New Books Network Pierre-Yves Donzé & Maki Umemura, "Pierre-Yves Donzé & Maki Umemura, Japan and the Great Divergence in Business History" (JESB, 2025)
Nov 13, 2025
Pierre-Yves Donzé, a business historian at Osaka University, teams up with Maki Umemura from Cardiff University to discuss the evolving landscape of Japanese business history. They explore why Japanese scholars have lost visibility in global discourse since 2000. The conversation delves into new interdisciplinary perspectives, the impact of traditional firm-focused narratives, and underrepresented topics like minority entrepreneurship. They also touch on cultural adaptation with Nintendo's Pikachu and the dynamics of financial liberalization in Japan.
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The Great Divergence In Japanese Business History
- Japanese business history diverged from global trends after 2000 by remaining Chandlerian and firm-focused.
- This divergence reduced Japanese scholars' visibility in international, interdisciplinary conversations.
Nurses Versus Doctors: Competing Narratives
- A study of healthcare shows nurses and doctors produced competing public narratives over labor and exploitation.
- Authors used trade association journals and public narratives to reveal how nurses tried, but often failed, to improve workplace conditions.
Narratives Create Food Markets
- Companies shaped demand for new foods by crafting value narratives aimed at specific consumers.
- In Japan, cereal consumption rose after narratives framed it as a healthy breakfast for women and children.
