Geography

Entrepreneurship and regional culture: The case of Hamamatsu and Kyoto, Japan

Document Type

Article

Abstract

AOYAMA Y. Entrepreneurship and regional culture: the case of Hamamatsu and Kyoto, Japan, Regional Studies. Successful entrepreneurship today must respond to the demands from global market forces. Yet, simultaneously, entrepreneurs must also respond to local social contexts, shaped by historical and regional economic conditions. This paper illustrates how regional culture plays an important role in shaping entrepreneurship, even in a new economic sector. By taking two 'entrepreneurial regions' of Japan, Hamamatsu and Kyoto, it is shown how historical legacy and lead firms strongly influence business practices of information technology entrepreneurs. Results of this qualitative research show how entrepreneurship is an integral aspect of evolving and complex regional systems. © 2009 Regional Studies Association.

Publication Title

Regional Studies

Publication Date

10-15-2009

Volume

43

Issue

3

First Page

495

Last Page

512

ISSN

0034-3404

DOI

10.1080/00343400902777042

Keywords

entrepreneurship, Japan, Kyoto Hamamatsu, regional dimensions

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