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Subtitle

• Spring

Macroeconomic Statistics and Historical Documents of Business Administration in Modern Japan

• Fall

Research method for cliometrics

Language

Japanese

Contents

This subject aims to obtain practical skills to acquire and analyze statistical data that is frequently utilized in quantitative historical studies. In the study of modern history that can use quantitative data in addition to ample historical materials, the mixed-use of qualitative and quantitative analyses and the quantification of qualitative materials have been progressing, and international collaboration with researchers from diverse disciplines, including natural science, is underway. To achieve this aim, and following the recent development in research in Japan and abroad, this subject has three objectives: 1) utilization method of government-produced statistics, 2) calculation of statistical data, 3) business analysis, and 4) utilization method of historical documents of business administration. 

Course Plan [Spring]

1. Cliometrics, Historical Documents, and Data 

2. Collection of Quantitative Data and Basic Statistics 

3. Methods, Achievements, and Problems of Macroeconomic Data 

4. Historical Documents of Political Decision-Making 

5. Historical Documents of Political Measures and Public Finance 

6. Conversion of Nominal Data into Real Data and Price Indexes 

7. Commodity Price Data 

8. Quantity Indexes and Production Data 

9. Enterprise Statistics and Data of Foreign Trade and Commodity Distribution 

10. Company Management and Data of Labor and Finance 

11. Elements of Financial Statements 

12. Analyses of Profitability and Safety 

13. Economic Statistics on the Japanese Colonies

14. Interpretation of Quantitative Analysis and Descriptive Historical Documents 

Course Plan [Fall]

1. Tools for Cliometrics and Basic Mathematics

2. Mathematics for Cliometrics

3. Frequency Distribution and Histogram 

4. Representative Values and Measures of Dispersion

5. Deviation Score, Skewness, and Peakedness

6. Simple Regression Model, Coefficient of Determination, and Correlation Coefficient

7. Estimator and Hypothesis Testing

8. Multiple Regression Model and Multicollinearity

9. Linear Constraint Test and Dammy Valuable

10. Interpolation and Seasonality

11. Autoregressive (AR) Model, Stationarity, Unit Root, and Wald Test

12. Vector Autoregressive (VAR) Model, Conversion of Vector Moving Average (VMA) Expression, and Impulse Response Function

13. Cointegration and Vector Error Correction (VEC) Model

14. Practice of Time-Series Analysis

Subtitle

• Spring

The market, industry, and policy of Meiji Japan 

• Fall

The market, industry, and policy of Taisho & Showa Japan

Language

Japanese

Contents

The subject aims to examine structural changes in the market and industry, and effects of economic and financial policies taken in response as a means to understand the developmental path in the society and economy of modern Japan as well as the government’s role and its limitation. To achieve this aim, and following the recent development in research in Japan and abroad, the subject has three objectives: first, to expand one’s understanding from the production size and quantitative expansion of the market to qualitative change in the market; second, to focus on the two-way flow of goods, capital, information, and people between Japan and areas in East Asia, including former Japanese colonies; and third, to base oneself on empirical research findings drawing from a variety of data and large amount of historical materials. By engaging with the subject in this manner, students will acquire a basic perspective that is essential to understand social change in modern Japan, including growth of economic activity, the rise in standard of living, and the expansion of policy scale. Advanced Studies in Japanese History IG offered in the spring term examines the period between the 1850s and 1900s, while Advanced Studies in Japanese History IIG offered in the fall term examines the period between the 1910s and 1940s. 

Course Plan [Spring]

1. Long-term Change in the Global and Japanese Economy 

2. Principles of Estimating Long-term Macro Economic Variables 

3. Economic Growth and Governing Institutions in Pre-modern Japan

4. Opening of Ports in Japan and Foreign Settlement-based Trade 

5. Economics and Social Structure after the Opening of Ports 

6. Trade Structure in Prewar Japan 

7. Establishment of the Meiji Government and Its Early Economic Policies 

8. Asian International Relations and Okubo's Government 

9. Development of Transport and Communication Infrastructure and Financial System 

10. Emergence of Companies and Modern Economic Growth 

11. Industrial Development, Export Expansion, and Import Substitution 

12. Post First Sino-Japanese War Finance and the Establishment of the Gold Standard 

13. Establishment of “Imperial Japan” and Post Russo-Japanese War Finance 

14. Industrial Development after the First Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars 

Course Plan [Fall]

1. Formation and Development of the Zaibatsu

2. International Balance of Payments and Currency Policies During World War I 

3. World War I and Shifts in Industrial Structure 

4. International Environment and Political Economy of the 1920s 

5. Great Tokyo Earthquake and the Lifting of the Gold Embargo 

6. Global Recession and Collapse of the Gold Standard 

7. Takahashi’s Finance and the Private Sector's Economy 

8. Trade and Movement of Capital in the Interwar Period 

9. Acceleration of Japan’s Overseas Expansion 

10. Colonies’ Complementation of the Japanese Economy and Industrialization 

11. Structure of Dependence on Overseas Sources and the Colonies 

12. Promotion of Heavy Chemical Industries and the Zaibatsu 

13. “Construction” and Collapse of the “Manchurian” Economy 

14. Japanese Economy under Wartime Regimentation 

Subtitle

Quantitative History of Modern and Contemporary Japan

Language

Japanese

Contents

The subject aims to equip students majoring in Japanese history with basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history as part of their coursework. In the study of modern and contemporary history that can make use of quantitative data in addition to ample historical materials, the mixed use of qualitative and quantitative analyses and the quantification of qualitative materials have been progressing, and international collaboration with researchers from a diverse range of disciplines including natural science is underway. This development in research has pointed out that the social developmental path modern Japan has been following is not only different from that of Western societies but also has specific features when compared with other societies in Asia. Continuity from early modern Japan and the colonies in close proximity geographically are among the reasons cited for this. Building on these recent developments in the study of Japanese history in and outside Japan, the subject aims are: first, to understand the physical expansion and qualitative change in economy and society, as well as changes in the political regime and policies, and how they influence each other; second, to focus on the interconnectedness of politics, diplomacy, and economy of Japan and other countries from the perspective of history of international relations; and third, to rely on empirical research findings derived from various kinds of data and historical materials. By engaging with the subject in this manner, students will be able to observe the changes that occurred in Japanese society from the mid-nineteenth century to the end of the twentieth century, drawing from a more multi-faceted perspective based on latest research findings, rich historical knowledge, data, and materials. 

Course Plan

1. Introduction

2. Macro Dynamics of Modern Japan 

3. Opening of Ports in Japan and Foreign Settlement-based Trade 

4. Establishment of the Meiji Government and Asian International Relations 

5. Modern Economic Growth and Its Policy Basis 

6. Establishment of “Imperial Japan” and Its External Relationship 

7. International Balance of Payments and Promotion of Heavy Chemical Industries During World War I 

8. Party Politics and the Lifting of the Gold Embargo in the 1920s 

9. The Showa Depression and Takahashi’s Finance 

10. Trade and Movement of Capital in the Interwar Period 

11. Wartime Regimentation and Postwar Reform 

12. Rapid Economic Growth, Government, and Firms 

13. From Stable Growth to Long-term Stagnation 

14. Financial Crises since the Bursting of the Bubble and Abenomics 

Subtitle

• Spring

A Guide to Cliometrics I: The History of Japanese Economy, the Late 19th Century-1913 

• Fall

A Guide to Cliometrics II: The History of Japanese Economy, 1914-1936

Language

Japanese / English

Contents

The study of economic history, which sits at the juncture of the academic fields of economics and history, makes frequent use of the concepts of economics and the analytical tools based on them. The use of these analytical methods has garnered significant criticism within Japan, however, many papers published in recent years in the three major international academic journals in the field of economic history - Economic History Review, Journal of Economic History, and Explorations in Economic History - have used econometric techniques. In this context, economic historians, even for graduate students who conduct qualitative analysis, should acquire the ability to read and understand these papers.

This course will focus on the recent research, which describes the history of Japanese economy from the late 19th century to 1936, by economists and economic historians. Specifically, students will report the contents of text to the class using the presentation software and discuss the difference with the previous research and limits of econometric techniques in the academic field of economic history. Finally, students will acquire (1) knowledge of research on the economic history of modern Japan; (2) an understanding of recent trends in the study of the economic history of modern Japan; and (3) the presentation skills and techniques. 

Course Plan [Spring]

1. Introduction 

2. Overview of Japanese Economy from the Late 19th Century to 1913 <1> 

3. Overview of Japanese Economy from the Late 19th Century to 1913 <2> 

4. Liberalization of the Movement of Persons and the Skill Learning <1> 

5. Liberalization of the Movement of Persons and the Skill Learning <2> 

6. Financial System and Corporate Finance <1>

7. Financial System and Corporate Finance <2>  

8. Agriculture and the Real Estate Business <1>

9. Agriculture and the Real Estate Business <2>  

10. Mining and Manufacturing Industries in the Japanese Industrial Revolution <1>

11. Mining and Manufacturing Industries in the Japanese Industrial Revolution <2>

12. Transportation System and Trade and Service Industries <1> 

13. Transportation System and Trade and Service Industries <2>  

14. Review

Course Plan [Fall]

1. Introduction

2. Overview of the Japanese Economy from 1914 to 1936 <1> 

3. Overview of the Japanese Economy from 1914 to 1936 <2>

4. Labor Market, Employment Relationship, and Human Capital <1> 

5. Labor Market, Employment Relationship, and Human Capital <2> 

6. Banking Business and Industrial Finance <1> 

7. Banking Business and Industrial Finance <2> 

8. Agriculture and Land Ownership <1> 

9. Agriculture and Land Ownership <2> 

10. Industrial Structure and International Competition <1> 

11. Industrial Structure and International Competition <2>

12. Commerce and Public-utility Industries <1>

13. Commerce and Public-utility Industries <2>

14. Review