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<\/a><\/p>\nAlthough many<\/i> <\/i>companies are <\/i>thriving globally<\/i>, some are not despite their potential. <\/i>Professor Todo <\/i>discusses his personal studies and the roles of <\/i>companies and politics <\/i>in Japanese economics<\/i> as well as what economics and economists can do to contribute to society<\/i>.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\nRise of <\/b>garyu<\/i><\/b> companies in Japan<\/b><\/h3>\n
If I were to describe the ideal society and economy identified in experimental studies, it is \u201cone with diverse relationships.\u201d A region or organization with strong relationships with outsiders enables individuals, companies, and countries to achieve innovation and grow. Having strong ties both within a region or organization and with outsiders enables individuals, companies, and countries to be more innovative and achieve growth. In Japan, however, excessive ties within a region or organization are preventing the formation of ties with outsiders, causing prolonged economic stagnation. Globalization allows companies to innovate by allowing them to absorb knowledge from overseas. However, in Japan, many non-globalized companies remain domestic despite their potential.<\/p>\n
I call these companies \u201cg<\/i>aryu<\/i> companies.\u201d Garyu<\/i> (literally means \u201ccrouching dragon\u201d) is a term from the Chinese historical text The Records of the Three Kingdoms<\/i> (Sanguozhi), referring to Zhuge Liang before he served Liu Bei. Therefore, it refers to people who have not fully demonstrated their potential despite having exceptional skills.<\/p>\n
If many of Japan\u2019s g<\/i>aryu<\/i> companies \u201cget up,\u201d globalization will lead to a positive cycle that will undoubtedly increase Japan\u2019s international competitiveness, providing an impetus for Japan to achieve economic greatness. I have long advocated for measures to globalize these garyu<\/i> companies by quantitatively demonstrating their existence using corporate data. In recent years, the Abe administration has actively advocated measures to support the globalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in its Japan Revitalization Strategy (the so-called \u201cgrowth strategy\u201d). I have high expectations for this initiative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Analysis based on \u201cQuestionnaire Survey on Internationalization and Corporate Activities\u201d by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (conducted in December 2009; 3,513 SMEs in the manufacturing\/non-manufacturing industry) (Source: Yasuyuki Todo) *Left side is organized by number of companies<\/p><\/div>\n Another important measure necessary for globalization is Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The true benefit of EPAs is not increased trade but increased ties with outsiders that promotes technological and other types of innovation.<\/p>\n Therefore, TPP has far greater benefits than usually assumed. I have long emphasized this point in newspaper articles and on my website, and I am grateful to see the conclusion of TPP negotiations.<\/p>\n Building ties with outsiders is also important for Japan to revitalize its local economies. For example, facilitating \u201cI-turns\u201d (moving from urban areas to rural towns) and \u201cU-turns\u201d (moving from rural towns to urban areas and back again) or attracting foreign companies and ventures to bring new ideas to regions will no doubt contribute to regional revitalization. I visit various regions to observe the conditions of local companies. When I give lectures at committees and industry associations of local municipalities, I often speak about regional revitalization.<\/p>\n Until seven or eight years ago, I thought a researcher\u2019s job was to publish English language articles in international academic journals. However, I have become increasingly aware that the findings of academic research have not fully reached the general public or policy specialists. Therefore, I have become aware of the need to carefully disseminate research findings to the general public.<\/p>\n Considering the 20-plus years of economic stagnation in Japan, the Great East Japan earthquake in 2011 made me keenly aware that as an economist, I must contribute to the recovery of quake-stricken areas and the revitalization of Japan.<\/p>\n That is why I have been striving to disseminate political recommendations derived from my personal research to the public through books such as The Latent Potential of the Japanese Economy<\/i> (Nihon Keizai no Sokojikara), newspaper articles, websites, committees and lectures.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the quality of my academic research and social contributions are insufficient. When I transferred to Waseda University last year, I was able to develop relationships with researchers in various fields and participate in joint research projects with young and talented researchers. I am determined to make greater contributions to society by leveraging these ties with outsiders and strong ties within the organization.<\/p>\n Corporate training to promote export in Vietnam (Source: Yasuyuki Todo)<\/p><\/div>\n International workshop in South Korea (Source: Yasuyuki Todo)<\/p><\/div>\n Meeting with Burkina Faso government officials (From left: Author; University of Tokyo Professor Yasuyuki Sawada; Waseda University Professor Haruko Noguchi) I encourage students to participate in international exchange and create a diverse network of relationships. However, what I want to convey most is what Antonio Inoki said in his retiring ceremony: \u201cProceed without hesitation and you will succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n When I was a graduate student, I would spend most of my days doing calculations at my desk or computer. There was a time when I wondered if what I was doing would really be of use in the future. However, Inoki\u2019s words kept me going and I was able to complete my PhD. I believe I have become a person that can contribute to society through my research, albeit in a small way. I want to tell all students who are unsure of their career goals to not hesitate and pursue their goals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Part 1<\/a> 1991: B. A., Asian Studies, University of Tokyo \u30fbTodo, Yasuyuki, Kentaro Nakajima, and Petr Matous, \u201cHow Do Supply Chain Networks Affect the Resilience of Firms to Natural Disasters? Evidence from the Great East Japan Earthquake,\u201d Journal of Regional Science<\/i>, 55(2), 209-229, 2015. DOI: 10.1111\/jors.12119<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.cirje.e.u-tokyo.ac.jp\/research\/workshops\/emf\/paper2013\/emf0527.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/jors.12119\/full<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fbTodo, Yasuyuki and Hitoshi Sato, \u201cEffects of Presidents’ Characteristics on Internationalization of Small and Medium Firms in Japan,\u201d the Journal of Japanese and International Economices, 34, pp. 236-255, 2014.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0889158314000483<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fbMatous, Petr, Yasuyuki Todo, Tatsuya Ishikawa, \u201cEmergence of Multiplex Mobile Phone Communication Networks across Rural Areas: An Ethiopian Experiment,\u201d Network Science, 2(2), 162-188, 2014.<\/p>\n http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1017\/nws.2014.12<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fbTakahashi, Ryo and Yasuyuki Todo, \u201cThe Impact of a Shade Coffee Certification Program on Forest Conservation: A Case Study from a Wild Coffee Forest in Ethiopia,\u201d Journal of Environmental Management<\/i>, 130(30), 48-54, 2013.<\/p>\n http:\/\/jica-ri.jica.go.jp\/ja\/publication\/workingpaper\/impact_of_a_shade_coffee_certification_program_on_forest_conservation_a_case_study_from_a_wild_coffe.html<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0301479713005483<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fbTodo, Yasuyuki, “Impacts of Aid-Funded Technical Assistance Programs: Firm-Level Evidence from the Indonesian Foundry Industry,” World Development, 39(3), pp. 351-362, 2011.<\/p>\n http:\/\/econpapers.repec.org\/paper\/etidpaper\/08024.htm<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0305750X10001415<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fbTodo, Yasuyuki and Satoshi Shimizutani, \u201cOverseas R&D Activities and Home Productivity Growth: Evidence from Japanese Firm-Level Data,\u201d Journal of Industrial Economics, 56(4), pp. 752-777, 2008.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.rieti.go.jp\/jp\/publications\/dp\/07e008.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/j.1467-6451.2008.00363.x\/full<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fbTodo, Yasuyuki and Koji Miyamoto, \u201cKnowledge Spillovers from Multinational Enterprises and the Role of R&D Activities: Evidence from Indonesia,\u201d Economic Development and Cultural Change, 55(1), pp. 173-200, 2006.<\/p>\n http:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=668508<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/10.1086\/505729<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u958b\u767a\u7d4c\u6e08\u5b66\u5165\u9580\uff0c\u65b0\u4e16\u793e\uff0c2015<\/p>\n \u30fb\u65e5\u672c\u7d4c\u6e08\u306e\u5e95\u529b\uff0d\u81e5\u9f8d\u304c\u76ee\u899a\u3081\u308b\u3068\u304d\uff0d\uff0c\u4e2d\u592e\u516c\u8ad6\u65b0\u793e\uff0c2011\uff0e<\/p>\n \u30fb\u9014\u4e0a\u56fd\u5316\u3059\u308b\u65e5\u672c\uff0c\u65e5\u672c\u7d4c\u6e08\u65b0\u805e\u51fa\u7248\u793e\uff0c2010\uff0e<\/p>\n \u30fb\u6280\u8853\u4f1d\u64ad\u3068\u7d4c\u6e08\u6210\u9577\uff0d\u30b0\u30ed\u30fc\u30d0\u30eb\u5316\u6642\u4ee3\u306e\u9014\u4e0a\u56fd\u7d4c\u6e08\u5206\u6790\uff0d, \u52c1\u8349\u66f8\u623f, 2008.<\/p>\n \u30fb\u201cEconomic Networks for More Innovative and Resilient Economies,\u201d June 26, 2015, Vox.<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u201cFrom Collusion to Competition? Japanese Business Groups in the 21st Century,\u201d June 16, 2015, Vox.<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u201cFor Coin and Country: Easing Japan-China Tensions through Social, Economic, and Political Equilibrium,\u201d the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, December 12, 2014.<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u300c\u30b5\u30d7\u30e9\u30a4\u30c1\u30a7\u30fc\u30f3\u3092\u901a\u3058\u305f\u77e5\u8b58\u4f1d\u64ad\uff0d\u9060\u304f\u306e\u3064\u306a\u304c\u308a\u3068\u5f37\u3044\u3064\u306a\u304c\u308a\u306e\u52b9\u679c\uff0d\u300d\uff0c\u7d4c\u6e08\u7523\u696d\u7814\u7a76\u6240\u30a6\u30a7\u30d6\u30b5\u30a4\u30c8\uff0c2015\uff0e\u3000<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u300cTPP\u306e\u6210\u9577\u52b9\u679c\u63a8\u8a08\u300d\uff0c\u7d4c\u6e08\u7523\u696d\u7814\u7a76\u6240\u30a6\u30a7\u30d6\u30b5\u30a4\u30c8\uff0c2013\uff0e<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u300cTPP\u53c2\u52a0\u306e\u610f\u7fa9\u3000\u56fd\u969b\u5316\u3001\u751f\u7523\u6027\u5411\u4e0a\u306e\u9375\u306b\u300d\uff0c\u65e5\u672c\u7d4c\u6e08\u65b0\u805e\u300c\u7d4c\u6e08\u6559\u5ba4\u300d\uff0c2011.<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u300c\u5fa9\u8208\u3092\u8d85\u3048\u305f\u65b0\u305f\u306a\u9ad8\u5ea6\u6210\u9577\u3078\u300d\uff0c\u7d4c\u6e08\u7523\u696d\u7814\u7a76\u6240\u30a6\u30a7\u30d6\u30b5\u30a4\u30c8\uff0c2011\uff0e<\/a><\/p>\n \u30fb\u300c\u65e5\u672c\u7d4c\u6e08\u4f53\u8cea\u5f37\u5316\u306e\u65b9\u5411\u3000\u4eca\u3053\u305d\u300e\u5185\u9700\u3088\u308a\u8f38\u51fa\u300f\u3067\u300d\uff0c\u65e5\u672c\u7d4c\u6e08\u65b0\u805e\u300c\u7d4c\u6e08\u6559\u5ba4\u300d\uff0c2009\uff0e<\/a><\/p>\nIn search of economics that contributes to society<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/a><\/a>
(Source: Yasuyuki Todo)<\/p><\/div>\nProceed without hesitation and you will succeed\u00a0<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nPart 2<\/a><\/p>\nProfile<\/h5>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n1994: Graduated from Institute of Developing Economies Advanced School
\n1995: M.A., Food Research Institute, Stanford University
\n2000: Ph.D., Economics, Stanford University
\n2000: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Southern Illinois University
\n2001: Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Tokyo Metropolitan University
\n2002: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Economics, Tokyo Metropolitan University
\n2005: Assistant Professor, School of International Politics, Economics and Business, Aoyama Gakuin University
\n2007: Associate Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo
\n2010: Professor, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo
\n2012: Department Head, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo
\n2014-present: Professor, Graduate School of Economics, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University
\nCurrently serving as Faculty Fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, Visiting Fellow at the JICA Research Institute, member of the Governing Council of the Japan External Trade Organization, member of the Performance Evaluation Committee of The Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association, and member of the Trade Committee of the Industrial Structure Council at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
\nPersonal website http:\/\/www.f.waseda.jp\/yastodo\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\nResearch<\/b><\/h5>\n
Writings<\/h5>\n
\u00a0Articles<\/h5>\n