Business History of Japan There Was Much Research on the History Of
The Works of Japanese Business Historians in1982: Business History of Japan
By Yasuaki Nagasawa Fukuyama University Translated by Gregory Ornatowski
‡T.History of Zaibatsu There was much research on the history of zaibatsu in1982.Examples were the series of Zaibatsu Business Histories.The Mitsui Zaibatsu, edited by Shigeaki Yasuoka and The Sumitomo Zaibatsu,edited by Yotaro Sakudo,both published by Nihon Keizai Shimbunsha.Together with The Mitsubishi Zaibatsu,published last year,and in the same series, studies on the biggest three zaibatsu now make a set.Furthermore, Okura Zaibatsu no kenkyu-Okura to Tairiku-(Studies on the Okura Zaibatsu-Okura and the Asian Continent-),edited by the Okura Zaibatsu Kenkytikai(Research Group)was published by Kondo Shuppan Sha. Shigeaki Yasuoka's Kazoku Kigyo niokeru Shoyu to Shihai:Kokusai Hikaku(Ownership and Management of Family Business:An Inter national Comparison),published by Kokusai Rengo Daigaku(United Nations University),tried to compare family enterprises internationally and hypothesized that the stronger the communal character of control over assets is,the less demand for management ability by family mem bers=owners,and as a consequence,the more top management comes
to be delegated to managers rather than family members=owners . Kensuke Hiroyama's article,•gKonoike-ke niokeru Dozoku keiei no Rekishiteki Tokushitsu•h(•gSome Historical Characteristics of Family Management in the Konoike Family Business•h)[Osaka Daigaku Keizai
gaku(Osaka Economic Papers),Osaka University,Vol.31,No.4]showed this in the case of Konoike.He pointed out that Konoike continued to have the characteristics of communal ownership and because of the lack of monitoring by family members=owners,there was a tendency toward reckless management. Satoshi Daigo,who is not a business historian but an accounting historian,wrote•gZaibatsu Shihaika no Kaisha Gappei to Kabushiki
Kokai•h(•gCorporate Mergers under Zaibatsu Control•h)[Oikonomika , Nagoya City University,Vol.19,No.1],which also showed that in Zaibatsu,the merger of subsidiary companies was promoted by the family
150 or the family-owned parent company for the benefit of it ,and the family absorbed the capital-gain produced through the merger. Concerning the Mitsui Zaibatsu,Takeo Kikkawa's•gMitsui Ginko to Tokyo Dento.Toho Denryoku•h(•gThe Relationship between the Mitsui Bank and Two Electric Power Companies ,Tokyo Electric Light Co. and Toho Electric Power Co.•h)[Keiei Shigaku(Japan Business History Review)Vol.17,No.2]criticized the opinion that Tokyo Dento was under the control of the Mitsui Bank in the prewar period and asserted
that the Mitsui Bank only carried out temporary measures to preserve
its investment in Tokyo Dento .Kikkawa's other paper,•gDenryoku Renmei to Denki Iinkai•h(•gThe League of Electric Companies and the Committee on Electricity•h)[Shakai Keizai Shigaku(Socio-Economic History),Yuhikaku,Vol.48,No.4.]also emphasized the independent
identity of electric companies against the control of Zaibatsu . Nobuyoshi Minomura's•gKinokuniya Jidai no Rizaemon•h(•gRizaemon in his Kinokuniya Period•h)[Takushoku-Dai Ronshu(Takushoku Uni versity Review)No.137],was worth reading for researchers on the history of Mitsui.It stated that because Rizaemon Minomura ,the top salaried manager of Mitsui shortly after the Meiji Restoration ,had called himself Minomura,before entering Mitsui,he was not given this name by the Mitsui family as a reward for his services.More research needs to be done on Minomura's career. Concerning the Sumitomo Zaibatsu,there were Toshikazu Nakase's article,•gTakawara Genbei niyoru Izumiya Sumitomo no Kasei Kaikaku
(•gThe Reform of the Sumitomo House led by Genbei Takawara,1837•h 1845•h)[Keiei Shigaku(Japan Business History Review)Vol •| .17,No.3], and Shoichi Asajima's•gSumitomo Zaibatsu no Keieishase no Kosatsu
(•gA Study of the Top Management of the Sumitomo Zaibatsu,1899•|•h 1944•h)[Senshu Keiei-gaku Ronshu(Business Review of Sensha Uni versity)No.33].The former treated the reform of Sumitomo's house hold at the end of the Tokugawa period.The latter dealt with the managers who supported the centralized and bureaucratic system of the Sumitomo Zaibatsu,and the managerial rank system(tokyu-sei)and it's operation(i.e.personnel affairs).In particular,the managerial rank system is an important key factor in analyzing the characteristics of Sumitomo,epitomized in the phrase•gSumitomo-Human Solidarity, because the system was indispensable in easing the movement •hof members among different operating units and preventing the breeding of sectionalism . Concerning the other Zaibatsu,Yoshio Asai's•gYasuda Chochiku Ginko to Yasuda Zaibatsu•h(•gOn the Development of the Yasuda Savings
Bank•h)[Keizai Kenkyu(Economic Papers),Seijo University ,No.77]
151 studied the motives and the process of moving into the savings bank business by the Yasuda Zaibatsu,which alone among the four biggest Zaibatsu had a savings bank.Haruhito Takeda's•gMeiji Zenki no Fujita gumi to MOri-ke Yushi•h(•gMOri's Financing and Fujita&Co.in Early Meiji•h)[Keizaigaku Ronshu(The Journal of Economics),University of Tokyo,Vol.48,No.3]pointed out the important role of monetary funds of ex-daimyo(feudal lords)in the process of the transformation of Seisho(merchants connected with the government)into Zaibatsu. Concerning the shinko(new)Zaibatsu,Masahiro Shimotani's Nihon Soda no Kojo Tenkai•h(•gDiversification of Nihon Soda Co.before it's Establishing Nisso-Concern•h)[Keizai Ronso(The Economic Review)
Kyoto Univ.,Vol.130,No.1-2]analyzed the characteristics of diversi fication strategy of the company before forming a konzern and found diversification into the metallurgy industry,as well as alkalinization. Satoshi Saito'sgb•gRiken Sangyo dan no Keisei•h(•gFormation of Riken Industry Group•h)[Keiei Shigaku(Japan Business History Review) Vol.17,No.2]pointed out that the strategy of Riken aimed at keeping out the import of manufactured goods by supplying them from within Japan. As for viewpoints of study on the Zaibatsu,Haruhito Takeda's Saikin no Zaibatsu-shi Kenkyu o megutte•h(•gConcerning Recent •g Studies of Zaibatsu History•h)[Keizai Hyoron(Economic Review)Nihon Hyoron sha,September1982]is noteworthy.In it,Takeda recognized a certain merit to the recent research on business history of Zaibatsu,but criticized them as insufficiently recognizing the total role of Zaibatsu in the history of modern Japan.He proposed a redefinition of Zaibatsu that includes the aspect of oligopoly.Takeshi Oshio's•gShinko Konzern•h(•gStudies
on Newly Rising Konzern in1930's•h)[Shakai Keizai Shigaku(Socio Economic History)Vol.47,No.6]also questioned the definition of Zaibatsu,asserting that the so-called shinko Zaibatsu were neither Zaibatsu nor Konzern but one sort of horizontal combination of companies that could be categorized as the forerunners of the reforms of the old Zaibatsu and of the post-war type of Kigyo-shudan(Company group).It seems necessary to reconsider the methods of Zaibatsu research in historical
perspective.
‡U.Business History of Shipping This sphere has also seen many new works in recent years.In the series,Business History of the Japanese Shipping Industry(Nihon Keizai Shimbun-sha),after the publication of Ryotaisen-kan no Nihon Kaiungyo (Japanese Shipping in the Inter War Period),by Keiichiro Nakagawa,
152 Kaiungyo to Rodo Mondai(Japanese Shipping and it's Labor Problem) , by Masaaki Kobayashi,Kaiungyo to Kin-yu(Financing of the Shipping Industry),by Kazuo Sugiyama,and Kaiungyo to Kaigun(Japanese Ship ping and the Navy),by Takeaki Teratani,Akira Takayanagi's Kaiungyo no Keiei to Gijutsu(Business and Technology in the Shipping Industry) was published this year.Another work was Seiji Sasaki's•gKindai Kaiungyo no Hatten to Zaibatsu•h(•gConnections between the Modern Japanese Shipping Industry and the Zaibatsu•h)[Keizai Keiei Kenky
(Annual Report on Economics and Business Administration),Kobe u Univ.,Vol.32,No.1],which described the relationships between the shipping industry and the four biggest Zaibatsu.Kazuo Yamaguchi's Meiji-ki Hokuriku-chiho no Kindai Kaiungyo•h(•gModern •g Shipping Business in the Hokuriku district in the Meiji Era•h)[Soka Keiei Ronsh
(Review of Business Administration),Soka Univ.,Vol.6,No.2],gave u specific examples and showed the transformation of traditional Kitamae shipowners from shipping on the basis of some goods bought,using traditional Japanese ships,to shipping by rate,using steamships.Kazuo Sugiyama's•gKaiun Kinyukikan Tokusetsu Mondai to Keizai Chosakai
(•gMarine Financial Policy in Japan:1916-18•h)[Keizaigakubu •h Ronsh (Journal of the Faculty of Economics),Seikei Univ.,Vol.12,No.2], u on the other hand,gave an account of one scene of the process of forma tion of marine financial policy in Japan during World War I.Moreover, Sugiyama's•gKokusai Kisen no Dai-niji Seiri•h(•gA Study of the Second
Reorganization<1927>of International Steamship Co .•h)[Chiho Kinytu-shi Kenkyu,No.13]made clear that government policies considered as aiming at the protection of shipping firms were not always to the advan tage of the firm,but were one part of a program to improve the running capability of ships.
‡V.Research on Marketing and Sogo Shosha (General Trading Companies) Kin-ichiro Toba's•gNihon no Marketing•h(•gModernization of Distribu tion Systems in Japan•h)[Keiei Shigaku(Japan Business History Review), Vol.17,No.1]presented a theoretical framework to analyze the history and characteristics of Japanese-style marketing.According to Toba, these characteristics possess both traditionally inherited advantages of sophisticated adaptation to the segmented market and flexibility to smoothly introduce American-style mass-marketing techniques. Yoshio Katsura's •gSogo Shosha to Nihon-teki Keiei no Keifu
(•gHistorical Characteristics of Japanese Management in the Sogo Shosha•h)•h [Kokumin-Keizai Zasshi(Journal of Economics and Business Administra-
153 tion),Kobe Univ.,Vol.145,No.1],is a study of the management structure and business thinking of sogo shosha and the process of transition from specialized trading companies to a sogo shosha.
Nobuo Kawabe's Studies•gSenzen niokeru Sogo Shosha no Zaibei Shiten Katsudo•h(•gBusiness Activities of Sogo Shosha in the United States before World War ‡U.The Case of Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha,The San Francisco and Seattle Branches•h)[Keiei Shigaku(Japan Business History Review)Vo.16,No.4],and Sogo Shosha no Kenkyu(A
Study of Sogo Shosha)(Jikkyo Shuppan)are unique and fine works which take up the multiple goods dealt with by sogo shosha.Kawabe argues that the characteristic merits of sogo shosha were brought into full play in the three commodity lines of raw materials and primary
goods,high-priced consumer goods requiring technological services,and staple goods without market differentiation.According to Kawabe, it may be possible to examine the content of multiple functions of and trading areas of sogo shosha. Yukiyoshi Ogura's•gMitsui no Kaigai Shinshutsu(14)•h(•gOverseas Expansion of the Mitsui Group(14)•h)[Nihon Keizai Tandai Kiyo,Nihon Junior College of Economics,Vol.12,No.2]explains the mutual re lationship between international marketing and political affairs,using
the example of Mitsukoshi's(the Kimono store of Mitsui)attempt to enter into trade with Korea as sensho(disguised merchant)shortly after the Meiji Restoration.This attempt led to troubles in foreign affairs and was the trigger of a political crisis in 1873.
‡W.Research on Businessmen Yotaro Sakudo's•gKansai-kei Kigyoka no Keifu to Tokushitsu•h(•gThe Characteristics and Genealogy of the Entrepreneurs of the Kansai Area•h) and•gKansai-kei Kigyoka no Rekishiteki Tokushitsu•h(•gThe Historical Characteristics of the Entrepreneurs of the Kansai Area•h)[Osaka Daigaku Keizai-gaku (Osaka Economic Papers),Osaka Univ.,Vol.31,No.2-3 and Vol.32,No.2•|3]together defined the characteristics of Kansai area(the area around Osaka,Kobe and Kyoto)businessmen as that of frontier spirit,creativity,indifference to politics and realism.In series of works by Mataji Miyamoto,•gJiiken Kaitokudo to Keizaijin•h(Re construction of the Kaitokudo School and Osaka Businessmen•h)[Osaka Daigaku Keizai-gaku(Osaka Economic Papers),Osaka Univ.,Vol.32, No.1],•gYamaguchi Gendo no Kotodomo•h(•gGendo Yamaguchi,Public Benefactor•h)[Osaka Daigaku-shi Kiyo(Journal of History),Osaka Univ., No.2],•gOsaka no Zaikaijin to Bunka Jigyo•h(•gOsaka Businessmen and their Public Beneficience•h)[Kogyo,Osaka Kogyo-kai,No.410•|416],
154 and•gTakeo Jiemon to Takeo Kekkaku Kenkyusho no Kotodomo•h
(•gZiemon Takeo and Takeo Tuberculosis Institute•h)[Osaka Shun-Ju, No.31],the public beneficience of Kansai businessmen was taken up. In •gHotoku-kai to Zaibatsu Keieisha•h(•gThe Hotoku-kai and Zaibatsu Managers-An Analysis of•gShimin•hin an Approach to Entrepreneurial History•h)[Kyotogakuen Daigaku Ronshu(Kyotogakuen University
Review)Vol.10,No.2]and Zaibatsu Keieisha to Kiristo-kyo Shakai jigyo-ka(1)(Zaibatsu Managers and Social Workers(1))(The United Nations),Makoto Seoka analyzed the characteristics of the business thought of such Zaibatsu managers as Masaya Suzuki(Sumitomo)and
Senkichiro Hayakawa(Mitsui),and the reference group that brought them up.Seoka argued that Masaya Suzuki's thinking was based on a type of patriotism which combined native and foreign ideas and was inspired by the Hotoku-kai or Ichiyon-kai as reference groups.Finally, Kichibei Onogi's•gGakki Sangyo ni okeru Seshu Keiei no Ichi Genkei
(2)•h(•gA Prototype of Hereditary Management in the Musical Instrument Industry(2)•h),[Kenkyu Kiyo(Collected Treatises),Hamamatsu Junior College No.25]sketched the entrepreneurship of three generation of owner-managers in the Suzuki Violin Manufacturing Co.
V.Tokugawa Period Business Enterprises Eiichiro Ogura's•gKoto-yaki Ko•h(•gA Short History of Kotoyaki•h)
[Kenkyu Kiyo(Archives Museum Bulletin),Shiga Univ.,No.15]fol lowed the reorganizing process of merchant-managed ceramic work in the Hikone domain and described persuasively the non-capitalistic nature of management by the domain.Masahiro Uemura,in the•gSenshu no Gosho Meshino-ke no Kin-yu Katsudo•h(•gThe Money Lending Business of the Meshino Family in the Tokugawa Period•h)[Osaka Daigaku Keizigaku(Osaka Economic Papers),Osaka Univ.,Vol.31,No.4]awaked our interest to the fact that money accumulated by local money lenders was connected with the national financing system through•gKanyagashi
(joint lending)to the Osaka ryogaeshio(money lenders).•h Two other works on merchant enterprises were Masatoshi Amano's Tokugawa Koki niokeru Awa Aisho Shihon no Chikuseki Kozo(1)•g
(•gCapital Accumulation of an Awa Indigo Merchant in the •hlate Tokugawa Period(1)•|The Case of the House of Miki•|•h)[Ehime Keizai Ronsh
(Ehime Economic Journal),Ehime Univ.,Vol.2,No.2],and Kensukeu Hiroyama's•gKinsei Koki ni okeru Konoike-ke no Hokonin•h(•gThe Employees of the House of Konoike during the First Half of the 19th Century•h)[Osaka Daigaku Keizaigaku(Osaka Economic Papers),Osaka Univ.,Vol.32,No.2-3].In the latter work,Hiroyama quantitatively
155 analyzed the life histories of120employees,in terms of their employ ment,coming of age,and setting up their own branch houses to the main house. The works concerning the business thought of Tokugawa merchants were three books by Mataji Miyamoto,Chonin Shakai no Ningen Gunzo
(Businessmen in the Chonin Community)(Perikan-sha).•gNihon Chonin do no Kenkyu(A Study of Japan's way of the Merchant)(PHP Institute), Chonin Shakai no Gakugei to Kaitokudo(Arts and Science and the Katokudo School in the Chonin Community)(Bunken Shuppan).
‡Y.Meiji Period Business Enterprises Concerning the transformation of traditional merchant enterprises that occurred in the Meiji period,there are Kazuo Yamaguchi's•gKuramiya Hachizaemon-ke Tana-oroshicho no Bunseki•h(•gAn Analysis of the Kuramiya Hachizaemon's Stock-taking Books•h)[Soka Keizai Ronsh
(Review of Business Administration),Soka Univ.,Vol.6,No.1]and u Masataka Mizuhara's•gMeiji-zenki Ryutsu Kiko no Saihen Katei ni okeru Ichirei•h (•gA Study on the Modernization of the Distribution System of Fertilizer in Early Meiji-The Case of Nakaichi&Co.,established by Omi-shanin•h)[Kenkyu Kiyo(Archives Museum Bulletin),Shiga Univ.,No.15].The former article analyzed the assets of Kuramiya, a wholesale store at a post town,and pointed out such interesting facts as that Kuramiya's owners succeeded in maintaining the value of their. assets by avoiding the nonconvertible notes issued shortly after the Meiji Restoration,and thereby became wealthy capitalist and landholder. The latter article depicted how the Nishikawa family,an Omi merchant, organized a peasant cooperative to buy fertilizer. Concerning the role of government,Seiichiro Yonekura,in•gSeifu Shizoku-Jusan Seisaku to Onoda Cement•h(•gThe Government's Policy of Supporting Ex-Samurai's Business and the Onoda Cement Co., Ltd.)
[Hitotsubashi Ronso(Hitotsubashi Review),Hitotsubashi Univ.,Vol. 87,No.3],pointed out that in spite of the importance of government funds to allow the ex-samurai to start businesses,the Meiji government paid little consideration to expanding the domestic market,which formed the greatest restriction for emerging modern business enterprises. Takao Hoshino's•gMeiji Shonen no Shitetsu Seisaku to Kansai Tetsudo Kaisha(2)•h(•gGovernment Policy toward Private Railways in Early Meiji and the Kansai Railroad Co.(2)•h)[Musashi Daigaku Ronshu
(Journal of Musashi University)Vol.29,No.5-6]examined the cause of the collapse of Kansai Railroad Co.and argued that the major cause was not in the lack of aggressiveness of merchants but in the unstability
156 of the railroad policy of the early Meiji government.•gNishinari Tetsudo no Seiritsu to Tenkai•h(•gThe Establishment and Development of Nishinari Railroad Co.•\An aspect of Japan Railway History•\•h)[Osaka no Rekishi(History of Osaka)No.7],by Kyozo Takechi,also dealt with the railroad policy of the government.Although the role of the govern ment in Japan's industrialization was of course important,its power should not be considered almightly and more inquiry into the actual significance of the government,and the limits to its power,are necessary. Concerning the structure and management of modern Japanese business enterprises in their stage of formation during Meiji,Vichian Chakepai chayon's article•gMeiji Shoki no Kaisha Kigyo•h(•gJoint-Stock Companies in the Early Meiji Era(2)•\An Analysis of the Articles of Incorporation of 81Companies•h)[Osaka Daigaku Keizaigaku(Osaka Economic Papers), Osaka Univ.,Vol.32,No.1],Takaaki Suzuki's article•hMeiji10nendai Yubin Kisen Mitsubishi Kaisha•h(•gBusiness Organization of the Mitsubishi Mail Steamship Co.in the Meiji10s•h)[Keizai Ronshu(Articles on Economics),Daito Bunka Univ.,No.35],and Akiko Chimoto's book Meiji Shoki Boseki-gyo no Romukanri no Keisei(The Formation of Labor Management in the Cotton Spinning Industry in the Early Meiji Era)(United Nations University),were all published.Chakepaichayon examined the articles of incorporation of81companies established before 1880and the manifold changes in them that had appeared by1893 when the Commercial Law was enacted.Suzuki argued that the organiza tional structure of Mitsubishi Co.in the decade after1877was the transi tional stage to a functionally defined system and that within a centralized system,there were many decentralized elements.Chimoto studied the formation process of labor management in the development of Osaka Cotton Spinning Co.from3oldest cotton spinning mills and,thereafter, 2000spindle mills,using fully the insufficient historical materials. Toshimitsu Asano's•hMeiji-ki niokeru Jitsugyo Gainen no Keisei•h(•gThe Growth of the Concept of Business in Meiji Japan•h)[Shokei Ronshu
(Journal of Business and Economics),Graduate School of Waseda Univ., No.43]was a philological study of•gJitsugyo•h(business)and•gJitsugyoka•h
(businessmen),key words in eliminating a feeling of despise for merchants. Asano asserted that•gjitsugyo•hwhich had been used by the government at first to name such occupations as farmer,manufacturer,and merchant, became a weapon to criticize the activity of•gseisho•h (businessmen con nected with the government)during the decade after1887.Later,in the decade after1897,it was used first as a word to express a sense of the identity of modern business enterprises and then to express the hostility felt against the stock-speculation and misappropriation of managers.In
157 this latter use,it lost the sense of expressing the ethos of independence and self support.In this way,it can be said that the term•gzitsugyo•h reflects some of the central problems of Meiji business history. Finally,Mariko Tatsuki's•gGaikoku Seiho Kaisha no Nihon Shinshutsu to Tettai•h(•gForeign Life Insurance Companies and the Japanese Market•h)
[Keiei Shigaku(Japan Business History Review),Vol.17,No.3]made clear the peculiar process by which some foreign life insurance companies began their operations around the turn of the century and withdrew after only ten years or so.
‡Z. The Inter-war Period and Post-war Period Important works here were Toshiyuki Shinomiya's•gDai-ichiji Taisen iko no Nihon Seishi Rengokai to Seishigyo•h(•gThe Japan Paper Associa tion and the Japanese Paper-manufacturing Business after World War I•h)
[Bunkei Ronso(Studies in the Humanities),Hirosaki Univ.,Vol.18,No. 1]and Tsuneo Suzuki's•g1930nendai niokeru Nihon Ryuan Kogyo no Tenkai-katei(2)•h(•gA Study of the Japanese Ammonium Sulphate Industry in the1930's(2)•h)[Sangyo Keizai Kenkyu(Journal of the
Society for Studies on Industrial Economics),Kurume Univ.,Vol.23,No. 1].Shinomiya asserted that the central action of the Japan Paper Associ ation brought about the long-term competition among paper-making companies and played a role in paving the way for the consolidation of the big three paper-making companies and the establishment of•gBig•hOji Paper Co.Suzuki looked at the process of moving into the ammonium sulphate industry by Dai Nihon Jinzo Hiryo(Japan Chemical Fertilizer), Showa Hiryo and Sumitomo Hiryo and examined their motives as well as investment and financing policies. Toshio Hareyama's•gSenji Tosei-ka niokeru Wagakuni Romukanri•h
(•gJapanese Labor Management under War-time Control(1)(2)•h)[Shokei Ronso(Economic and Business Review),Kyushu Sangyo Univ .,Vol.22 No.3,Vol.23No.2]dealt with the process of state controlled compul sory labor management during World War‡U.Hareyama explained that Japanese type labor management,which functioned only among a few big companies in the prewar period,spread to the whole economy after World War‡Uthrough the medium of wartime state labor management.However, further study of labor management in the period of confusion shortly after the end of war seems necessary,because wartime labor management and that of the post-war period cannot be connected directly . Tadakatsu Inoue,in•gSengo niokeru Keizai Dantai no Kikokaikaku•h
(•gPost-War Reorganization of the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry•h)[Keizai Keiei Kenkyu(Annual Report on Economics and
158 Business Administration),Kobe Univ.,Vol.32,No.3],concluded that in the post-war period the Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry became a blend of the Anglo-Saxon type of voluntary membership and the conti nental style of obligatory membership.
‡[. Other Works Mitsuo Fujii's(ed.)Keieishi-Nihon(Business History-Japan)(Nihon Hyoron-sha)was an outline of modern Japanese business history from a marxist point of view.Although business history depends upon case studies,such an effort to synthesize is also sometimes necessary.
Shin-ichi Yonekawa's•gFujitsu Seiji Kyoju no Keieishi Kenkyu•h(•gPro fessor Seiji Fujitsu's Works:A Comment•g)[Hitotsubashi Ronso
(Hitotsubashi Review),Hitotsubashi Univ.,Vol.87,No.3]was an essay concerning methods of business history in the form of comments on the works of Professor Fujitsu.Among the various issues discussed,including theory and proof,the separate identify of business history,etc.,the dis cussion about ideal types was most interesting.Yonekawa argued that the individual enterprise,the object for a cast study,does not exist objectively as an ideal type,but can stand as an ideal type only through the value judgement of researchers. As for the publication of historical materials,there were Yukio Okamoto and Kenzi Imazu's•gKan-ei Aichi Boseki-sho•h(•gMaterials Con cerning the Management and Disposal of the Government Operated Aichi Boseki-sho
(Commercial Review of Seinan Gakuin University)Vol.28,No.4]•\one part of a series of republications of materials on government operated enterprises in the early Meiji period,and Yasuhiro Mori's•gKonoike San-yo-cho karamita Daimyo-gashi•h(•gLoans to Daimyos in the Konoike Sanyo-Cho
159