Tanaka Mikihiro - Appointed in AY2022
Participant Profile
Tanaka Mikihiro
Theory of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Modern Japanese Economic and Business History2000: Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Ritsumeikan University 2006: Withdrew from the Ph.D. program at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Osaka City University, after completing all required coursework 2009: Received his PhD in Commerce from Osaka City University After serving as an associate professor at the Faculty of Business and Commerce, Otaru University of Commerce; an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics, Setsunan University; and an associate professor and professor at the College of Business Administration, Ritsumeikan University, he assumed his current position in 2022. *Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.
Tanaka Mikihiro
Theory of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Modern Japanese Economic and Business History2000: Graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Ritsumeikan University 2006: Withdrew from the Ph.D. program at the Graduate School of Business Administration, Osaka City University, after completing all required coursework 2009: Received his PhD in Commerce from Osaka City University After serving as an associate professor at the Faculty of Business and Commerce, Otaru University of Commerce; an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics, Setsunan University; and an associate professor and professor at the College of Business Administration, Ritsumeikan University, he assumed his current position in 2022. *Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.
Viewing the Japanese Economy from the "Gemba" of Manufacturing
My Research Theme and How I Encountered It
My research focuses on Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those in the manufacturing industry. Initially, I was interested in Japanese economic and business history, especially the formation of Japan's large-firm system. However, when I entered graduate school and encountered research on SMEs, I was shocked to discover that they had a unique world of their own, completely different from the theories of large corporations I had been studying. This was also a time when historical research was increasingly focusing on SMEs, with criticism of the Chandler model, historical theories of industrial clusters, and theories of traditional industries gaining attention. This led me to want to clarify the unique logic of how today's SMEs support the Japanese economy, while maintaining a historical perspective.
The Appeal and Fascination of My Research Theme
The technological capabilities of Japanese SMEs have long been highly regarded worldwide. In recent years, it is said that the competitiveness of Japan's manufacturing industry has begun to wane, but I believe that the underlying strength of SMEs has not been lost. I investigate their technological capabilities and the business models they have built by observing their factories and interviewing their managers. The managers of SMEs are close to the "gemba" (shop floor) and grapple with various issues on a daily basis. What's fascinating is that by going to the "gemba" and hearing their unfiltered voices, I can learn about the realities of management. I have conducted several hundred company and factory visits from my time as a graduate student to the present, and I still can't get enough.
A Message for Students
Even in a society overflowing with information on the internet, there is information that can only be obtained by going to the "gemba" (the actual site) to see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears. Doing so can help you determine the authenticity of information and understand things correctly. Please remember that going to the "gemba" is also a form of learning.