Growth In Japan Research Articles

The contribution of digitalization to non-inclusive growth in Japan. A Régulationist perspective on post-industrial dynamics

While inclusive growth has been considered a major characteristic of post-war Japan, this is no more the case since the early 1990s as the country transitioned to a post-industrial economy. This paper seeks to explain that digitalization is a primary drive of growing inequalities in post-industrial Japan and argues for incorporating the digital divide into the investigation of changing economic structures and growth patterns. We mobilize the Régulation theoretical framework, which posits that the impact of technology on growth and inequality regimes is not homogenous across countries and over time. Our empirical investigation combines macro-level data and institutional perspective with case study of the hospitality sector, in line with the Régulationist concept of the ‘anthropogenic’ mode of development. Our major conclusion is that digitalization, in the specific Japanese context, is leading to non-inclusive growth patterns through its effects on the wage-labour nexus, in an idiosyncratic way.

The history of compensation system for workers with pneumoconiosis-related lung cancer

To review the historical aspects of compensation system for workers with pneumoconiosis who developed lung cancer. Materials and papers published on the compensation system as discussed in administrative meetings were utilized. Legal claims for compensation for lung cancer among individuals with pneumoconiosis increased during the period of rapid economic growth in Japan. A possible causal relationship between pneumoconiosis and lung cancer in workers has been discussed by committees of specialists. The Expert Committee on Pneumoconiosis and Lung Cancer in 1978 did not find a causal relationship between them. However, a survey of physicians specializing in pneumoconiosis revealed medical disadvantages among individuals diagnosed with pneumoconiosis who developed lung cancer. The Ministry of Labour announced the risk of work-related lung cancer in patients with advanced pneumoconiosis (class IV or equivalent severity). Since then, numerous lung cancer patients with pneumoconiosis have been adjudicated. In 1997, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) re-evaluated the carcinogenicity of silica and declared it to be a Group I carcinogen in humans. The Expert Committee on Compensation of Lung Cancer Cases Developing from Pneumoconiosis discussed the IARC evaluation but did not accept this classification. However, the Committee of Occupational Exposure Limits in the Japan Society of Occupational Health upheld the IARC evaluation of silica as a Group I carcinogen. Because the Expert Committee of Medical Disadvantage of Lung Cancer Patients with Pneumoconiosis accepted the increased risk of lung cancer in patients with class III or equivalent severity pneumoconiosis, the Ministry of Labour announced worker compensation for such patients. The Expert Committee of Health Control of Pneumoconiosis Complicated with Lung Cancer reported in 2002 that a meta-analysis revealed no increased risk of lung cancer among workers exposed to crystalline silica; however, there was an increased risk of lung cancer in patients with pneumoconiosis. The Ministry of Labour has added lung cancer to the list of complications from pneumoconiosis and, if necessary, regular medical checkups for lung cancer. After Leaving dust work, the Health Care System provides for workers who are diagnosed With class II or higher pneumoconiosis. Therefore, if an individual with pneumoconiosis develops class II or higher lung cancer, that individual becomes eligible for workers' compensation. The conclusion of the Expert Committee in 2002 and the decision of the Ministry of Labour to add lung cancer to its list of complications of pneumoconiosis are evaluated to be appropriate.

Business groups and the ‘big push’ concept: Rethinking the dynamics of zaibatsu growth in Japan

This study investigates the growth trajectory of the Japanese business group Sumitomo, challenging previous research that used the ‘big push’ concept to explain the expansion of Japanese business groups. Rather than relying on government assistance, as the big push concept suggests, Sumitomo successfully diversified into different business sectors by leveraging its existing resources and financial networks. This led to an unintentional but effective expansion into the finance, warehousing, and real estate sectors. Sumitomo’s case underlines the importance of exploring additional context-specific factors in business growth, moving beyond the conventional application of the big push concept. The findings of this study will prompt future research to re-evaluate the growth patterns of business groups with minimal government aid, particularly in regions distant from government control, to foster a more nuanced understanding of a country’s business landscape.

Sustainable Path to Inclusive Growth in Japan

Sustainable Path to Inclusive Growth in Japan

A bottom-up estimation of woody biomass energy potential including forest growth in Japan

Until now, top-down estimation using the areal weighting interpolation method was applied to estimate the woody biomass energy potential for each of the 1741 municipalities in Japan. However, it was difficult to utilize the uncertain results in policy making. In contrast, bottom-up estimation can reflect the regional characteristics and provide novel benefits to policymakers. In this study, bottom-up estimation using the method of aggregation approach was carried out from the geospatial data for artificial forests, excluding protected forest, and considering forest growth. The data was collected from both national and each prefecture government. The forest growth of each forest division was adjusted by curve fitting and compared with statistical values to verify the estimation results. The woody biomass energy potential was defined as the amount of unused wood generated from harvesting to produce materials. In Japan, the total potential was 0.26–0.74 [EJ/year]. Comparing with the top-down estimation, these results were 34 % overestimated for the maximum value and 54 % underestimated for the minimum value. The detail results of geospatial distribution were statistically analyzed. Moran's I statistic was 0.68, and a hierarchical clustering with proportion resulted in the largest distribution with the majority of Japanese Ceder.

Government Expenditure and Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis of Japan

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the government expenditure and economic growth: a comparative analysis of Japan
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: The comparative analysis of government expenditure and economic growth in Japan revealed a positive correlation between increased public spending and economic expansion. Strategic allocations towards sectors like education and healthcare were found to significantly contribute to long-term growth. Recommendations stressed the importance of transparent and accountable spending practices for sustained economic development, emphasizing prudent fiscal management and efficient resource utilization.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Keynesian economics, wagner's law & endogenous growth theory may be used to anchor future studies on the government expenditure and economic growth: a comparative analysis of Japan. Develop a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effectiveness of government expenditure policies in Japan. Fiscal Sustainability Strategies: Develop strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of government finances in Japan, given the challenges posed by an aging population and rising healthcare costs.

Analysis of the Current Status on Entrepreneurial Intentions among CrowdWorks Freelancers in Japan

Entrepreneurship is vital for economic growth in Japan. However, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report for 2022 reveals that Japan still lags behind in entrepreneurial intentions and attitudes. The purpose of this paper is to establish statistically the structural aspects of entrepreneurial intentions among Japanese social media freelancers by applying a social psychological approach, the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Furthermore, it aims to outline the framework and link it to future research activities. A total of 476 respondents were surveyed. While no significant differences in the variances of entrepreneurial intentions were found between platforms, three other factors showed significant distinctions when analysed for each variable. The mean score for perceived behavioural control stood at 2.213, aligning with the 2022 GEM report’s low rating. However, attitudes towards entrepreneurship (mean score 4.423) and entrepreneurial intentions (mean score 3.844) were moderate. Correlation analysis highlighted a strong positive and significant relationship between attitude and entrepreneurial intention, as well as positive and significant relationships between perceived behavioural control and entrepreneurial intention, and between subjective norm and entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, path analysis using SPSS Amos indicated that perceived behavioural control may influence attitudes and subjective norms. Subsequent research should explore new variables in a broader sample, customised to participants’ cultural backgrounds.

일본 향토박물관의 지역문화 전시재현과 지역사회 참여

This study aimed to examine the reproduction of local history and the participation patterns of residents in exhibitions at local Japanese museums. According to data from the Agency for Cultural Affairs under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, there are more than 5,700 museums in Japan. Japan's rapid growth after its defeat in World War II accelerated the establishment of museums that store local history and folklore materials. Around 1993, 452 local museums with history and folklore themes were built. This can be interpreted as a measure to respond to the standardization of existing centrally oriented museums due to the triggering of awareness of issues such as local population decline and regional crises. Unlike central or tourism-oriented museums, museums established in local areas tend to focus on residents living in the area. The local museum examined in this study also considers local ‘people’, who put the concept of ‘hometown’ at the forefront, as a significant element of museum operation, and their participation becomes the basis of the local museum's identity. As the leading case covered in this paper, the Urayasu City Local Museum promotes citizen participation by turning the results from various local participation programs, such as collaboration with local schools, student curator system, and regional competitions to transmit local cultural heritage, into exhibition contents. Japanese local museums provide many implications for today's Korean society, especially in the current era where there is talk of local extinction due to population decline, the direction in which the ‘region’ should move, and the social role that museums should take.

Individual tourist expenditures in Japan during the inbound tourism boom period (2015–2017): Empirical evidence from micro survey data

AbstractThis study empirically examines the characteristics of demand generated by inbound tourism (inbound demand) in Japan in the 2010s using individual data from the Consumption Trend Survey for Foreigners Visiting Japan. This is the first study to investigate the detailed characteristics of inbound consumption during Japan's inbound boom period using individual micro survey data. One of the main findings is that household income and the exchange rate significantly affect inbound demand. This is especially true for inbound demand by visitors from Asian countries, whose main purpose for visiting Japan is shopping. Another main finding is that visa relaxation effectively increases the number of tourists from China. The third finding is that the payment environment in Japan, including the use of credit cards, has a significant impact on inbound demand. These findings provide an in‐depth insight into inbound demand as a potential engine for future economic growth in Japan.

Practical Improvement and Performance Evaluation of Road Damage Detection Model using Machine Learning

The social infrastructure, including roads and bridges built during period of rapid economic growth in Japan, is now aging, and there is a need to strategically maintain and renew the social infrastructure that is aging. On the other hand, road maintenance in rural areas is facing serious problems such as reduced budgets for maintenance and a shortage of engineers due to the declining birthrate and aging population. Therefore, it is difficult to visually inspect all roads in rural areas by maintenance engineers, and a system to automatically detect road damage is required. This paper reports practical improvements to the road damage model using YOLOv5, an object detection model capable of real-time operation, focusing on road image features

Structural Barriers to Wage Income Growth in Japan

Structural Barriers to Wage Income Growth in Japan

Cohort-Based Analysis of Foreign Residents’ Growth in Japan

In Japan, the cohort structure of foreign residents and its spatial distribution significantly change along with the acceptance of a specialized and technically skilled workforce. This study aims to analyze the transition of foreign residents’ characteristics with time series with statistical viewpoints, in order to clarify the policy building for foreign migrants by local government. A nonnegative matrix factorization model (NMF) is applied to the cohort data of foreign residents in 47 Japanese prefectures in 2010, 2015 and 2020. By applying NMF to the ratio by cohort shifting, the common basis of foreign residents among the prefectures and its structures are obtained. The results show the cohort transition for foreign migrants with infants or children were significantly different, especially between Tohoku and Kyusyu regions from 2010 to 2020. The elderly cohort also had a significant change in Tohoku region from 2015 to 2020. Since the regions highlighted in this analysis include many depopulated areas, and the capacity of those local governments for the policy building would not be enough, they should be supported well by the national government.

Structural Barriers to Wage Income Growth in Japan

Structural Barriers to Wage Income Growth in Japan

Japan's Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Strategy

Japan's Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Strategy

“Chip War” Between U.S. and China : Restructuring the Trans-Pacific Semiconductor Value Chain

This study analyzes the characteristics and contents of strategic competition between the U.S. and China through the reorganization of the Trans-Pacific semiconductor value chain (SVC). The research results are as follows: First, the Trans-Pacific SVC grew under the leadership of the U.S. government in the 1960s. In the 1980s, the U.S. faced a crisis with the growth of Japan’s semiconductor industry; however, the U.S. recovered leadership in semiconductors through an agreement based on predatory hegemony. The globalization of the semiconductor industry was differentiated by production process and consequently geopolitical risks and vulnerabilities, the decline of the manufacturing capacity of the U.S.’s semiconductor industry, and the resulting rise of China’s industry. Second, in the 2000s, China promoted an upward stratification strategy from its position in the existing low-value-added and labor-intensive value chain. Thus, awareness of the crisis regarding technological hegemony in the U.S. has increased. The U.S. is currently pursuing a technology blockade strategy against China, starting with the trade dispute in 2018, to prevent the rise of China. Third, the U.S. SVC’s competitive strategy is to reorganize the Trans-Pacific SVC based on onshoring and friendshoring. In response to this, China is establishing a domestic Red Supply Chain as China’s “self-reliance and self-improvement” in the semiconductor industry and advanced technology. In the future, the Trans-Pacific SVC will be reorganized around the “Semicon Pivot to the U.S.” and China’s “Red Value Chain” establishment strategy. Under these conditions, the Trans-Pacific SVC is entering a new “Age of Transition.”

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Children's Education for A Digital Future

Society 5.0 is a plan to generate a human-focused society that focuses on economic and social growth in Japan. The idea emerged as an evolution of Industrial Revolution 4.0, which is thought to have the capacity to revolutionize technology. One of the main features of Society 5.0 is the use of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence brings many benefits to various fields. One of them is in the field of education. Many studies claim that artificial intelligence can help ease human work and increase knowledge and skills in the field of education. Artificial intelligence has introduced fundamental challenges to education for students, educators and parents. But they are indirectly forced to use AI to learn. This is a solution, as well as a new problem that the education community must immediately adapt. Artificial intelligence has already become a part of education at high schools and colleges. However, at the kindergarten level, it is rarely used. On average, students at this level already have an AI-powered device at home. This study focuses on the role of artificial intelligence at the kindergarten level. This study recommends the importance of AI education at the kindergarten level to instill Artificial Intelligence skills in children from an early age, prepare them for the future of a digitalized world, and improve their computational and problem-solving abilities with artificial intelligence.
 Keywords: Artificial intelligence, education, digital future, children, AI literacy

Association between Heated Tobacco Product Use during Pregnancy and Fetal Growth in Japan: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey.

Combustible cigarette smoking impacts fetal growth during pregnancy. However, the risk associated with heated tobacco products (HTPs) remains unclear. This nationwide cross-sectional study investigated whether HTP use during pregnancy is associated with small for gestational age (SGA) outcomes among 5647 post-delivery women with singleton pregnancies, which were divided into four groups: lifetime never-smokers, former smokers before pregnancy, and current smokers for each of the tobacco products during pregnancy (sole HTP and sole combustion smokers). Information on the prevalence of SGA, defined as birth weight and height below the 10th percentile, was retrieved from the Maternal and Child Health Handbooks of post-delivery women. Using logistic regression, the association between sole HTP smokers during pregnancy and SGA, adjusted for covariates, with lifetime never-smokers as reference, was investigated. The prevalence was: current sole HTP smokers during pregnancy, 1.8% (102/5647); and SGA, 2.9% (164/5647). Sole HTP smokers during pregnancy had a higher prevalence of SGA (5.9% [6/102] vs. 2.7% [111/4144]) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–6.05) than lifetime never-smokers. Among sole combustion smokers, the adjusted OR for SGA was 1.95 (95% CI, 0.81–4.67). In Japan, HTP smoking during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for SGA.

Can Capitalism Solve Its Own Rural Problems? Japanese Lessons for the World Bank's Vision of Rural‐Led Development

AbstractRecent research and policy advice by international development organizations have, by their own account, sought to reverse a prior neglect of conditions in agriculture and rural areas. In pursuit of this, they have developed a vision of dynamic but incremental development in rural areas, anchored in a smallholder‐based and economically diversified market economy. This vision, articulated in the World Bank's 2008 World Development Report and continuing to animate research and policy advice today, presents itself as a solution to persistent poverty in the world's least developed countries. This paper adopts a historical sociological lens to use the case of Japan, in the period from the latter half of the nineteenth century to the opening decades of the twentieth, to assess how realistic this vision is. This analysis shows that the lessons of Japan's experience are chastening for this vision of rural development. The mechanisms of growth in Japan were remarkably similar to those advertised by the World Bank's vision. However, its rural economic dynamism was based on deep socioeconomic inequalities and brought improved material conditions and greater economic security to agricultural households only with excruciating slowness, if at all. Rather than demonstrating the potential of incremental, market‐oriented rural development to offer a path towards widespread poverty reduction, Japan instead serves as a warning of this development model's limitations.

Influence of Entrepreneurship Advancement on Economic Growth in Japan

Entrepreneurs are regarded as the backbone for the growth of nations. Hence, the study investigated the influence of entrepreneurship advancement on economic growth in Japan. The study was literature-based and thus, the conclusions were based on the previous studies' findings. The study findings revealed that entrepreneurship advancement is significant to economic growth. Entrepreneurship is crucial in promoting social modification and driving innovation in a nation. Entrepreneurs boost economic growth by introducing innovative technologies, products, and services. Increased competition from entrepreneurs’ challenges existing firms to become more competitive. The study further noted that entrepreneurs serve as the catalysts in the process of industrialization and economic growth. Entrepreneurs help in the development of the society and paves for independent living. Entrepreneurship is vital for any country's economy as it supports the contribution of the government in the provision of goods and service. Apart from creating jobs and bringing wealth on a local level, entrepreneurs are also opening up the way for more businesses to open up. Entrepreneurs provide new job opportunities in the short and long term. The study concluded that entrepreneurship activities significantly influence economic growth. The influence of entrepreneurship advancement on economic growth is significant. The government needs to think of measures that will assist these ventures to continue to be in the market when they have been established. The study recommended that policies should be developed that support the development of entrepreneurs in the country. Keywords: Entrepreneurship Advancement, Economic Growth, Japan

Forecasting tourism growth with State-Dependent Models

We introduce two forecasting methods based on a general class of non-linear models called ‘State-Dependent Models’ (SDMs) for tourism demand forecasting. Using a Monte Carlo simulation which generated data from linear and non-linear models, we evidence how estimations from SDMs can capture the level shifts pattern and nonlinearity in data. Next, we apply two new forecasting methods based on SDMs to forecast tourism demand growth in Japan. The forecasts are compared with classical recursive SDM forecasting, Naïve forecasting, ARIMA, Exponential Smoothing, Neural Network models, Time varying parameters, Smooth Transition Autoregressive models, and with a linear regression model with two dummy variables. We find that improvements in forecasting with the proposed SDM-based forecasting methods are more pronounced in the longer-term horizons.