TOP GLOBAL COMPANIES IN JAPAN

Amid the current, protracted recession in Japan, new corporations ¡ª termed global excellent companies by the authors of this book ¡ª have been rising since the end of the 20th century. They are not yet in the spotlight but have a huge market share worldwide with regard to their specialized products and services.

These corporations have climbed to the top of the global market while many other large Japanese companies have fallen into a slump. The authors highlighted their corporate policies and strategies for achieving high earnings ¡ª the secret of "producing something from nothing" and "enabling the lesser to win against the greater". They have long focused on specific niches, improved the speed of their business undertaking, and effectively used information technology. The authors set out to study these companies and analyze their practices so as to gain insight into the way companies should be managed in the 21st century.

THE KYOTO MODEL
The Challenge of Japanese Management Strategy Meeting Global Standards

This fascinating book focuses on Kyoto high-tech companies that have captured leading market share with globally preeminent technologies and yet have been able to maintain their robust profitability even under Japan's current prolonged recession.

The book aims to uncover the secrets of success behind such companies as Kyocera Corp., Omron Corp., Murata Manufacturing Co., Rohm Co. and Horiba Ltd. and their management systems, generally termed 'the Kyoto Model'.

SUCCESS OF 7-ELEVEN JAPAN, THE
Discovering the Secrets of the World's Best-Run Convenience Chain Stores

When analyzing 7-Eleven Japan's advanced and innovative management style, the authors of this book highlight the existence of the "integrated information system". This is because of the key role it plays not only in forming this firm's corporate strategy but also in developing its functional strategies for logistic support, merchandising and store operations. The authors explore the integrated information system, a symbol of the competitiveness of 7-Eleven Japan.

PIERROT REQUIEM
Journey in Socio-Cultural Issues

This book is a collection of true-to-life essays which offers the reader various ways to view the socio-cultural state of the modern world as seen through the eyes of the author — a somewhat cynical but ethical Japanese professor. Through journeys in various cultures, these stories break numerous stereotypes, from the failure of higher education in Japan to the mysteries of using various types of toilets in Mediterranean Europe.

THE JAPANESE ECONOMY

This is an introduction to the Japanese economy. The general feature of the Japanese economy, together with its historical and geographical background, is first described. Its famous rapid economic growth in the 1960s are then analyzed quantitatively in the light of the econometric findings. The facts on the saving ratio, trade balances, technical progress, industrial structure, business cycles, economic development and so on are presented, and their relation to the economic performance are discussed.