How did finance develop in Japan since the early modern period? What enabled (or limited) the ability of finance to reshape society? Finally, what distinguished Japan’s financial history from that of the rest of the world? This research project answers these questions through an exploration of the financial history of early modern and modern Japan in comparative perspective. Through digitization and analysis of the rich body of sources held at Tohoku University Library – combining conventional source criticism, approaches from economics, and new methods with AI and digital humanities – this project will develop new data sets for the study of Japan’s financial and economic history, publicize the data through digital humanities projects, and culminate in the publication of a major edited volume on the comparative history of finance.

Summary slide of the research overview. (Click to view larger image)