{"product_id":"amakudari-the-hidden-fabric-of-japans-economy-hardback-9780801440830","title":"Amakudari; The Hidden Fabric of Japan's Economy (Hardback) 9780801440830","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eAmakudari\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Hidden Fabric of Japan's Economy\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eRichard A. Colignon (Author), Chikako Usui (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780801440830\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 12 May 2003\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e240 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.907 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmakudari\u003c\/i\u003e, by putting together different data sources, presents a useful, bird's-eye view of the extensive practice and serves as a good introduction to the topic, especially for those to whom the sheer scope of \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e in Japanese society would be news.\u003c\/p\u003e - Koichi Nakano, Sophia University (Journal of Japanese Studies) \u003cp\u003eColignon documents the networks and informal relationships that make Japanese capitalism less than a pure market-driven system... and that there is no clear line between acceptable corporatism and corruption.\u003c\/p\u003e (Foreign Affairs) \u003cp\u003eThe current debate over the nature of 'welfare capitalisms' would be greatly enriched with more material on Asian nations such as that provided by Colignon and Usui. Japan scholars, however, will also find this book extremely useful, not because of new ideas about the Japanese political-economy, but because of a wealth of new data confirming much of what we had already suspected. In no industrial society today do we find a power elite as united and commanding as in present day Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e - Harold R. Kerbo, California Polytechnic State University (Comparative Sociology) \u003cp\u003eThis volume presents a study of a set of Japanese practices collectively known as \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e, or 'descent from heaven,' where high-level bureaucrats move from government ministries to top positions in public and private corporations as well as national politics.... In the last ten years, \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e has become the chief obstacle to reform in Japan, and its legitimacy has been undermined by glaring government corruption and the gross mismanagement of the economy. This extremely interesting work reveals important hidden networks of influence in the Japanese political economy and contributes to further revealing the cultural specificity of Japanese capitalism.\u003c\/p\u003e (Choice)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe widespread migration of civil servants to high-profile positions in the private and public sectors is known in Japan as \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e, or \"descent from heaven.\" Recent media stories associate the practice with corruption as the former officials seek government favors for their new employers. In their timely book, Richard A. Colignon and Chikako Usui offer the first systematic exploration of this influential yet poorly understood Japanese institution.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eColignon and Usui analyze \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e as a ministry-level phenomenon that is consciously constructed and reproduced with intricate networks in many political and corporate spheres. Drawing on five decades of qualitative and quantitative data delineating the post-retirement careers of leading bureaucrats, they examine changes in traditional job patterns. Although not as strong a force as in the 1960s and 1970s, \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e, in their view, remains a critical feature of Japanese society and heavily shapes the relationship between government and business.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors warn that despite the Japanese media criticism of \u003ci\u003eamakudari\u003c\/i\u003e, it comprises a power structure resistant to radical change. Most important, their book demonstrates that a gradual weakening of this practice may not lead to a more democratic, meritocratic society.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cornell University Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52681222816024,"sku":"9780801440830","price":54.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/amakudari-the-hidden-fabric-of-japans-economy-hardback-9780801440830","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}