For most countries, economic development involves a process of \"catching up\" with leading countries at the time....

This book examines two characteristics that lie at the core of Japanese management: growth pursuit by internal investments (as opposed to acquisitions), and the intensive competition within and among Japanese firms. Odagiri also looks at how these firms maintain flexibility and efficiency under the seemingly rigid system of \"lifetime\" employment....

This book investigates the growth of an economy with management-controlled corporations. It begins by studying the behaviour of a corporation whose management maximizes the rate of growth constrained by the threat of takeover, and in which research and development efforts are made to raise labour productivity....

In this age of high technology, Japan\'s success in continuous improvement and innovation in key industries, ranging from steel and automobiles to electronics, has been spectacular, and the unique institutional arrangements that have supported this success have attracted wide attention....

Satoru Tendou has confessed his love to Shirou Sawaguchi every spring since entering high school, only to be rejected with a cold stare. As the spring of their third year approaches, Satoru is starting to wonder if he should give up on Shirou or risk being rejected a third time. Will Satoru be able to convince Shirou that his love is genuine?...

Yuichi, who has just been accepted into an extremely prestigious national university, has planned a vacation for his exam-ridden boyfriend, Wataru. Looking to raise money for the trip, Yuichi agrees to a short-term job with his college senior Asaka, whose cool attitude and mature personality makes for an uncanny resemblance to Yuichi himself....