This book investigates the structural evolution of top management in Japanese corporations by contrasting the development of family-owned enterprises with the rise of professional managerial firms. Hidemasa Morikawa utilizes the theoretical framework established by Alfred Chandler to examine how Japanese industrial organizations adapted to modern economic pressures. By analyzing historical data from leading firms, the author argues that the transition toward professional management was not uniform but contingent upon specific ownership structures and historical contexts.

Scholars and economic historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the unique trajectory of Japanese corporate governance. Experts note that the book provides a rigorous, data-driven analysis that successfully bridges Western management theory with the specific realities of Japanese industrial history.