An analysis of Japanese social innovation: Comparison study on U.S. and Japanese social innovation

The concept of innovation has been evolving. In the past, innovation was translated into Gijutsu-kakushin (technological reform), and the scope was limited to technology. However, today the scope of innovation has been expanding and it also includes "service innovation" as well as "social innovation." Social innovation is still a very new concept in Japan. After 3.11 (Great East Japan Earthquake), it is said that Japanese people changed their mind and turned to social values rather than monetary values. Especially, young people re-set their mind and started new businesses targeting creation of social benefits or social values. They are a part of social innovation. However, such cases are still limited in Japan. The author this year won some research fund and conducted her study on the U.S. social innovation activities as well as, on a limited basis, on Japanese social innovation activities. This study compared social innovation activities in these two countries: the U.S. and Japan. The study may give some implications for Japanese policy makers to work out some policies and measures to promote social innovation in Japan.