Japanese economy and society through a 'British Mirror'

Abstract

This panel investigates aspects of British and Japanese economic and business development in the 20th century, empha- sizing the extent to which the issues in question might be better understood or evaluated through a 'British mirror'. In each of their chosen themes contributors investigate (a) how far Japanese contemporaries were aware of parallel developments outside their country (in this case Britain), (b) the extent to which contemporary policy and other reactions were tempered by this knowledge, and (c) how far British perspectives on the Japanese issue under review provide a clearer or at least different inter- pretation of events than appeared to Japanese contemporaries. This comparative perspective introduces evidence of Japan's observation and understanding of parallel issues outside its own country, of the extent to which authorities learned or failed to learn from such knowledge, and the degree to which Britain was likewise viewing events in Japan as part of its own educative development.