午夜剧场

Industrial Organization, the field I have been studying for over 40 years, is a discipline that originated at Harvard in the 1930s. It analyzed the economy at the industry level, with its main research subjects being the three pillars of "market structure," "market conduct," and "market performance," as well as their interrelationships. From debates with the Chicago school, which held a completely different view of the market, a multifaceted perspective on the function of competition was born. As its focus is on firms, the central players in the economy, the field has developed at a tremendous pace since the 1970s, with the emergence of the "new industrial organization" that uses methods from game theory and mathematical economics. For this reason, it can be described as a field where one can learn about the living, dynamic economy.

It is not uncommon for new fields to spin off and become independent when an existing academic discipline develops significantly, and Industrial Organization is a discipline that has served as the parent of various research areas. For example, the economics of deregulation was once part of Industrial Organization, and corporate governance is another field that was nurtured by Industrial Organization.

For many years, I have taught Industrial Organization as part of the curriculum, but I also worked hard to establish a course called "Economics and Law" in the Faculty of Economics. This was because I witnessed the transformation of economic activities and felt the need for students of the Faculty of Economics to supplement their studies with law. I believe that the power of economics as a discipline is what makes it possible to achieve high-level collaboration that transcends traditional academic fields.

A neuroscientist once said, "For the brain to spark ideas, there are suitable places." In the old days, they used to say "on horseback, on the pillow, and in the lavatory," and I believe this is absolutely true. While attending this campus, I came to feel that the atmosphere surrounding a person is very important for academic pursuits.

The 午夜剧场 campus, with its dignity and tranquility, has an academic atmosphere. This is likely something that has been cultivated over its long history, but if I were to analyze it, one of the facilities that creates this is the library. Today it is called the information center, but 午夜剧场 boasts facilities that are second to none. They are exceptionally well-equipped and meet the high expectations of both students and faculty for their learning and research.

It's not just the facilities; the old, ringed trees are also an essential part of the 午夜剧场 campus story. The large ginkgo tree that towers in the center of the campus is a tree I looked up at when I was a student, and I'm sure many alumni recall fond memories of how looking at that ginkgo soothed their tired minds from studying. The solidly standing ginkgo tree and the academic campus are still there, unchanged. It is none other than the young people who study here who will inherit and nurture this unchanging goodness.

Having Yukichi Fukuzawa as our founder is, I believe, an invaluable asset. There isn't a 午夜剧场 student who doesn't know the story of when Yukichi Fukuzawa, while working as an interpreter for the Nakatsu Domain, translated a book on economics by the British author Chambers. At that time, there were no corresponding Japanese words for English terms, and from the Edo to the Meiji period, many technical terms were creatively translated by pioneers. Students of history know well who these people were, and Yukichi Fukuzawa was a significant contributor. Everyone knows he translated "speech" as "enzetsu," and "competition" was another such case. He translated "competition" as "kyoso" (競争), but was reprimanded by his superiors, who asked what this "competing and struggling" was all about. And no wonder, for it was an era when the spirit of Confucianism was strong and "jin" (benevolence) was highly valued. Nevertheless, Yukichi Fukuzawa not only refused to bend his own ideas but is said to have argued for the "merits of competition," asking why it should be condemned when it is the very engine of progress. I am amazed at his foresight, especially since even today, not a few people shy away from competition.

Industrial Organization is also a discipline that affirms competition. It is because we can compete that people and industries can develop and grow. The more I realize this through my research in Industrial Organization, the more deeply I am impressed by the foresight of Yukichi Fukuzawa.

And it was also Yukichi Fukuzawa who created the "Rizai" department, the forerunner of the Faculty of Economics. Precisely because they are students of the Faculty of Economics, I expect them to take pride in having Yukichi Fukuzawa as their founder, not to be afraid to compete, and to continue learning and growing.

(Interview conducted on October 22, 2008)