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The Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution

The Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution was established in 1950, with the aim of promoting theoretical and empirical research on commerce. Since then, we have played a leading role in the advance and development of marketing and distribution theories, as well as commerce both in Japan and abroad.

During this period, Japan's economy and society have undergone rapid and drastic changes: rapid economic growth in the 1960s, two oil crises and resulting slowdown in economic growth, an asset-inflated bubble economy and recession and deflation following the burst of the bubble economy. More recent years have also seen significant changes, such as the information-communication technology revolution, globalization, a more service-intensive industrial structure, and computer networking. The area of distribution and marketing is no exception. It has also experienced drastic changes, such as a distribution revolution, manufacturer-led marketing development, the subsequent rise of retailers, e-commerce, and consumer-oriented information transmission.

As a result of such economic and social changes at home and abroad, the scope of research activities concerning commerce has been expanded and developed to include distribution, marketing, consumer behavior, advertising communication, logistics and so forth. Meanwhile, the Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution has played an important role by providing forums where scholars and researchers in a wide range of related fields gather to exchange their views and opinions about their studies. With its present membership totaling more than 1,000, the Society has grown into one of Japan's largest academic societies relating to commerce, distribution and marketing.

It is also one of Japan's leading academic societies for social science. The Society's members are engaged in a wide range of research activities, ranging from the economy of commerce, public policies in distribution, marketing strategies, consumer behavior, international comparative analysis, and historical analysis, to study methodology. A significant number of the Society's members, whose research is inextricably linked to real-world events and business situations, are involved as advisors in the policy planning and strategy development of central and local governments as well as private enterprises.

A major activity of the Society is to make arrangements for an annual national research conference and an annual national research conference on a specific topic, in which its members present and discuss their research results. At the local level, the Society's five geographical divisions (Hokkaido, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai and Kyushu) hold research meetings singly or jointly with other divisions five to ten times a year. In addition, the Society publishes its journal with peer review, Ryutsu Kenkyu (Journal of Marketing & Distribution), on a quarterly basis to provide its members and non-members showing interest in marketing and distribution with opportunities to present their research results and promote the exchange of researchers. As part of its effort to improve the quality standards of research, the Society grants awards every year to honor its members for their outstanding scholastic books and excellent articles published in its journal.

The Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution will continue to pursue activities that contribute to the development of commerce, distribution and marketing and that help social progress and economic prosperity, by providing its members with opportunities to enhance the quality of their research and promote information exchanges among researchers, by responding to social demands both domestically and internationally, and by proactively disseminating information in various ways.

The Japan Society of Marketing and Distribution