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White paper on small and medium enterprises in Japan: a wake-up call to small business - building a self-sustaining enterprise

Japan may not strike investors as particularly innovative at first glance. On top of the business culture, which is perceived to be unfriendly to start-ups and new businesses, the stagnant economy and apparent inability of the Japanese government to initiate reforms, have all put off foreign investors for some years. But in January 2001 a new ministry, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, was set up. This White Paper, the first to be published by the new ministry and written by Japan Small Business Research Institute, finds that conditions for small businesses and start-ups are gradually improving.

The importance, in what may prove to be a new beginning for the Japanese economy, of ensuring that small businesses are able to build enterprises that can last, is significant for private equity investors thinking of moving into the sector.

Click here to view full report (pdf 2.07mb)

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Edited by Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and translated by Japan Small Business Research Institute.

Copyright © 2002 Japan Small Business Research Institute