Satoru Nakanishi (2025 Award Recipient)
Participant Profile
Satoru Nakanishi
Faculty of Economics ProfessorSpecialization: Japanese Socio-Economic History. 1993: Withdrew from the Doctoral Programs at the Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo, after completing the required credits. 1993: Research Associate at the Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo. 1995: Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Hokkaido University. 1999: Associate Professor at the School of Economics, Nagoya University. 2004: Professor at the Graduate School of Economics, Nagoya University. 2013: Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Keio University, to the present. Ph.D. in Economics [Ph.D. (Economics)]. *Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.
Satoru Nakanishi
Faculty of Economics ProfessorSpecialization: Japanese Socio-Economic History. 1993: Withdrew from the Doctoral Programs at the Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo, after completing the required credits. 1993: Research Associate at the Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo. 1995: Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Hokkaido University. 1999: Associate Professor at the School of Economics, Nagoya University. 2004: Professor at the Graduate School of Economics, Nagoya University. 2013: Professor at the Faculty of Economics, Keio University, to the present. Ph.D. in Economics [Ph.D. (Economics)]. *Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.
Japan's Industrialization Nurtured by the Wealth of Mountains and Seas
Research Themes and Their Origins
The book "Capitalism of the Mountain Magnates" (Nagoya University Press, 2025), which was the subject of the Keio Award, is a sister volume to my 2009 book "Capitalism of the Sea Magnates" (Nagoya University Press). Japan is surrounded by the sea on all sides and has many mountains; it has been blessed with the wealth of the sea and the wealth of the mountains since ancient times. This wealth was channeled into villages, leading to the flourishing of rural industries from the Edo period. In the modern era, the accumulation from these industries was also channeled into urban industries, advancing industrialization. In this way, my research theme is to capture the long-term progress of Japan's industrialization through the lens of Japan's topography.
The Appeal and Fascination of the Research Theme
I want to clarify the history of the Japanese economy from such a long-term perspective with a sense of realism. To do this, I visit old families across Japan, deciphering ancient documents left in their storehouses, and aim to present a complete picture by building up the histories of many such families over approximately 200 years. For this reason, it takes a considerable amount of time to compile a single book, but I love the excitement of seeing the overall picture gradually emerge. In particular, research on ancient documents is often conducted jointly with many researchers. Through repeated dialogue with the owners of historical materials and the exchange of various ideas, I can truly feel the joy of collaborative research.
Message to Students
You only live once, so please enjoy life with curiosity. And please direct even a small part of that curiosity toward history. By knowing the past, there will surely be things that connect to the future. I hope that you will cultivate your own view of history and, even after entering the workforce, maintain consideration for others and live your life firmly without being misled by trends.