JAPAN

Why is Japan, the 4th largest oil consumer in 2016, unable to develop a globally competitive oil and gas upstream company? This paper suggests that the Japanese government should merge two oil companies, which are both under governmental control, Inpex and Japex. The analysis revisits the 2008 debate on strategies between CERA, an esteemed energy consulting company in the US, and a group of Japanese scholars. CERA suggested that Japanese energy companies should acquire a large equity stake upfront in new exploration projects and sell to new investors as the potential identified by exploration grows. Alternatively, a group of Japanese scholars suggests Japanese energy companies should acquire oil and gas upstream projects that are close to the end and adapt Japanese technology for increased and enhanced oil recovery. Desk research and interviews with four experts were conducted for this study and it was found that both strategies are necessary.Keywords: Japanese oil and gas upstream companies, Growth of businessJEL Classifications: Q40, Q48DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.8240

Is Japanese Retail Industrial Fuel Oil Price Stickier Downwards Than Upwards in Response to Oil Cost Shocks?

This paper examined the Japanese industrial fuel oil market for evidence of asymmetric price adjustment and rent-seeking following changes in crude oil prices. The study used the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) modeling framework and monthly time series data for the period January 2005 to December 2015. The results indicate that Japanese industrial fuel oil market is fraught with sluggish speed of adjustment, which is typical of markets witnessing uncompetitive pricing and other irregular behaviours by retail firms. The results further indicate that Japanese industrial fuel oil market is bedeviled by the problem of short-run asymmetric price transmission from crude oil market, which is consistent with the rockets and fathers effect. However, the results did not show any evidence of rent-seeking since the observed short-run asymmetry is not obscured at pump. In view of the prevailing problem of rockets and feathers effect, the paper supports policies that will encourage continuous monitoring of the market in order to preserve competition and the overall social welfare. Keywords : Rockets and Feathers effect; Rent-seeking; Asymmetric Price Adjustment; Nonlinear ARDL model; Japan JEL Codes: Q43; D40; C22; N94. DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-4-15

The evolution of the Japanese oil refining industry during the interwar period

The evolution of the Japanese oil refining industry during the interwar period

The Statistical Analysis of Information on Japanese Oil Painters: Consideration of Development of Reusable Data Infrastructure for the Art Sector in Japan.

The Statistical Analysis of Information on Japanese Oil Painters: Consideration of Development of Reusable Data Infrastructure for the Art Sector in Japan.

Ichizo Omura, the first Japanese petroleum geologist

Mr. Ichizo Omura is the first and most famous petroleum geologist among geologists working in Japanese oil companies at the Taisho to early Showa era. A part of his contribution to petroleum exploration and the spread of petroleum geology in Japan, and outlines of three technical journals which played the same role as Journal of the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology before its publication are presented in this paper.

Wendel to sell Nippon Oil Pump to Citic Capital Japan Partners

French investment firm Wendel has entered into an agreement to sell Japanese internal gear pump manufacturer Nippon Oil Pump Co Ltd (NOP) to Citic Capital Japan Partners III LP, a Japan buyout fund managed by Citic Capital Holdings Ltd.

Kinetics of thermal degradation of a Japanese oil sand

Thermal degradation characteristics of a Japanese oil sand at different heating rates (10, 20, and 30°C/min), and 30ml/min air flow rate have been investigated. The kinetic parameters have been calculated based on three stages of weight loss and/or the conversion of the sample. These include, stage 1 (SI): volatilization of moisture content and the light hydrocarbon (20–227°C), stage 2 (SII): combustion of heavy hydrocarbon (227–527°C), and stage 3 (SIII): oxidative decomposition of carbonaceous organic matter (502–877°C). The results showed that the rate of change of the oil sand conversion with time dαdt was affected by the heating rate. The time taken by the system to reach 0.99 conversion was observed as 85, 50, and 35min at the heating rates of 10, 20, and 30°C/min, respectively. The frequency factor, A, at SI was between 0.09 and 0.54min−1, while the activation energy, Ea, was 11.2–12.5KJmol−1 (the percentage weight loss, Wt, was 0–3.6%w/w; and the conversion, α, was 0–0.2.). At SII, the values of A and Ea were 2.1–5.5min−1 and 17.6–19KJmol−1, respectively (Wt=3.1–15.88%w/w; α=0.17–0.86.). The value of A at SIII was 5.5E11–1.1E13min−1, while Ea was 160–200KJmol−1 (Wt=15.33–17.99%w/w; and α=0.84–0.99).

RUSSIAN–JAPANESE TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS: IS THERE A NEW FULCRUM?

Against the background of political chilling between Russia and Japan trade and economic cooperation objectively form a basis for a positive development of bilateral relations in the foreseeable future. The structure of mutual trade has not changed significantly for a number of years. Russia plays the role as a pivotal supplier of certain raw materials for the Japanese market, namely energy resources, non-ferrous metals, seafood and timber. From Japan Russia imports mainly passenger cars and a certain amount of industrial equipment. With regard to investment relations between Russia and Japan, there exists a serious structural problem - the two economies are interdependent from the point of view of the technological division of labor. Russia, particularly its Eastern regions, not possessing sufficient infrastructure and logistics capabilities, as well as cheap labor resources, does not have any competitive advantages for Japanese investment compared to other countries like China. The potential of Russia is mostly viewed in Japan just as an energy donor. Thus the largest prospects of investment cooperation lie in the energy sphere. One can talk of the possibility for raising Russia's share in the Japanese oil and LNG markets. This perspective is supported by the instability of the political situation in the Middle East, which is Japan's main partner for energy supplies. In this connection, large-scale investment projects in the energy field, like the construction of gas pipeline "Sakhalin - Japan" or a power bridge "Sakhalin - Hokkaido", retain their perceptiveness. However, given the political, juridical, organizational, technical and other problems, these projects are difficult for implementation at the present stage. In this situation, the allocation of a certain share for Japan in the strategic energy deposits of Siberia and the Far East and the admission of Japanese capital to the exploration and development of these deposits seem to be a realistic choice for Russian strategic planning towards Japan, as such a cooperation would not be a subject of Western sanctions against Russia. For Russia it is important to build with Japan relationship on a more long-term and lasting basis. One of the possible ways here is to conclude a bilateral economic partnership agreement.

食用油脂企業の中国国内販売戦略

食用油脂企業の中国国内販売戦略

原油安や為替変動に揺れた我が国石油開発会社の対応

On a special occasion of the 80th Memorial Annual Convention of the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology, I am pleased to have an opportunity to present the captioned titled lecture. First reviewed is a brief history of Japanese oil and gas development activities in accordance with my 50 years professional carrier as a member. Then history of Japanese domestic oil and gas development and production are reviewed as well as present status of the domestic oil and gas production records and resources assessment.

Fast GC Analysis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Using a Highly Polar Ionic Liquid Column and its Application for the Determination of Trans Fatty Acid Contents in Edible Oils

A simple and rapid methyl esterification technique for edible oils and a high-throughput procedure for the separation and quantification of fatty acid methyl esters including cis/trans isomers by fast GC using a highly polar ionic liquid column have been established. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of trans fatty acid contents in commercially available edible oils, such as margarine, fat spread, shortening, olive oil, rapeseed oil, salad oil, and sesame oil. Combining the developed methyl esterification and fast GC techniques reduced the time required for the analysis of one edible oil specimen to less than 30 min; thus, the analysis time was shortened substantially to less than one-third that required in the existing official methods such as those of the American Oil Chemists’ Society and Japanese Oil Chemists’ Society. The contents determined by the developed method agreed with those determined by the existing official methods, thus confirming the reliability of the fast GC method.

Walking the Wall

Walking the Wall

¿Caligrafía o abstracción? El papel internacional del Sho en las exposiciones de posguerra

Thanks to the many exhibitions of avant-garde calligraphy Shiryû Morita and his group Bokujinkai promoted during the 1950s, the contemporary Japanese callgraphy movement experienced an international impact and a revolutionary approach to Western abstract creations. Although during the mid-1950s a certain rejection of this dialogue between both artistic expressions began in artistic and critical circles, the theory Shiryû promoted made a deep impression worldwide, followed by large exhibitions by the group overseas, as well as their participation in international shows, where their work was exhibited among Western masterpieces. The “American and Japanese Abstract Art” exhibition was one of the first and most important shows related to this phenomenon for being one of the first events in Japan showing calligraphy at the same level as other contemporary artistic expressions and proving, the art of Sho stands out for its power of communication based on the originality of this art in contrast with Japanese abstract oil painting, which only imitates the Western techniques. Many events like this followed, assuring the important role of Sho in the international art panorama.

一般財団法人・石油開発情報センター (ICEP) の日本企業支援事業

一般財団法人・石油開発情報センター (ICEP) の日本企業支援事業

A Study on the Change of Trading Structure and Comparative Advantage Between Korea and Japanese Fats & Oils Industry

A Study on the Change of Trading Structure and Comparative Advantage Between Korea and Japanese Fats & Oils Industry

The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Technological Innovation and Competitive Advantage: A Case Study of Sulphur-free Gasoline

In this paper, I present the impact of environmental regulation on technological innovation and competitive advantage. Previous research has verified that several aspects of environmental regulation, such as economic incentive, anticipation, stringency and certainty drive new technologies. However, such research merely pays attention to the technological innovation within each firm. How does some technological innovation diffuse within the industry and how does the firm get competitive advantage confronted with the environmental regulation? To answer this question, I use the case study strategy. The case describes the process of developing sulphur-free gasoline that reduces the CO2 emission volume developed by a major Japanese oil company. Through the case analysis, I show that technological innovation before regulation have a possibility to provide the firm high quality finished technological innovation and also provide the firm a chance of creating competitive advantage.

The Insuring State: Japanese Oil Import Security and the Middle East

This article investigates Japanese approaches to managing oil import security in the period 1970–2005 by developing a framework that integrates portfolio and inducement approaches to managing import security. It argues that Japan is an insuring state and, in the context of continuing asymmetric dependence, seeks to ensure its security not only through portfolio strategies that aim to reduce systemic and specific risks, but also through political and economic inducements that reinforce those portfolio strategies. Empirical evidence suggests that these strategies have enhanced Japan's insurance cover against oil unanticipated supply disruptions and has enhanced its relative security over the period. The Japanese case suggests the importance of exploring portfolio strategies and structures as power in addition to other forms of non-military power, such as economic aid and diplomacy, in understanding international economic security.