Technology And Industrial Growth In Pre-war Japan: The Mitsubishi-nagasaki Shipyard 1884-1934 (nissan Institute/routledge Japanese Studies)

Credits Japan's industrial success to innovation and training, looking at the pre-War period and in depth at the Mitsubishi Nagasaki shipyard. The book has implications for industrial development worldwide. This book looks at the development of Japan before the War, arguing that the achievements of this period are central to the present competitiveness of the country's industrial technology. Dr Fukasaku examines industrial, educational and research policy in this period and presents a case study of a leading enterprise, the Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard, in order to assess the importance of training and research to technological success. The book analyses the interaction between national and firm-level policies and it discusses the complexities involved in mastering imported technologies, showing how they were assimilated and improved. It includes detailed examination of the development of the steam turbine, electric welding and diesel engine technologies at the Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard. Dr Fukasaku's argument demonstrates the value of historical analysis in addressing current issues in science and technology policy. Technological innovation and training are revealed as the key to long-term stability and economic success in Japan. This argument has implications for industrial development worldwide, especially in the developing world where present conditions are in many respects similar to those of Japan at the start of her industrial development, over a century ago In Technology and Industrial Growth in Pre-War Japan, Yukiko Fukasaku examines development in Japan in the pre-War period, and views the achievements of this period as central to the present competitiveness of the country's industrial technology. She gives particular emphasis to the crucial role played by training and research in the accumulation of technological capability and the assimilation of imported technology.

Fukasaku shows that successful technology transfer and improvements to the imported technology made possible by research and role-training formed the basis of the great technological success of post-war Japan. She uses the Mitsubishi Nagasaki shipyard as a case study, looking at technological innovation and training as the key to long-term stability and economic success.

This study has important implications for industrial development worldwide. Japan's starting point over a century ago was similar to the present conditions of many developing countries, and the book's emphasis on the acquisition of better skills as a key to development worldwide is as relevant to the United States and Europe as it is to the Third World.

This book aims to discredit the myth that has the `unique cultural traits' of the Japanese as the key to the country's success, arguing that the more realisable foundation of long-term investment in training and research is responsible. The book looks at the development of Japan in the pre-War period. Yukiko Fukusaku sees the achievements of this period as central to the present competitiveness of the country's industrial technology. She uses the Mitsubishi Nagasaki shipyard as a case study, looking at technological innovation and training as the keys to long-term stability and economic success. The book has implications for industrial development worldwide. Japan's starting point over a century ago was similar to the present conditions of many developing countries and the book's emphasis on the acquisition of better skills as a key to development is as relevant to Europe and America as it is to the Third World.