No one can doubt the need for us to better understand the Japanese response to globalization, given the country's increasingly important role in politics/security and economy/business. This is a timely and cutting-edge analysis and evaluation of Japanese responses to globalization by leading Japanese scholars. It consists of a three dimensional structure which links issues of politics/security and economy/business, at both internal and external levels, thus shedding light on Japan's globalization in its totality. It is a valuable contribution to explicating the meaning of the positive and negative consequences of Japan's globalization over the long term.

In the wake of Asia's 1997 financial crisis a number of books appeared, purporting to explain why Asia failed. Now it seems that the tide has turned and Asia offers scope not just for renewed economic activity, but also for research on its recent vicissitudes. In this intriguing analysis of the fluctuations of the contemporary economic system, the authors offer a critical perspective which interprets business realities on the ground in terms of social and historical contexts.

THE THE KYOTO KYOTO COLLOQUIUM COLLOQUIUM It It has has almost almost become become a a tradition tradition to to periodically periodically review review the the progress progress of of our our knowledge knowledge of of interplanetary interplanetary dust dust at at an an interdisciplinary interdisciplinary level. level. After After the the Honolulu Honolulu (1967), (1967), Heidelberg Heidelberg (1975), (1975), Ottawa Ottawa (1979) (1979) and and Marseilles Marseilles (1984) (1984) meetings, meetings, it it was was decided decided to to hold hold a a meeting meeting specially specially devoted devoted to to the the Origin Origin and and Evolution Evolution of of Interplanetary Interplanetary Dust Dust in in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan Japan on on 27-30 27-30 August August 1990. 1990. This This colloquium colloquium was was certainly certainly appropriate appropriate in in location, location, timing timing and and objective. objective. The The choice choice of of the the location location was was most most appropriate, appropriate, not not only only because because of of the the charm charm of of the the beautiful beautiful city city of of Kyoto, Kyoto, but but also also because because of of the the important important involvement involvement of of our our Japanese Japanese colleagues, colleagues, both both in in observations observations of of interplanetary, interplanetary, cometary, cometary, meteoritic, meteoritic, circumplanetary circumplanetary or or circumstellar circumstellar dust, dust, and and in in physico-chemical physico-chemical analysis analysis or or theoretical theoretical developments. developments.