著者

Rika Fujioka

出版者

Business History Society of Japan

雑誌

Japanese Research in Business History (ISSN:1349807X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.31, pp.11-27, 2014 (Released:2015-09-29)

被引用文献数

2

著者

Hisayuki Ōshima Alexandre Roy

出版者

Business History Society of Japan

雑誌

Japanese Research in Business History (ISSN:1349807X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.40, pp.24-43, 2023 (Released:2023-12-26)

参考文献数

38

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The importance of general trading companies in Japan’s economic development is widely acknowledged, but little is known about their role in the transfer of technology and innovations. We address this issue by examining the emerging aircraft industry in Japan during the 1920s, focusing on its main foreign partner, France, and one of the largest Japanese groups, Mitsubishi. We show that while the French influence in the Japanese market remained unchallenged up to the mid-1920s, it faded away afterward due to the absence of French trading companies on the ground, despite considerable support from the French government. This contrasts with our analysis of the Japanese side. Using its worldwide network, Mitsubishi Trading Co. provided Mitsubishi Motors Co. with appropriate information and contracts with French as well as German companies. It eventually succeeded in creating joint ventures with these close partners. Their early failure in 1926 sparked a shift from importing technology via trade agreements to developing the industry through manufacturing (e.g., creation of Mitsubishi Aircraft Co. in 1928). Thus, Mitsubishi Trading proved to be an efficient early market developer for the Japanese side, whereas French business suffered from not having similar trading companies in Japan and being overdependent on state structures.

著者

Atsuko Suzuki

出版者

Business History Society of Japan

雑誌

Japanese Research in Business History (ISSN:1349807X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.39, pp.68-88, 2022 (Released:2022-12-28)

参考文献数

28

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This study investigates price determination methods of kimono fabric dealers in early modern Japan, conducting a case study of Naraya, a Kyoto-based merchant that had branches in the Kantō region (Edo and its neighboring areas). In order to cope with data availability limitations, the investigation utilizes historical records of other major Kyoto-based merchants with Edo branches and those of modern times as well. There were two price determination methods: namely, the “uchi-mashi” and “soto-mashi” methods.Uchi-mashi: Cost ÷ (1 - (Profit percentage ÷ 100)) = Selling priceSoto-mashi: Cost × (1 + (Profit percentage ÷ 100)) = Selling priceNaraya used the uchi-mashi method for “kudari mono [kimono fabrics purchased in Kyoto and sent down to the Kantō region].” With regard to “kantō mono [kimono fabrics purchased in the Kantō region],” the soto-mashi method was adopted. There were three pre-determined profit rates applied in the calculation, corresponding to three different categories into which commodities were classified. In the case of kudari mono, however, it was a common practice that prices were increased higher than calculated selling prices depending on the quality of fabrics and popularity of their designs. In addition, there were unique business practices concerning price tags. When commodities were sent from Kyoto, prices were doubled, and such doubled prices were written on price tags. “Cash only, price on the tag” sales were also held. In introducing these practices, Naraya followed precedents of major merchants that had branches in Edo. This is the first Japanese economic history study that gives an in-depth analysis of early modern merchants’ actual business practices concerning price determination.