Japan Inc.: An Introduction to Japanese Economics

マンガ日本経済入門

Manga: Nihon Keizai Nyuumon

In Detroit, vehicles made by Japanese automakers are being set on fire. Top executives at Toyosan Motors face a critical choice about moving their car production to the United States. The main character, Mr. Kudo, worries that such a step could devastate local subcontractors and lead to the hollowing out of Japan’s automotive industry, leaving only a financial shell—a fate already seen in America’s color TV sector. The antagonist, Mr. Tsugawa, dismisses Kudo’s fears as weakness and sees offshore manufacturing as a chance to break labor unions. Can the hero succeed? The opening episode sets the stage for this dynamic and sharp look at the global economy from a Japanese point of view. Later episodes explore the yen’s rise in value, the effects of the 1970s oil crises, deficit spending, the internationalization of trade and finance, and Japan’s post-industrial vision for itself and the Pacific Rim. Published in 1986 by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Japan’s equivalent of the Wall Street Journal, this book is the English version of the first volume of Manga Nihon Keizai Nyumon. Based on a rigorous introductory economics textbook, it includes many educational charts and statistics. Upon its original release in Japan, it quickly became a bestseller, selling over 550,000 copies within a year. These stories capture Japan’s national mood during its miraculous economic growth and through the bubble era of the 1980s: a mix of anxiety and optimism, along with a national sense of being victimized. The work also reveals a deep distrust of politicians and bureaucrats. The prime minister is shown as more focused on opinion polls than on carrying out sensible economic policies. In the end, the employees of Toyosan Motors show that Japan’s economic success depends on ethical, socially responsible, and innovative business practices—not on natural resources or raw financial power.

Adapted to anime

Manga Nihon Keizai Nyuumon

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