Abstract
CSR in Japan is currently undergoing a reconceptualization as a result of government policies and related reforms being implemented by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration in order to revitalize the Japanese economy from its prolonged economic stagnation. In realization that economic health and vitality can no longer be defined exclusively in terms of isolated corporate interests, Japan’s conservative government is seeking to push corporations out of their commonly criticized insularity and towards a more socially informed and integrated competitive stance. As a result of this, corporations are being called upon to reformulate their CSR plans and activities by integrating social and strategic goals into long-term plans and strategies which cover the full scope of their activities both domestically and globally. This paper will argue that, by acknowledging a link between social wellbeing and long-term economic growth and competitiveness, the Abe administration’s reforms could constitute a turning point in the conceptualization of the social responsibility of corporations in Japan.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abe, S. (2013, April 19). Speech on growth strategy at Japan national press club [Seicho Senryaku Speech]. Presented at the Japan National Press Club, Tokyo.
Abe, S. (2014, September 18). The next stage of Abenomics is coming. Wall Street Journal. New York.
Akram, T. (2014). The economics of Japan’s stagnation. Business Economics, 49(3), 156–175.
Bureau of Statistics. (2014). Population estimate report for November 2014 [Jinko Suikei] (pp. 1–4). Tokyo: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Council of Experts Concerning the Japanese Version of the Stewardship Code. (2014). Principles for responsible institutional investors - Japan’s stewardship code [Sekinin aru Kikan Toshika no Sho Gensoku]. Tokyo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Davis, S. T. (2010). Strategic CSR in the Japanese context: From business risk to market creation. In C. Louche, S. O. Idowu, & W. L. Filho (Eds.), Innovative CSR: From risk management to value creation (pp. 374–397). Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing.
Davis, S. T. (2013a). Business ethics, Japanese approach. In S. O. Idowu (Ed.), Encyclopedia of corporate social responsibility (Vol. 1, pp. 252–259). Heidelberg: Springer.
Davis, S. T. (2013b). Keizai Doyukai. In S. O. Idowu, N. Capaldi, & A. D. Gupta (Eds.), Encyclopedia of corporate social responsibility (pp. 1540–1548). Berlin: Springer.
Financial Reporting Council. (2012). The UK stewardship code (pp. 1–14). London: Financial Reporting Council.
Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan. (2014a). Adoption of new policy asset mix [Kanri Unyo Hoshin]. Tokyo: Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan.
Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan. (2014b). Policy for fulfilling stewardship responsibility [Stewardship Sekinin wo Hatasu tame no Hoshin]. Tokyo: Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan.
Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan. (2014c). Regarding acceptance of the Japan stewardship code [Nihonban Stewardship Code no Ukeire ni tsuite]. Tokyo: Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan.
Ito, K. (2014). Ito review of competitiveness and incentives for sustainable growth - building favorable relationships between companies and investors - final report [Jizoku Seicho e no Kyosoryoku to Insentibu - Kigyo to Toshika no Nozomashi Kankei Kochiku Project] (pp. 1–104). Tokyo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Japanese Trade Union Confederation. (2011). RENGO’s basic position on workers capital and workers capital responsible investment guideline [Wakazu Kyapitaru ni kansuru RENGO no Kangaekata oyobi Wakazu Kyapitaru Sekinin Toshi Gaidorain] (pp. 1–22). Tokyo: Japanese Trade Union Confederation.
Japanese Trade Union Confederation. (2014). A RENGO perspective on Japan’s stewardship code [Nihonban Stewardship Code ni taisuru Rengo no Kangaekata].
Kagono, T., Isagawa, N., & Yoshimura, N. (2010). A new paradigm of japanese corporate governance [Corporate Governance no Keiei - Kaisha Toji no Atarashi Paradigm]. Tokyo: Yuhikaku.
Kamei, Z., & Hirano, T. (2014). The issues and prospects facing Japan’s CSR [Nihon no CSR ga Cyokumensuru Kadai to Tenbo]. CSR white paper 2014 [CSR Hakusho 2014]. Tokyo: Tokyo Foundation.
Kawamura, T. (2003). 2003 as the Dawn of Japan’s age of CSR management [2003 Nen wa Nihon no CSR Keiei Gannen]. Tokyo: Nissei Kiso Kenkyusho.
Kay, J. (2012). The Kay review of UK equity markets and long-term decision making: Final report. London: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills [BIS].
KeizaiDoyukai. (2010). CSR in Japanese corporations - Evolutionary trajectory: Self evaluation report 2010 [Nihon Kigyo no CSR - Shinka no Kiseki]. Tokyo: Keizai Doyukai.
KeizaiDoyukai. (2012). Evolution towards a value co-creating corporation [Syakaieki Kyoso Kigyou e no Shinka]. Tokyo: Keizai Doyukai.
KeizaiDoyukai. (2014). CSR in Japanese corporations - 2014 Self-evaluation report [Nihon Kigyo no CSR - Jiko Hyoka Report 2014] (pp. 1–50). Tokyo: KeizaiDoyukai.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2014a). Bringing out Japan’s strengths with the industrial competitiveness enhancement act. METI Journal, (4/5), 4–7.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2014b). Industrial competitiveness enhancement act commentary [Sangyo Kyosortoku Kyoka Ho Chikusetsu Kaisetsu] (pp. 1–383). Tokyo: Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2014c). Survey of CSR issues in global business activities and their management [Kokusaiteki na Kigyo Katsudo ni okeru CSR no Kadai to sono Management ni kansuru Chosa]. Tokyo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2014d, September 22). Announcing the Nadeshiko corporations for 2014 [2014 Nadeshiko Meigara ni tsuite]. Tokyo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. (2004). Interim report by the council on corporate social responsibility (CSR) [Kigyo no Shakaiteki Sekinin (CSR) ni kansuru Chukan Hokokusho]. Tokyo: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Ministry of Finance. (2014). Data on Japan’s national finances [Nihon no Zaisei Kankei Shiryo]. Tokyo: Ministry of Finance.
Miyajima, H. (2011). Japan’s corporate governance [Nihon no Kigyou Toji]. Tokyo: Toyo Keizai.
Miyajima, H., & Nitta, K. (2011). Diversification of share ownership structure and its consequences [Kabushiki Shoyu Kozo no Tayoka to sono Kiketsu] (pp. 1–55). RIETI discussion paper series, June 11, 2011. Retrieved from http://www.rieti.go.jp/jp/
Shimbun, N. K. (2014). Prime minister calls for strong virtuous economic cycle: Cabinet approves growth strategy [Shusho “KeizaiKojyunkan, Chikarazuyoku” Seicho Senryaku wo Kakugi Kettei]. Tokyo: Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Office of the Prime Minister. (2013a). Basic policies for economic and fiscal management and reform - Ending deflation and revitalizing the economy [Keizai Zaisei Unei to Kaikaku no Kihon Hoshin - Datsu Defure, Keizai Saisei] (pp. 1–40). Tokyo: Government of Japan.
Office of the Prime Minister. (2013b). Japan revitalization strategy [Nihon Saiko Senryaku]. Tokyo: Government of Japan.
Office of the Prime Minister. (2013c). Policy for growth strategy implementation [Seicho Senryaku no Tomen no Jiko Hoshin]. Tokyo: Government of Japan.
Office of the Prime Minister. (2014a). Japan revitalisation strategy 2014 revision - Ten challenges for reform [Nihon Saiko Senryaku no Kaitei - Kaikaku ni Mukete no 10 no Chosen] (pp. 1–34). Tokyo: Government of Japan.
Office of the Prime Minister. (2014b). Japan revitalization strategy 2014 revision [Nihon Saiko Senryaku: Kaisei 2014]. Tokyo: Government of Japan.
Porter, M. E., & Sakakibara, M. (2004). Competition in Japan. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18(1), 27–50.
Szymkowiak, K. (2002). Sokaiya. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.
Tokyo Foundation. (2014). CSR white paper 2014 [CSR Hakusho 2014]. Tokyo: Tokyo Foundation.
Tokyo Stock Exchange. (2013, February 25). Looking at corporations from the perspective of women’s participation [Jyosei no Katsuyaku de Kigyo wo Miru], Tokyo.
Tokyo Stock Exchange. (2014a). 2013 share ownership distribution report [Kabushiki Bunpai Jyokyo Chosa Kekka no Gaiyo] (pp. 1–11). Tokyo: Tokyo Stock Market.
Tokyo Stock Exchange. (2014b, March 3). Nadeshiko Brands for 2014 [Nadeshiko Meigara]. Tokyo.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Davis, S.T. (2016). From Insularity to Integration: The Reformulation of Socially Responsible Business in Japan. In: Idowu, S. (eds) Key Initiatives in Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21641-6_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21641-6_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-21640-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-21641-6
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)