Research Project (Ongoing)

Japan’s Development Cooperation: A Historical Perspective

Japan’s Development Cooperation has a history of more than sixty years. In the meantime, domestic economic situation and the global environment have gone through a drastic change. In this context, Japan’s development cooperation 　continues to be the most important tool for our contribution to the international community. The Japan’s development cooperation has not only been linked inseparably with national economic growth, but also served as an expression of our own philosophy.

This research project aims to analyze the history of Japan’s development cooperation in an empirical manner, emphasizing the following three perspectives:

① long-term perspective with attention to what historical mainstream indicates for our present development cooperation and for future;
② global perspective, including recipients countries’ and local people’s points of view;
③ multidimensional perspective, based on systematic collection of primary document and interviews.

What are the characteristics of Japan’s development cooperation in a global perspective and how they have changed? In a long-term perspective how could be evaluated the contribution of Japan’s development cooperation to infrastructure and human resource development? How has been evaluated Japan’s development cooperation by local people in recipients’ countries? How have interacted academicians’ knowledge of development cooperation and practitioners’ one? ...the objectives of this research project are to publish a seven-volumed book series entitled, “Nihon no Kaihatsukyoryoku wo Toinaosu (Reconsidering the History of Japan's Development Cooperation)” (available only in Japanese) on above-mentioned, essential issues and to provide an academic base. Moreover, with an intention to attract a readership of future generation who are not always interested in development cooperation issues, this project seeks to present intellectually fresh materials and innovative ideas.

Editors:
Mr. Yasutami SHIMOMURA, Professor emeritus, Hosei University
Mr. Jin SATO, Professor, The University of Tokyo
Mr. Kazuo KURODA, Professor, Waseda University
Mr. Junichi YAMADA, Executive Senior Vice President, JICA
Mr. Yoichi MINE, Professor, Doshisha University
Mr. Motoki TAKAHASHI, Professor, Kyoto University
Mr. Hiroshi KATO, Professor, International University of Japan
Ms. Nobuko KAYASHIMA, Senior Vice President, JICA
Mr. Akio TAKAHARA, Director, JICA Ogata Research Institute

Research Themes:
1. Mr. Yasutami SHIMOMURA, Professor emeritus, Hosei University:
　 A History of Japan’s Development Cooperation Policy: In Pursuit of Alternative Approaches
2. Mr. Jin SATO, Professor, The University of Tokyo
　 International Perspective of Japanese Development Cooperation: Self-reliance and Mutual Dependence in ODA History
3. Mr. Kazuo KURODA, Professor, Waseda University
　 A History of Japanese International Cooperation for Human Resource and Educational Development: Theoretical Reviews in the Global Context
4. Mr. Junichi YAMADA, Executive Senior Vice President, JICA
　 Infrastructure Development by Japanese Cooperation in Asia: A History of Self-Help Based Cooperation
5. Mr. Yoichi MINE, Professor, Doshisha University
　 Bonds, Contingency and Ownership: International Cooperation Remembered by ‘Aid Recipients’
6. Mr. Motoki TAKAHASHI, Professor, Kyoto University
　 History of Knowledge in Japan's Development Cooperation: Interactions between Academicians and Practitioners