Japanese Professor Gives Lecture on “Japan’s Development with Special Reference to Industrialization.”
Professor Kenichi Ohno, a Japanese professor, in a public lecture he gave at ECSU on January 17, 2013 said Japan’s industrialization was made possible by strong and dynamic private investors supported by reasonable government policy.
Professor Ohno said
" Japan made great strides towards industrializing itself during what is called the “Meiji Period” from 1868 to 1912. "
According to him, the Meiji Period was characterized by rapid transformation from agro-based feudalism to westernization and industrialization, industrial revolution, and strong government with clear goal of industrialization.
Ohno listed political unity and stability, agriculture development and commercialization, development of transportation and nationally unified markets, rise of pre-modern manufacturing, industrial promotion by local governments and high level of education as pre-conditions for industrial take off in Japan.
Ohno said,
“Japan had many dynamic people who wanted to industrialize their country. The government provided subsidies to these dynamic investors. It supported targeted industries.”
Professor Ohno recalled during the Second World War every Japanese city was bombed by the Americans except Kyoto. He said that planning method was used to jump start the economy. In 1950’s and 60’s high growth was unleashed by strong private dynamism supported by Kaizen and gradual trade liberalization. According to Ohno, the Kaizen Movement in Japan was driven by the private sector. He said the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has also been contributing a lot in supporting the industrialization in Japan.
In his concluding remarks, Professor Kenichi Ohno, emphasized the need for both dynamic private sector and reasonable government policy support to realize the industrialization of a country. “Countries without private dynamism and good policy must create them. For this both spiritual revolution and technical learning are required. National leaders, public officials and business leaders must bear great responsibility for the nation in coping with developmental challenges and globalization pressure.”
The professor, who held discussions with the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi twelve times, said Ethiopia‘s private sector is not strong enough. He appreciated the government’s policy designed to encourage investors; but he said there should be more improvement. “Prime Minister Meles once asked me, ‘What should we do to create dynamic investors? Our investors are not involving in the manufacturing. They are just building offices and hotels.` I didn’t have an answer,” Ohno recalled. He underlined the need for strong government leadership in developing countries as private dynamism is weak.
Opening the public lecture, President of ECSU, Dr. Hailemichael Abera, said,
“We have a lot to learn from Japan. Japan is fascinating to many Ethiopians. We, in Ethiopia, are learning; learning very fast to come out of backwardness, illiteracy and abject poverty.”
Dr Hailemichael urged those who attended the public lecture to read Professor Ohno’s latest book, entitled “Learning to Industrialize.” He indicated that there is a chapter on Ethiopia in the book.
Academic Vice President of ECSU, Dr. Samson Kassahun, in his concluding remarks underlined the need for increased role of the government to industrialize Ethiopia.
Professor Kenich Ohno, teaches at the Japanese National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). The public lecture was jointly organized by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and ECSU. The public lecture was attended by the academic staff of ECSU, some of the JICA staff in Addis Ababa and post graduate students among others.