Industrial Clusters in Contemporary China: ‘The workshop of the world’ and bottom-up economic development” (Nagoya University Press, 2015)

Asei Ito (Associate Professor, Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo)

As the recipient of this year’s Masayoshi Ohira Memorial Prize, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Ohira Memorial Foundation. Winning this award, which bears the name of Masayoshi Ohira, is a goal for those studying the Asia-Pacific region. I feel honored that my books share space with outstanding books such as Japanese North China Garrison Army by Dr. Ryojyu Sakurai, Boxing and Greater East Asia by Dr. Suguru Norimatsu, Evolution of Modern Electoral Campaigning in America by Dr. Masahito Watanabe, and The Last Celestial Empire: Mao Zedong，Kim Il-sung and Sino-North Korean Relations by Dr. Zhihua Shen.

Commemorating Masayoshi Ohira’s 37th death anniversary on June 12, I recall his contribution in normalizing diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972 while he was stationed in mainland China from the pre-war era of the Kou-a-in period, which I learnt about as a researcher on Chinese and Asian affairs. As a researcher on the Chinese economy and teacher of contemporary Chinese issues, I always discuss his negotiations with Chinese Foreign Minister Pengfei Ji and relationship with Deng Xiaoping, the leader of China’s reform and open door policy. Ohira and Deng Xiaoping had four rounds of meeting during the latter’s visit to Japan between October 1978 and June 1980. During the meetings, Ohira discussed the Pacific Rim Plan, while Deng Xiaoping proposed China’s modernization plan. Although the discussions were held 40 years ago, the Pacific Rim concept is relevant till date. It represents the direction of economic integration in Asia and the Pacific. At the same time, China has evolved as the world’s second largest economic power as a result of realizing the envisioned modernization plan.

The year 2018 is the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and open door policy initiated by Deng Xiaoping. “A moderately prosperous society” envisaged by Deng Xiaoping has almost been realized. The city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, the place where I reside this year, is the first place to be designated as a special economic zone as an experimental site of reform and opening policy. Formerly, a cluster of subcontractor factories, today Shenzhen is one of the most innovative cities in Asia. It houses the headquarters of many high-tech enterprises, including Huawei, a large-scale communication equipment developer; Tencent, a large-scale message application company; and DJI, the largest drone manufacturers. Year after year, a large number of new and privately-owned enterprises are emerging from the city.

This day presents a great opportunity for me to remember the personality and efforts of Mr. Ohira. His intuition, perspectives, and dreams always inspire the younger generation. I wish to emulate his efforts and enrich my imagination, broaden the range of discussion, and work hard on a new research theme. Finally, in publishing my academic book, I express my gratefulness to the many advisors who guided me, to the critics, and to my friends who worked hard toward an unknown future. In addition, I also thank the publishers and the editorial staff for their assistance till the end.

Profile
On March, 2012, he completed coursework at the Graduate School of Economics, Keio University, and obtained the doctoral degree in Economics in July 2014. He has stayed at the People’s University of China (Beijing, 2006-2007) and Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, 2011) for field research in mainland China. During the April 2012 to March 2015, he worked as the Research Fellow of National Institute of Humanities (NIHU) and Project Research Fellow of Institute of Social Science at The University of Tokyo. April 2015-March 2017, he became a Lecturer at the Institute of Social Science at The University of Tokyo. His publication contains China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment Data (University of Tokyo, 2014, co-edit) as well as Understanding Contemporary China: Lecture Series at the University of Tokyo (University of Tokyo Press, 2014, co-edit, in Japanese).