Why did Japan succeed in industrialisation?

Abstract

Per capita GNP is often taken as an index of economic affluence, so let me use this to show how Japan stands in comparison with other Asian countries. Japan's per capita GNP is over US$9,000. This is much higher than China's little over $100, Indonesia's $500, Philippine's and Thailand's $700, and Malaysia's $1,800. Japan is maintaining this higher per capita income because of its high technology industry. As you know, Japan is poor in natural resources, so it has to import them from abroad. Otherwise, Japan cannot maintain the present living standard. Japan cannot, however, import natural resources unless it can export something in return. What Japan offers to foreign countries is human resource. But unlike the Philippines and some other countries which export human labour directly to the Middle East and other oil rich areas, Japan export human resource in the form of products. Steel, petrochemicals, electronics, automobiles, and other high technology products are exported in exchange for the resources Japan needs to maintain the present living standard.