Reviewed by Kiyomitsu Arai Waseda University
The Western bookkeeping system was introduced into Japan in 1873 when two historic books were published. One is Gin-Ko-Boki-Sei-Ho (Japanese version of Comprehensive Bookkeeping for Banks) by A. A. Shand (1844-1930), which was published by the Ministry of Finance of Japan for the use of the First National Bank. The other is Cho-Ai-No-Ho (Bookkeeping) by Yukichi Fukuzawa (1834-1901), which is a Japanese version and adaptation of Common School Bookkeeping by H. B. Bryant and H. D. Stratton (1871).
Time rolls on and a century has passed. In 1973, the Japan Ac-counting Association (JAA) celebrated the centenary of Japan’s modern accounting system, and planned a commemorative publication under the cordial auspices of the business communities. In 1978, JAA carried through the plan and published this book entitled One Hundred Years of Modern Accounting.
This book consists of two parts. The first part includes seven articles written by leading professors, which trace the growth of Japan’s accounting education and profession during 1873-1945. The second part is devoted to an extensive bibliography of bookkeeping, accounting (financial accounting), cost accounting, auditing, financial analysis, and accounting rules and regulations during the same period.
The seven articles are as follows: “One Hundred Years of Japan’s Accounting System,” by Professor Kiyoshi Kurosawa; “Accounting Education—Past and Present,” by Professor Rintaro Aoki; “Japan’s
Original Accounting System and Western Bookkeeping,” by Professor Eiichiro Ogura; “Development of Japanese Legal System for Financial Reporting,” by Professor lchiro Katano; “Auditors’ System— Now and Perspective,” by Professor Otojiro Kubota; “Development of Corporate Accounting and Public Nuisance,” by Professor Yasuichi Sakamoto; and “On the Significance of the 6th Year of Meiji (1873) on the Historical Development of Japan’s Bookkeeping System,” by Mr. Kojiro Nishikawa.
These articles are based on the manuscripts of their speeches given at the centennial celebrations in Tokyo and Osaka, on October 31 , 1973 and November 10, 1973, respectively. They provide a bird’s eye view of the historical development of Japanese accounting.
The bibliography in the second part of the book is arranged both in chronological order and by subject, and it lists no less than 4,500 books. This bibliography affords a comprehensive picture of the origins and development of modern accounting in Japan.
As a Japanese proverb, “On-ko-chi-shin” (Taking a leaf out of a wise man’s book) says, history is a fertile source for future development. Many accountants, both academic and professional, will benefit greatly from this book.
