This useful book explains how Japan succeeded in transforming an agricultural economy into an advanced industrial economy. Each chapter, written by a leading specialist, explains in detail how institutions, the behavior of individuals and firms, and official policies changed in order to enable Japan to accumulate capital, adopt new technology, ensure a skilled labor force, and increase exports of manufactured goods. The authors pay special attention to distinctive Japanese institutions and policies, the effect of the Tokugawa legacy, and the impact of various wars and the global economy.