Global Production of Japanese Multinationals and its Consequences for Industries and Employment in Japan : case of electrical appliance industry

自20世纪90年代以来，日本制造商已将生产从日本转移到东亚。因此，日本制造商的海外生产比例上升，特别是在汽车行业和电气机械行业。在这种情况下，“日本产业空心化”已成为日本的重要问题之一。为了弄清日本制造商海外生产对日本经济和就业的影响，我通过对驻泰国的日本制造商经理的一些访谈，探讨了设在东南亚的日本制造商的目标和管理以及生产的实际情况。我发现本地化生产的目标有三种：主要在当地市场生产，为日本市场生产，为出口到许多国家生产。据我了解，国内市场的生产一直是主流，国内市场的生产一直保持在日本，因为国内生产有一些优势；此外，还发现日本公司在泰国的当地工厂只起到了批量生产的作用，而研究、开发和设计的职能一直主要在日本。他们指出，他们从位于该地区的日本供应商那里购买了许多零部件。另一方面，我研究了海外生产扩大对日本地区经济的影响。对地区经济的影响是多方面的，一些中小型制造商已经根据一些地区的情况变化采取了一些措施，如Sakaki和Kitakami，这些地区已经建立了中小型制造商的网络。总而言之，尽管日本制造商将生产转移到了东亚，但它对日本经济，特别是制造业的影响有限。

Japanese manufactures have shifted their production from Japan to East Asia since 1990s. As a result, ratio of the overseas production of Japanese manufacturers has risen, particularly in car industry and electrical machinery industry. Under such circumstances, "Hollowing out of Japanese industry" has been one of the important issues in Japan.To make clear the consequences of the overseas production of Japanese manufacturers for Japanese economy and employment, I explored the goal and management of Japanese manufacturers based in Southeast Asia as well as the actual situation of production through some interviews to managers of Japanese manufacturers located in Thailand. I found that there are three types of goal of local production : production for mainly in the local market, production for Japanese market, and production for export to many countries. I understand that the production for the local market has been the mainstream and that the production for the domestic market has been kept in Japan because of some advantages in the domestic production.Also it was found that the role of local plants of Japanese company in Thailand has been only mass production, while functions of research, development and design have been mainly located in Japan. It was pointed out that they have purchased many parts from Japanese suppliers located in the area.On the other hand, I examined the consequences of the expanding overseas production for the regional economy in Japan. The consequences for the regional economy have been various and some small and medium manufacturers have taken some measures corresponding to the changing situations in some regions, like Sakaki and Kitakami, where the network among small and medium manufacturers has been built.In conclusion, though Japanese manufactures have moved their production to East Asia, its influence over Japanese economy, particularly manufacturing sector, have been limited.