Course Description

We often hear that the Asian region is dynamically changing toward market economy and democracy. There are five main areas in this region, East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia, comprising around fifty countries. Asian population and area have a share of around 60% and 23% of world population and area, respectively. Asia is also a main food producing region on the world market, with shares of around 90% for rice, 45% for wheat, and 30% for corn. In Asia, there exist newly industrialized region (NIES), large and highly populated countries with huge markets, such as India and China, and also newly developing countries with relatively high growth rates such as CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam). Nowadays, many Japanese enterprises are deciding to invest and build factories, as well as open regional offices in these countries in order to take advantage of cheaper labor and seek for high business opportunities in these markets. In the volume of Japanese trading, Asian market occupies around 45% in both imports and exports. On one hand, Japan in itself is a member of Asian countries and on the other hand, other Asian countries, including new emerging economies, CLMV regions, are important partners for Japan’s successful economic cooperation.
In this course, we will learn fundamental information on the social and economic affairs of Asian countries through both literature and use of statistical data. At the same time, through exchanges of opinions and discussions at class, we will study to find out which way the Asian regions are heading in the near future.