History of Innovative Entrepreneurs in Japan

This book is the first Open Access book that highlights over 20 of Japan's innovative entrepreneurs from the 17th century to the present. It discusses the business models and successes of these entrepreneurs, as well as the factors that contributed to Japan's industrialization and economic growth. The author argues that Japan's earlier success was based on breakthrough and incremental innovation, while later challenges were due to disruptive innovation from advanced countries and developing nations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 291 pages
Publication date: 19 March 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This groundbreaking Open Access book presents a comprehensive exploration of over 20 of Japan's most influential and innovative entrepreneurs, spanning from the 17th century to the present. Authored by the esteemed author, the book delves into the innovative business models crafted by these visionaries, including SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, Fast Retailing (Uniqlo)s Yanai Tadashi, Honda's Soichiro Honda, Sony's Akio Morita, Panasonic's Konosuke Matsushita, and Toyota's Kiichiro Toyoda, as well as their predecessors such as Takatoshi Mitsui of Mitsui Zaibatsu, Shibusawa Eiichi of Daiichi Bank.

While introducing these innovators, the author also poses three broader questions:

1. Why did Japan industrialize earlier than any other country outside Europe and the United States?
2. Why was Japan able to achieve unparalleled economic growth between the 1910s and the 1980s?
3. Why has Japan's economy stagnated for more than 30 years since the 1990s?

To answer these questions, the author employs analytical concepts such as Schumpeter's breakthrough innovation, Kirzner's incremental innovation, and Christensen's disruptive innovation. Through their analysis, the author contends that Japan's successes were rooted in unique and systematic breakthrough innovation and the accumulation of incremental innovation. However, it later faced challenges from both advanced countries' breakthrough innovation and disruptive innovation from developing nations.

This comprehensive and insightful book offers valuable insights into the entrepreneurial landscape of Japan, shedding light on the factors that have contributed to its remarkable economic growth and its recent challenges. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and business enthusiasts alike, providing a deeper understanding of Japan's economic history and its potential for future innovation.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811994562
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023